Firework Buying Tips2777681
The 'standard' fireworks licence only permits a supplier to sell fireworks for a three week period before November 5th, a couple of days before New Year, Diwali and Chinese New Year.
If we deal with what to buy first, then the most important thing to look for is that the fireworks comply with British Standard BS7114. This number must be printed on the box or firework, and shows that the product complies with strict security requirements. If you don't see this number, then leave nicely alone. These fireworks should not even be offered for sale, but unfortunately non compliant fireworks do still slip via the net.
Fireworks are divided into four categories, only two of which truly concern us here. Category one is for such things as indoor fireworks, and category four is for professional show items, so most of what you see in the shops will be in categories two and 3.
The primary criteria for category two fireworks are that the fuse should burn for between 3 and 13 seconds, and it should be viewed from at least 5 metres away. For category 3 the fuse is 5 to 15 seconds, and the viewing distance 25 metres. There are also criteria for debris fallout areas, but these are the main defining criteria. You tend to get category two fireworks in the smaller sized show boxes, sold via mainstream suppliers' such as newsagents and supermarkets. The much more spectacular category 3 items are generally sold as person items, and are generally to be discovered in more specialist outlets.
One very simple, but quite reliable tip for gauging the value and likely performance of a firework is to really feel the weight of it. Generally speaking, the heavier a firework is, the much better show it will give you. This is by no indicates a hard and quick rule, but it is a extremely great rule of thumb.
Having been in the trade for 40 years now, I like to think I have had a reasonable quantity of feed back on the topic of DIY firework displays, and the thing that crops up time and again is that most displays last for as well lengthy, with too many 'same again' fireworks! The issue could so effortlessly be solved with a bit of forward planning. Rather of the usual situation, exactly where six individuals all turn up with a small box of fireworks, very likely from a non specialist outlet, that fizzle and phutt their way through a lacklustre display, why not gather an agreed quantity of money from every guest rather, and then go to a specialist retailer, and buy a few truly spectacular fireworks. Everyone will then see a shorter, but far much better show.
We now have a regular customer base, which entrust their budget to us every year, and rely us to construct a memorable display for them. Initially it may be difficult to persuade them to spend any where between £40 and £140 on one firework, but almost with out exception, as soon as they have gone that route, they never look back!
