Designing A Fireworks Display - Advanced Planning
A while before the display date you need to think about the show that you are going to be doing; if you don't already have fireworks you need to plan what types of fireworks you need and how long it will take from order to delivery. Other points you nee to take into consideration at this time include equipment requirements, legal permissions, weather conditions, location etc and also decide exactly how you want the display to look and feel. All of these factors are imperative for an effective, safe and successful display.
Fireworks Site Walk Through
The first thing you need to do is to take a walk round the area where the display will be held. This will give you an idea about how to layout the display, safe spectator areas, fallout areas, potential hazards such as overhead cables and trees, prevailing weather conditions etc. You should never attempt to set up a display "blind".
Supplies
It is imperative to have everything that you will need on site during setup, and although each pyrotechnician has his own preferences regarding equipment and tools, here are the guidelines for what equipment is generally needed.
- Breeze Blocks or Sand Bags: For stabilizing the fireworks. Enough for all aerial devices in the display.
- Plyboard: for setting up clusters of fireworks in close proximity, it provides a flat and dry surface and can be stabilized using breeze blocks. Also used to create "stations".
- Wooden Posts: For mounting set pieces, wheels, or rocket launching tubes. It's easier to build a mounting frame that will hold the posts vertically rather than trying to pound them into the ground.
- Pipe: For launching rockets. Needs to be wide and long enough to accommodate only the rocket's stick. Too wide piping will send rockets off at unpredictable angles.
- Bin Liners + Aluminium foil: To protect fireworks against rain, sparks, and fallout.
- Shovel: For piling dirt / sand around racks for stabilization, and for putting out stray sparks.
- Safety Glasses: Especially if hand lighting fireworks.
- Sharp Knife: For cutting into fuses, wrappers, boxes. A Swiss Army and a couple of box cutters with spare blades are the best option.
- Wire Cutters / Strippers: Used for cutting electrical fuse.
- Extra fuse: for extending fuses to create time delays, or for connecting multiple devices together. Check out the fusing page to see how to do so.
- Mobile Phone: And someone to call so you do not have to leave the site unattended if you forgot something.
- Flash Light and Head Lamp: One to illuminate a wide area, the other to use while doing fuse work, preparing the firing system, reading display notes etc. Don't forget spare batteries!
- First aid kit: Burn salve, headache pills, sticking plasters, eye wash as an absolute minimum.
- Fire Extinguisher / Dousers: To put out any smoldering fireworks or stray fires. Portable garden watering pumps or Large "super-soaker" water guns are a good option for this.
- No Entry Tape: To clearly designate the non public areas of the display.
- Protective clothing: safety goggles, gloves, clothing to cover bare arms/legs.
- Methods of ignition: Windproof lighter, cigarettes, Butane Torch plus a backup.
- Gaffer (Duck) Tape - For everything else!
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The Fireworks Company Thailand accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any injuries or accidents that occur as a result of attempting any of the displays or projects mentioned in this site, or as a result of use or misuse of any pyrotechnic products purchased from us. We highly recommend the use of professional display service for anything other than consumer 1.4G Fireworks with shells 1.75" or less in diameter.