Designing A Fireworks Display - Site Layout
During the advance planning of the show, you need to have a rough idea of the setup of your show on the ground and what you want it to look like when it's in the air. This is separated into two distinct sections, Site Layout and Show Design.
Site Layout
Unlike the design of the show which is planned for effect and can be different every time, the layout of the show is planned to ensure the safety of the display - to prevent fires and avoid the possibility of anyone getting burned. So the layout of a display is always the same. The display area is separated into three distinct zones, the Fireworks, the fallout and the spectator zones.
The Firing Area - Main considerations for this zone are that it must be on level ground, free of flammable materials such as wooden structures, dry grass, brush, gasoline cans, or anything else that will burn. It should also be free of objects that could be tripped over while approaching or retreating from a firework (such as rocks, sticks, or potholes). Minimum safe size is 50 meters wide (A in the diagram) by 20 meters deep (C in the diagram).
You must also be sure that the area directly above the firing area is free of any obstructions such as power cables, trees, or anything else that could potentially catch fire or deflect the flight of an aerial projectile.
The Safety Area - This area is to create a safe buffer zone around the firing area, and particularly between the audience and the display. This keeps spectators at a safe distance from any fireworks that may go off on or near to the ground (misfire). Minimum safe width is 25 meters ( D. in the diagram).
Weather Considerations
Before you can go ahead with a display, it is imperative to check the weather too see if it might effect the intended displays layout and setup or make it too difficult or dangerous to go ahead.
Fireworks & Wind
- Affects both the ascent of burning fireworks and the decent of the fallout. Because of this, it is extremely important to position the audience upwind of the fireworks to reduce the chance of them getting rained on with sparks. Remember the higher a device goes, the farther the wind will push it. At the advance planning stage you can only estimate the possible strength and direction the wind is likely to be blowing. You should take this into account when planning the layout of the display so that when you arrive on site on the firing day you can consider moving around the locations of the different "zones" in your display. If it's blowing towards the area that you originally planned to hold spectators, you should rotate the spectator zone around the firework zone, maintaining the fallout zone in between. The wind doesn't have to be blowing directly ahead of the audience: as long as the wind direction will carry the fallout away from the audience.
Fireworks & Rain
- Doesn't necessarily prevent a fireworks display, provided that it is prepared correctly a display can be held in all but torrential downpours. The setup process for each category of firework described below will include a section on how to weatherproof that particular item.
The Fallout Area - Most aerial fireworks leave debris in the sky that doesn't burn up and will fall back down to earth still smoldering. The fallout area is to keep them from landing on spectators.
As shown in the diagram, the fallout area surrounds and includes the actual firing area, and needs to be clear of any flammable debris, cars, or people. It should extend 25 meters to either side of the firing zone and 25 to 50 meters beyond it depending on the size of shells in use and the expected effect of any wind.
The Spectator Area - Is the designated area for people to watch the show. Obviously it needs to have the best possible view to prevent people from moving into the fallout area for a better look at the show.
The audience should be able to enter and exit without going through the fallout or firework areas. It's normally a good idea to separate the audience and other areas with no entry tape to keep people from wandering too close to the fireworks during setup or the firing of the display.
Types of fallout from aerial devices..
Shells: though a shell burst looks powerful enough to disintegrate its paper casing, it doesn't - the lift charge cup and two paper hemispheres are left behind after the aerial explosion, which fall back to the ground.
Repeaters: most repeating aerial devices send up dozens of small cardboard tubes full of effects, which fall back empty after they burst. Most of these contain clay plugs in the bottom, which can make them more heavy than they look.
Rockets: no matter what type of rocket or missile you plan on using, there will be debris that falls out of the sky. Smaller rockets typically blow their thin paper casing when they explode, leaving only a tiny stick to flutter back to earth. Large skyrockets and missiles fall back to the ground with the sticks, fins and plastic nose cone still attached to the cardboard engine casing.
Roman Candles and Mines: Smaller candles and mines emit stars which burn as they fly upwards, usually leaving nothing left behind to fall back down to the ground. Larger bore, more elaborate roman candles may eject small tubes of effects which will be left behind after the effects burn up.
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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.