240 replies to this topic

[Arthur Brown]

Nomex is better than proban IF it is genuine labelled nomex -read the label

My peltor hat from the hat/visor/muffs package is OK so I expect yours will be.

[digger]

These are what I have. The total is about £150, but if you want any of these then I get a 30% discount with ARCO. Arthur I assume that all of these are OK as they are all designed to catch big blobs of molten metal and be flame proof (yes I know there are many definitions in the EN standards).

Ear muffs
Fibreglass heatproof helmet
Heat proof visor 9" (598) and carrier
Pyrovatex boiler suit meets all the offshore regs (except concealed buttons not zips and no high vis stripes)
Nice soft calf skin gloves

Edited by digger, 03 September 2008 - 10:03 PM.

[TCblastmaster]

Having sorted out personal protective attire for this course I have decided (probably quite wisely) that I will travel on the Friday and stay for two nights. There are a few hotels within 5 miles with rooms available but wondered what other attendees are doing for accommodation.

As it would be unfortunate to miss an opportunity to 'network' with fellow enthusiasts (over a pint or two) I thought it might be a reasonable idea to just check before booking.

TonyC

[digger]

Having sorted out personal protective attire for this course I have decided (probably quite wisely) that I will travel on the Friday and stay for two nights. There are a few hotels within 5 miles with rooms available but wondered what other attendees are doing for accommodation.

As it would be unfortunate to miss an opportunity to 'network' with fellow enthusiasts (over a pint or two) I thought it might be a reasonable idea to just check before booking.

TonyC

I believe there are a couple of us staying at the cross keys as mentioned earlier in the post. Unfortunately I think they only have 2 rooms, I believe there are a couple of other places just down the road.

[portfire]

Well I'm around 1hr away, so it's an early night for me. Saying that I MAY look into a B&B close by, don't know yet.

Right, PPE, It looks like I MIGHT get a orange 'Proban' suite w/viz stripes for nothing but will the viz stripes coarse a problem?....Arthur, if you could get back to me on this ASAP, that would be great.

[TCblastmaster]

I sincerely hope high-vis stripes aren't a problem; I have the same! There is also a certain inescapable logic in having them when working with others in a dangerous area in near darkness.

I have booked a room at the Melbourne Arms & Cuisine India, Melbourne (UK). The room is cheap (and hopefully cheerful) and a curry sounds just the ticket, washed down with a Cobra beer or three. However, I'd like to apologise in advance to anyone with an aversion to garlic. They still have some rooms left and it's only a 15 minute drive to the venue.

Has anyone been doing any reading for this course?

TonyC

[digger]

I sincerely hope high-vis stripes aren't a problem; I have the same! There is also a certain inescapable logic in having them when working with others in a dangerous area in near darkness.

I have booked a room at the Melbourne Arms & Cuisine India, Melbourne (UK). The room is cheap (and hopefully cheerful) and a curry sounds just the ticket, washed down with a Cobra beer or three. However, I'd like to apologise in advance to anyone with an aversion to garlic. They still have some rooms left and it's only a 15 minute drive to the venue.

Has anyone been doing any reading for this course?

TonyC

It does certainly sound sensible to have high vis stripes. The suits with them have the same flame ratings as those without so it would be madness if they are not acceptable.

Maybe all those that are going to be staying over on the Friday can arrange to meet up, I am sure a few taxi's won't break the bank.

No reading has been done by me, other than already accumulated knowledge which I have no idea of relevance.

D

[Arthur Brown]

My preference is no reflective stripes so that you can hide from the audience while firing, There should be so few firers actually among the fireworks while firing that there should be no confusion.

The PPE is based on the assumption that you will hand fire cat4 shows. During the course PPE will be discussed and obviously PPE for electric firing at 50 metres is different.

There is a LOT to be said for remote firing as there is NO PPE that will fully protect you from a muzzle break or a salute going off in the mortar. Distance is your friend here.

Having done a few cat3 shows, there is a need to be able to look presentable after the show, esp if you have to go and speak to the host. so in those cases OTT PPE is as inappropriate as poor PPE.

[portfire]

Right I've found this on Ebay (thanks chris)

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...id=p3286.c0.m14

I've emailed the guy asking whether the visor is 9" Polycarbonate and his replie was "I believe so". Should I take his word on it and order, or ask him to check as It's important?

As you can see I'm going for the cheap route Why do bills all seem to come at the same bloody inappropriate time

[starseeker]

It does certainly sound sensible to have high vis stripes. The suits with them have the same flame ratings as those without so it would be madness if they are not acceptable.

Maybe all those that are going to be staying over on the Friday can arrange to meet up, I am sure a few taxi's won't break the bank.

No reading has been done by me, other than already accumulated knowledge which I have no idea of relevance.

D

A friday meet up sounds ideal.

As for reading up,i am the same as digger,anyway i think all we need to know is taught on the day,

[Arthur Brown]

This is a link to the map of the village. Go south on the Worthington Lane from the red flag on the map til you see the only lined out car park on the west of the lane -there is the pub.

http://maps.google.c...e...mp;t=h&z=17

Edited by Arthur Brown, 07 September 2008 - 10:54 PM.

[TCblastmaster]

This is a link to the map of the village. Go south on the Worthington Lane from the red flag on the map til you see the only lined out car park on the west of the lane -there is the pub.

http://maps.google.c...e...mp;t=h&z=17

Thanks for that Arthur, it should be easy to find the pub from my digs now.

I am looking forward to putting a few faces to names (UKPS tags anyway) and talking with like-minded individuals, over a beer or two, about all things pyro.

On the issue of high-vis stripes, and you will have to forgive me if I sound pedantic on this but it appears to be a source of consternation, I can't see what the problem is. It appears to be the standard now in the offshore industry (the biggest market for this product). Having done considerable research into the best product in terms of specifications, price, etc., they all had bloody stripes! Having worked as a medic in the offshore industry I can see the logic in being able to locate a motionless casualty in poor lighting on the drill-floor- a comparable scenario to a catastrophic firing-site malfunction, I would imagine.

I think a number of people are probably worried that they have spent unwisely. If the boilersuit complies with the relevant UN legislation, embellished or not, it is fit for purpose. The suit I bought did not offer an unstriped option and I have no intention of purchasing another.

See you all next week

TonyC

[Arthur Brown]

In conversation thursday (yesterday) with the trainer.

PPE Number one item is the head and face protection,

After that the body protection starts with a proban or better boilersuit and you can improve on that if you wish.

If you do not have PPE then on the day you will not fire 'works.


As there is currently no standard specifically for fireworks firers (Shh they will invent one!) using fire retardant kit from other industries is the only choice. As with all PPE there are lots of guessed decisions based on protection against possible/probable hazards.

It's your body you only get one so chose PPE carefully, -But stay solvent! You need to be safe but the kit is for using, it will wear out in time so buy value.

[portfire]

Well, I've finally got my head gear (thanks to a friend, he said call it a xmas present )

Heres some pics


9" Polycarbonate full face visor One question though Arthur, is there a required thickness for the visor? I've had the digi-calipers on in it and the thickness is on average 1.10mm.

[Arthur Brown]

Looks fine!

The clear visor is to deflect shock wave if and when you have a low shot.