Function

Effect

Potential Hazards

Shells

Fired from mortars by a lift charge, the shell bursts to produce effects in the sky.

Loud report & visual effects, parachutes or daylight smoke

Fallout from debris, ground burst, unexploded shells falling to ground.

Rockets

Fitted with a stick, a motor charge propels the entire firework into the sky, at the apex of flight bursts in the same way as a shell.

Distinct tail on ascent followed by stars, noise or other effects, parachutes or daylight smoke

Fallout from debris or from the stick falling to earth. Projectile effect if launched at low angle.

Mines

Fired from integral or separate mortars, mines produce a column of stars or effects

Stars, reports or bombettes

Relatively low debris. Projectile effect if launched at low angle

Roman Candles

A long tube containing several shots fired in sequence

Stars, mini-mines, reports or bombettes.

Internal components falling as debris, projectile effect if launched at low angle.

Single Shot Devices

Single shot Roman candles or mines

Stars, mini-mines, reports or bombettes

Generally designed to produce very low debris.

Cakes

A collection of single shot devices and shells fired in sequence

Stars, mini-mines, reports or bombettes

Debris. Projectile effect if item is tipped over or launched at low angle. Projectile effect if cake disrupted due to a malfunctioning item affecting integrity of the remaining tubes.

Fountains

Shower of sparks from single tube often used on wheels as well as set pieces.

Metallic or other sparks projected in direction of firing.

Local effect from sparks

Waterfalls

Usually a vertical curtain of sparks from many tubes fired simultaneously

Metallic sparks falling downwards from tubes fired horizontally or vertically.

Local effects below the waterfall from sparks which usually are designed to reach the ground

Set Pieces

Messages or images comprised of many small fountain tubes on a frame.

May comprise many colours & or incorporate other effects

Very low hazard of burns from set piece itself