Open circuit |
An incomplete electrical circuit |
Orange book |
The United Nations publication for classification and testing of dangerous goods |
Oxidant |
The component of an explosive that supplies oxygen for the reaction of the product |
Palm burst |
A color break with palm tree core |
Parallel circuit |
An electrical circuit in which the current is divided between several igniters. Less easy to test for breaks. |
Paste |
Commonly used to cover shells to enhance their burst |
Pattern shell |
A shell of fewer stars that creates a pattern rather than a sphere |
Pellet |
See Star |
Peony shell |
A shell whose stars do not leave any trails |
PIC |
Plastic Igniter cord |
Pigeon |
A specialized type of firework which travels to and fro along a horizontal rope |
Piped match |
Raw match enclosed in a paper or plastic tube |
Pistil |
The central core of a shell. Often a complimentary or contrasting colour to the main burst |
Plug |
See Bung |
Portfire |
A thin walled tube filled with slow burning composition used to light other fireworks |
Propellant |
Composition used to produce force e.g. A rocket motor |
Punk |
Slow burning lighter for small fireworks |
Generic term for any item which react in a self sustaining chemical reaction and generally produces a light effect. Pyrotechnic articles are different to fireworks and generally are used for stage and theatrical uses |
|
Quickmatch |
Raw match enclosed in a paper or plastic tube |
Rack |
Apparatus for firing rockets or mortar tubes |
Rain |
Shells containing long burning stars that fall all the way to the ground. |
Raw match |
Black powder coated thread used for linking fireworks |
Repeater shell |
Usually a cylinder shell with timed bursts at regular intervals |
Ring shell |
An aerial shell that produces symmetrical rings of stars often have a rope tail to control orientation of the break |
Rising effect |
Often a tail effect on a shell but can be external attachments to a shell that break off during the rise to create special effects |
Aerial effect propelled by a motor |
|
Rocket cone |
A device for firing flight rockets |
Rocket motor |
The power unit behind a rocket. Typically made by pressing black powder into a choked tube |
A cardboard tube with a stack of timed comets or bombette units |
|
Round shell |
A shell in the form of a sphere usually containing colored stars |
Safety area |
The area around a fireworks display site between the spectators and fireworks. Not including a fall out zone |
Salute |
Report or loud bang |
Saturn shell |
A chrysanthemum break with an outer ring of a contrasting color |
Saxon |
A bar with centre pivot with drivers at either one or two ends which make the bar spin on a central point. |
Screecher |
A whistle unit with a hole through the centre. This increases the burn speed and therefore the sound |
Sequence |
The pattern in which fireworks are detonated in a display |
Series circuit |
A circuit arranged so the current runs through each igniter in turn. This enables and breaks to be detected |
Serpent |
A spinning tube used in candles and shells. Usually with a report unit |
Set piece |
A ground firework. Generally static |
Shell |
The most spectacular of fireworks propelled with a lifting charge from a mortar and a bursting charge that charge to a star composition in the air after a predetermined delay |
Shell delay |
See Delay fuse |
Shell of shells |
An aerial shell that contains smaller shells ignited when the main shell bursts and subsequently produces small secondary bursts |
Short circuit |
The accidental completion of a circuit which causes the current to not flow through the igniter |
Shot |
The single functioning of a roman candle or cake |
Smoke |
Air suspension of particles from incomplete combustion of a composition |
Smokeless powder |
A powder containing nitro-cellulose and nitro-glycerine as it does not produce much smoke |
Spark |
Typical effect caused by incandescent particles ejected form the surface of a burning composition |
Sparkler |
Wire coated with pyrotechnic composition that gives off small sparks |
Spider shell |
A shell containing a small number of large stars producing a symmetrical burst. Sometimes called octopus shells |
Splitting comet |
A comet with an internal charge of flash powder which when ignited splits the comet into several pieces. |
Squib |
Electric igniter |
Star |
A pressed unit of composition usually spheres or cylinders used in shells, mines, rockets and roman candles |
Storage |
The holding of fireworks prior to their use. Premises must be licensed for amounts above a certain quantity |
Strobe |
A pulsing on off star effect fired from candles and shells and ground based effects |
Tail effect |
A comet star secured to the outside of a shell to give a tail to the rising shell |
Tiger tail shell |
A shell made up of a solid ball of composition to produce a substantial tail effect. Sometimes with a small shell break |
Titanium |
A silver metal used in the production of maroons and grebes |
Top fused |
A shell where the shell delay is lit separately from the lifting charge. Often found in large Maltese shells |
Tourbillion |
See Serpent |
Transportation |
The process of consigning a load of fireworks. Subject to heavy legislative control |
TREM card |
Documentation required when transporting fireworks of any quantity. Transport emergency card. Provide information for emergency services |
Trunk |
A large tail unit often used on palm and willow shells |
UN classification |
The assignment of a packaged firework into the UN classes for fireworks |
UN compatibility group |
The G or S of 1.3G or 1.4S. The compatibility group indicated what a particular item may and not be transported with |
UN Hazard code |
See UN number |
UN Mark |
A complicated mark assigned to a particular packing box for dangerous goods |
UN Number |
A four-digit number assigned to hazardous goods. Explosives always start with a 0 e.g. 1.4G fireworks are UN 0336. Used to identify a dangerous item in the event of an emergency |
Volley |
A mass firing of rockets or shells |
Water firework |
Aquatic fireworks e.g. shells or water gerb |
Water gerb |
A floating gerb with a weight and cork float. |
Water shell |
See Aquatic shell |
Waterfall |
A curtain of coloured or silver sparks that falls vertically. Composition is made from an aluminum alloy |
Weeping willow |
See Willow shell |
A rotating piece attached to a post in the form of a saxon bar or wheel with driver units |
|
Whistle |
A tube containing composition of potassium benzoate and potassium silicate. On burning the composition creates oscillation in the tube and creates a whistle effect which is amplified in the tube |
Whizzer |
See Hummer |
Willow shell |
A shell containing charcoal based stars with a long burn time which often fall to the ground |
John Stossel understands this too, and did a wonderful segment recently exploring this topic.
Rich Hoffman
https://overmanwarrior.wordpress.com/2010/12/04/ten-rules-to-live-by/
http://twitter.com/#!/overmanwarrior
www.overmanwarrior.com
It’s gone now. I drove by there yesterday on the way to Big South Fork. I took photos of the ruins if you’d like to see them .
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That’s sad. I would like to see them. It’s been there for such a long time. Thanks for the report.
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