The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2010

Essential safety requirements

1.—(1) Each pyrotechnic article must attain the performance characteristics specified by the manufacturer to the UK notified body or a body notified to the European Commission under Article 10 of the Directive in order to ensure maximum safety and reliability.

(2) Each pyrotechnic article must be designed and manufactured in such a way that it can be disposed of safely by a suitable process with minimum effect on the environment.

(3) Each pyrotechnic article must function correctly when used for its intended purpose.

Each pyrotechnic article must be tested under realistic conditions. If this is not possible in a laboratory, the tests must be carried out under the conditions in which the pyrotechnic article is to be used.

The following information and properties, where applicable, must be considered or tested:

(a) design, construction and characteristic properties, including detailed chemical composition (mass and percentage of substances used) and dimensions;

(b) the physical and chemical stability of the pyrotechnic article in all normal, foreseeable environmental conditions;

(c) sensitivity to normal, foreseeable handling and transportation;

(d) compatibility of all components as regards their chemical stability;

(e) resistance of the pyrotechnic article to moisture where it is intended to be used in humid or wet conditions and where its safety or reliability may be adversely affected by moisture;

(f) resistance to low and high temperatures, where the pyrotechnic article is intended to be kept or used at such temperatures and its safety or reliability may be adversely affected by cooling or heating of a component or of the pyrotechnic article as a whole;

(g) safety features intended to prevent untimely or inadvertent initiation or ignition;

(h) suitable instructions and, where necessary, markings in respect of safe handling, storage, use (including safety distances) and disposal in the official language or languages of the recipient Member State;

(i) the ability of the pyrotechnic article, its wrapping or other components to withstand deterioration under normal, foreseeable storage conditions;

(j) specification of all devices and accessories needed and operating instructions for safe functioning of the pyrotechnic article.

During transportation and normal handling, unless specified by the manufacturer’s instructions, the pyrotechnic articles should contain the pyrotechnic composition.

(4) Pyrotechnic articles must not contain—

(a) commercial blasting agents, except for black powder or flash composition;

(b) military explosives.

(5) The various groups of pyrotechnic articles must at least also comply with the following requirements.