29 replies to this topic

[Gareth]

Hi.

Has anyone heard anything about the regs changes in 2017 - and the effect they with have on domestic use of E-Matches?

I was browsing the USA "Pyro Universe" and was chatting to a uk based poster on there who mentioned that the use of ematches could be restricted to "persons of specialist knowledge" in the 2017 regs changes.

Is this true?

Gareth

[Arthur Brown]

PwSK is dead easy to get.

[Gareth]

So, embarrassingly, I had to PM Arthur to ask him what PwSK meant !

A very fine answer came back.  Many thanks.

So it looks like this is true then?  Ematches will be banned for sale to the public.

Given that the only way to obtain ematches will be to get training - and that the co's offering the training will usually equate that to getting a job in the industry - this effectively will bar most from ever getting PwSK status to obtain them?

What about those consumer ones?  The ones with the little loops for the visco?

[JamesB]

That's interesting, so how does one go about formalising PwSK? Or is this a fairly subjective thing?

[Gareth]

I just spoke to one supplier of both ematches and consumer ematches.  They also sell fuse too.

They are aware of the new regs - which are in early stages - but they will likely stop selling both ematch and the consumer types.

They will also stop selling fuse too.

Perhaps one of the best ways to address this is to take this up with the major suppliers of domestic fireworks - could they incorporate this into their training days etc.?

[David G]

Another nail in the coffin of UK pyro experimentation. Good job everyone.

[Gareth]

I understand the regs to be in early stages.

So I am ever hopeful that the regs will be kinder.

[dave]

its about time we stood up to govern our own affairs !!!

 

not leave it up to the eu to dictate

 

as a society we should be actively doing something to oppose this !!!!

 

what a load of crap

[Arthur Brown]

The best guess that I've seen so far is that igniters where the compound can be seen will be P2 and igs where the compound isn't accessible will be P1, but this remains an informed guess til the regs are published.

 

However, Person with Specialist Knowledge for igniters is part of  BPA senior firer, Illuminate Consult PwSK course, and the Assn Stage Pyro course, There may be other courses also.

 

Sadly since the start of the T1 and T2, and P1 and P2 classes of device it's been expected that the level 2 items will be for PwSK users only, and maybe for insured user only. 

[dave]

as I said

 

what a load of crap

 

I have used igniters for over 40 years, why should I pay money to go a course to "prove" I am responsible and know how to handle them /store etc.

 

bet some of you don't even know what a Vulcan or cerium fusehead from ici looked like, never mind used any

 

rant over

Edited by dave, 07 September 2015 - 08:32 PM.

[Arthur Brown]

However as you get PwSK for igniters inside the PwSK for cat4 fireworks it really is two birds with one stone

[Gareth]

I'm really a total novice here by comparison but I understood to get training you have to be 'sponsored' by a company?

Who will sponsor the hobbyist?

[David G]

Nobody. Simple as that. FUBARED is what the hobbyist is. I do not care what certain people say on here,the law changes are a cock-up of grand proportions and the sooner it is realised,then we can get a proper review of the legislation

[Gareth]

One thing that springs to mind is this:

Who provides the training? 

What makes them so special? 

Are 'they' government sanctioned?

If not: What's to stop UKPS from offering a training facility to its members of the same standard?

If so: Could we get acceptance to offer such training?

Let's face it: We have acceptance to make pyrotechnical articles, why not training?

[Arthur Brown]

The wording of the Act is "Training recognised within the industry" As BPA, Illuminate consult and ASP were there when the Act came into force they are established. NEW starters in the training course line have to become recognised within the industry, few have the established reputation to start.