Fireworks Education | Fireworks Tips

The Explosives Act sets out the requirements and guidelines for activities involving all explosives including the use of Fireworks. For Consumer Fireworks, the Act and Regulations dictate when a license is required and requirements for the sale, display and storage of Consumer Fireworks.

Consequences for Not Following Federal Regulations?
Responsibility rests with the retailers to ensure that the sale of Consumer Fireworks is in accordance with the Explosives Act and its Regulations.

Under Section 21 (1) of the Explosives Act, every person who personally or by an agent sells Consumer Fireworks contrary to the Regulations is guilty of an offence punishable on the summary or by indictment and is liable.

Inspectors may enter and inspect any place in which Fireworks are being stored, transported or used; they may open and inspect any room, container or package.

Only Fireworks authorized pursuant to the Explosives Regulations may be imported into or manufactured, transported, sold, possessed or used in Canada.

Contraband items such as Cherry Bombs, Snaps, Silver Salutes, M-80 salutes, Flash Crackers, Throwdown Torpedoes, Cigarette Loads, Trick Matches and all trick Fireworks are prohibited.

The List of Authorized Explosives is published on the ERD website at Authorized Explosives

To verify if a Firework article is authorized for sale in Canada:

Is the Firework intended for indoor use?
Is the Firework a hand held Firework (excluding sparklers)?
Is the Fireworks meant to be self-propelled from the ground into the air using an unpredictable flight path?
Is the Firework designed to explode violently?
Has the Firework had a history of injury related to use?

I you answered YES to any of the above, the Firework is not likely authorized for sale in Canada.

Fireworks shold not be transported in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. They should be transported in the trunk. Accelerants such as gas must not be carried in the trunk with Fireworks.

The maximum quantity that can be transported in passenger vehicles is 75 kg. For transporting quantities greater than 150 kg in non-passenger vehicles, refer to the TDG (Transport of Dangerous Goods, Transport Canada) for appropriate transport requirements.

Storage
A building and its storage units may store up to 1000 kg of Consumer Fireworks provided it is detached from a dwelling and the building or a portion of it is;

Secure from unauthorized access when both open and closed for business.
Constructed using non-sparking materials.
Constructed so that it protects the contents from weather and has adequate ventillation.
Kept clean, dry, organized and free of grit.
Used exclusively for Fireworks storage

Displaying Consumer Fireworks for Sale
Consumer Fireworks on display must be separated into lots not exceeding 25 kg. The separation must be sufficient to prevent fire from spreading rapidly from lot to the next and may consist of:

an aisle with a minimum width of 1.2 metres.
a 6 mm plywood partition that extends 15 cm above the height of the lot or to the display shelf above.

Fireworks must be kept away from accelerants and not exposed to sun or excess heat.

Fireworks on display must be in Consumer packs or locked up in a display case. Fireworks not in packs or locked away must be inaccessible to the public. Customers are not permitted to handle any Firework article which are not in Consumer packs until they have been purchased.

No person shall knowingly sell any Consumer Firework to a person who is under 18 yrs of age and does not produce evidence that they are of age.

You MUST ask anyone who appears to be less than 18 yrs of age for Government Issued Photo ID.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Proof of Age - Check for date of birth
Photo - Ensure the photo matches the purchaser
Government Issued Card - Ensure the card is government issued, Driver's Licence, Passport, etc.

Employees

I.D. everyone who appears to be under 18
Familiarize yourself with acceptable forms of I.D. and how to check it
Watch out for fake I.D.
If in doubt - DO NOT SELL
You can be charged if you sell to anyone under the age of 18. The clerk, store owner or corporation can also be charged.
Know how to handle complaints
Tell customers you are obeying the law

FAMILY PACKS Various assortments of packaged Consumer Fireworks. Each pack/kit may include different fireworks so be sure to check the pack for the types of fireworks you are looking for.
BLOCK PARTY PACKS Much the same as Family Packs, Block Party Packs contain a larger quantity and possibly a larger assortment of fireworks. These packs are designed to entertain a large number of people.
ROMAN CANDLES Roman candles are a traditional type of firework which ejects one or more stars or exploding shells. Roman candles come in a variety of sizes, from small 6 mm (1/4") diameter for consumers, and up to 8 cm (3") diameter in professional fireworks displays. Video Here
SPECIALTY BOMBETTES These fireworks resemble Roman candles but contain effects such as "buzzers" or "whistles", "bees" or "screamers" and more along with coloured stars. Video Here
BRAZILIAN SHELLS In general Brazilian Shells are single shot items and considered High Level fireworks. They can contain a single effect such as a "Peony Burst" or multiple effects all in one shell. Video Here
CAKES / MULTI-SHOT CAKES Cakes fireworks range in size from a few shots in one firework to 100 shots or more contained in one firework. Cakes are generally used as High Level fireworks and work well when used as a finale piece either alone or with other fireworks. Video Here
BARRAGES As the name implies, this type of firework shoots a Barrage of different effects or shots from a long tube. They can range from as few as 10 shots to as many as 99 shots all in one firework. Video Here
TUBE TYPE ITEMS Also referred to as Mortar Type fireworks these items generally fire one shell burst which may contain one to many effects such as "Floral bursts", "Comets", "Mines" and others. Video Here
WHEELS / PIN WHEELS Wheels are fun items generally nailed to a post (Never a tree or building). They are designed to spin in circles while emitting sparks. Some contain "Screamers/Whistles" as well. Video Here
FOUNTAINS Fountains are considered low-level or ground-level fireworks. They can contain one or many colours of sparks along with whistles or screamers. Many enthusiasts use Fountains at the beginning of a display for their colorful displays of bright sparks. Video Here
NOISEMAKERS Noisemakers are smaller fireworks usually containing only one shot. They can be noise only items or noise and bursts. Generally they are added to a fireworks display to increase the noise level while other fireworks are going off. Video Here
SPARKLERS Usually Sparklers are used before a Fireworks Display to entertain children of ALL ages. They come in a variety of sizes and sparkle brightly when lit. They make a great "Beginning Act" for any Fireworks Display.

A great Fireworks Display takes time, care and planning. From start to finish there should be little to no "Dead Sky". Dead Sky is a period of time where no fireworks are going off and the audience is waiting for the next Firework to shoot.

Plan ahead so there will always be something going off in the sky above. Noisemakers are always a great addition to a fireworks display as they add "dimension" using loud reports and whistles.

As in the diagram above, start at the front of your display area with low-level items such as Fountains. Progress up the display area and next you should have mid-level items such as Roman Candles and smaller Barrages.

Finally toward the back of the display area should be the finale. This is usually achieved with high-level fireworks such as large Barrages, Brazilian Shells and Multi-Shot Cakes.

Massive Ooos and Ahhs can be achieved by trying different Firework combinations and firing all at the same time.
Here are some examples: