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Planning your own display
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Important Notice:
It's important to realise that it
doesn't matter how careful you are, or how large the
fireworks you are using are - you are still handling
EXPLOSIVES which could potentially be extremely dangerous!
Common sense and extreme care should ALWAYS be taken
when using fireworks. This page is designed to aid you
in the planning and designing of your own firework display,
but remember, they are only guidelines and do not guarantee
a safe firework display. However, by following them
you can more or less guarantee that you have done everything
in your power to help produce a spectacular event. The
Hatch Beauchamp fireworks committee take NO RESPONSIBILITY
OR LIABILITY for accidents which may occur during the
planning or firing of YOUR OWN display. |
As with many things, it is always much better
to attend a professionally fired display which has been carefully
designed and planned by insured professionals!
 Click here to take a look at details from the Health and Safety Executive for the recommended guidlines on planning a public firework display.
The Beginning Stages...
Its fare to say that there are lots of things
you have to bare in mind before you can go out and buy your
fireworks, questions which might arise could be:
- How big is the site available?
- How big is the fall out area?
- What's the occasion? - a wedding, birthday
(children's or adults), November party and so on
- What's your budget?
- How many people are you entertaining
- How long do you want the display to go on
for?
All of these questions have to be addressed
before you can start the planning process, we'll have a better
look at each of the above in more detail.
Site Size
Probably the most important factor in planning
a firework display. From a safety point of view, it is vital
to have the right sized site for the fireworks you are using.
If you are simply planning to buy a small box selection from
a newsagents. Then the average garden should be sufficient
providing there is enough space for your spectators to be
AT LEAST 5-10 meters away with the firer being able to retire
to a similar distance once a firework has been lit.
When considering some of the larger display
packs, available from companies such as Skyburst The Firework
Co, a larger area is required such as a small field. Whatever
it says on the box or firework about safety distances, its
always best for spectators to get as far away as possible.
Most large display fireworks which can be bought by the general
public suggest a 25 meter safety distance. I recommend double
that! 50 meters ensures a much safer distance for example
in the event of a firework falling over etc. (See further
on for designing your display).
REMEMBER: if you are having a large number
of people to your event, its vital to rope off the spectators
area to the safety distance cannot be breached.
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The Golden Rules to locating a site:
- Ensure that you position the firing site so there
is NO OVERHANGING OBSTRUCTIONS such as trees, pylons
and so on.
- Make sure the ground is suitable; clear of things
to trip over in the dark, as level as possible and
soft enough to put in stakes to attach certain fireworks
to i.e. wheels.
- Easy access to site (especially for larger events)
for emergency access etc.
- Suitable fall out zone - this is the area where
all the debris will fall as the firework is firing,
whether is be a rocket, candle or cake, there will
always be debris thrown into the air and carried on
the prevailing wind (this should obviously be away
from the spectators).
- Keep an eye our for nearby houses/buildings which
could be affected by debris or where other people
form neighboring properties could be within the 50m
safety distance for the larger fireworks.
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Deciding your budget, party and duration
These three factors kind to all tie in together.
You obviously know why you want to have a firework display
and what space you have available, from this you know whether
you will have a larger or smaller display, going on your available
space, finance and number of people to entertain. You don't
need to spend £100s to entertain a handful of people!
If its a children's party, you may not wish
to have much noise in your display, just ask your supplier
for their advice. However you may want it to last for a good
15 - 20mins. If you are doing something; say for a friends
wedding, they may give you £200 and say let it all off
in about 2mins just as the bride or groom are leaving as a
short, intensive burst of colour and noise...the options are
endless. All of these are decisions you have to make once
you have weighed up the situation.
Setting out your display
On the day of your event, once you have
familiarised yourself with the material you are using and
are confident on how to set up your show, you can set your
site out. The time needed to do this will obviously depend
on the size of your show. However leave plenty of time! You
don't want to be wandering around in the dark still banging
stakes in etc...
There are many other aspects of planning,
firing and preparing for a public or private firework display.
Babergh District Council (South Suffolk) have put an information
leaflet together covering many aspects firework displays to
maximise the safety and enjoyment of firework displays. Click
on the link below to view their leaflet. Alternatively, go
back to the main page and click on either garden fireworks
or display fireworks...
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