BlackCat

Hello guys, it's wonderful to see so many names that I recognise from a few years ago when the Forum was alive. Although I do drop in fairly regularly, I haven't been here for the last couple of months due to other pressures.

I'm still making my fireworks and currently investigating, that old favourite, blue flames. I've looked at pretty much all of the formulations I can find online plus many of my own with some very interesting results when they're plotted in Lab colour space. I now have four really excellent blues based on different oxidisers, copper sources or chlorine donors. To be honest, I think I'm about finished with this work and thinking of moving on to yellows. I have one yellow, which is pretty good, but I'd like to see if I can improve on it. If any of you have a favourite yellow you'd like to share, I'd really be happy to try them.

Going through the process of renewing my EPP at the moments and had a visit from a Counter Terrorist Security Advisor last week, the first such visit I've had since the EPP system went live and this is my third renewal. I thought he was quite happy with my arrangements though he did make a few suggestions for upgrades. Unfortunately, these suggestions have become mandatory when the Home Office read them. The measures include, security lighting, CCTV and an upgraded alarm system all of which he wants to send messages to my phone, so significant ongoing costs for SIM cards. Looks like the equipment will cost several hundred pounds too let alone getting someone to fit them. Obviously, cost isn't an issue when someone else is paying! I also have to change the lock and hasp on my oxidiser storage cabinet to ones meeting BS12320 CEN 3, according to the Padlock Technical Advisory Institute (yes it really exists) the standard "cannot" be applied to hasps and the locks I've seen online look to be less secure than the ones I have fitted! So, I need to meet a standard that doesn't apply in one case and improve my security by fitting a less secure lock provided that it says BS12320 on it somewhere.

I wonder wahat life would be like with bureaucrats!!!

Congratulations, some really nice effects there. I've always enjoyed the videos of your work so please keep it up.

We went to our favourite Indian restaurant for NYE and had a great curry. Sadly, many of the bookings had been cancelled so things were a bit quiet. They were doing a roaring trade in take-aways though!

Yep, we had some pretty good local garden displays, I agree there's some very good aerial stuff around these days for garden use.

I suggest a nice bottle of wine, a chair in the garden, a blanket to wrap up in then watch everyone else's fireworks.

Thanks for your comments on my post.

You're quite right on the different priorities for commercial and non-commercial members of any forum and, it's probably for that reason that, the number of commercial members was limited on this forum. I may be wrong but I seem ti remember a figure of 30% maximum for commercial members. It's been a long time so don't quote me on that figure.

Again, doing the best you can is only possible for non-commercial pyrotechnicians because we don't have to be too bothered about the cost of the raw materials we put into a composition or the time it takes to build a device. Both of these factors are crucial to commercial firework manufacture. 

We also don't have to worry too much about the stability of our compositions either because we can't store them for any length of time under the lawn relating to AO licences. In the commercial world, storage for a year or more isn't uncommon and, again, meeting this requirement can influence to choice of one raw material over another.

Finally, to meet the required British Standards for commercial fireworks is also a possible constraint on both cost and performance.

Hello David I agree it's good to still be able to buy fireworks and it seems that they're on sale all year round these days. I must admit that I thought that they were only available to the pu8blic during four specific periods a year. I guess I missed the change in legislation!

It also looks as if the current EPPP system for buying certain chemicals will stay in place now that we've got Brexit happening so those of us who make fireworks should be Ok for a while at least.

I take it that your interest is in commercial fireworks, rather than making them due to your health issues. What subject was your PhD research focussed on.

No, I didn't. I bought a chain to do so but decided to leave it off unless the ELO insisted on it having one, he didn't so I left it. it's probably worth me mentioning that I store the box in a locked cupboard made from 25mm ply (because i had some lying around) in my shed. The cupboard has an intumescent strip around it's door and it's bolted into the structure of the shed, rather than screwed, in a manner similar to the installation of a firearms cabinet.  The cupboard and the box have high security padlocks and the shed is alarmed but only with a shed alarm. The door to the shed is secured with a standard Yale lock.

No problem but, for the sake of clarity, yes he did approve the yeast tins on the grounds that the lid is plastic and would easily blow off if there was any pressure build up inside.

Hello Jon, like you I only need a small quantity of granulated BP to pursue my interests. As Arthur suggested, I made a cut down version of the ply box and I've attached a couple of pictures for you.

The box is made out of 18mm ply, just like the "official" one and measures 240mm x 240mm x 155mm high externally. The tins I use for storage are about 55mm in diameter and 90mm high and contain up to about 200g of BP depending on it's grain size. The tins originally contained Allinson's Yeast and they can be found at any supermarket, however, you'd probably have to take up bread making to make it worthwhile buying them ! the plastic lid fits snugly on the tin but isn't tight enough to allow any appreciable build up of pressure in an accident.

The box has been approved by my ELO but, as Arthur says, you should consult with yours because they frequently have their own opinion of how things should be.

Like Arthur, I have been aware that continental webshops have added a statement to their websites regarding compliance with the EU directives on potassium perchlorate and potassium chlorate, however, I have not seen the same attached to ammonium perchlorate. I was also under the impression that the introduction of the EPPP was instead of UK compliance with these directives.

As far as how other countries are coping, I'm sure we all know that the Maltese have a very long tradition of celebrating saint's days with fireworks and that a good pro[portion of those set off are made by amateurs in firework clubs. I don't have any contacts over there but, somebody in the society might and, if so, it could be a good place to get a view. Mind you, I guess that any opt-out would require the countries government to get on side and negotiate on behalf of the interested parties. Call me cynical if you like but I can't see any of the UK parties wanting to do the right thing by us!

I can only echo the sentiments of those above, it was a really good day and I also feel that there were some really good ideas for taking the Society forward. It was really good to meet you all and I hope to see you again in the future, not too distant though!

The fireworks were awesome! Thanks guys!

Thanks guys, for the record, I am the first to apply for pyro licencing in Northants so it isn't too surprising that it's taken 8 months to get there. Hopefully, the next person will have an easier ride than I've had but, it's a good place to be.

You know, I may just change my mind about celebrating and have that beer...............

Since posting the above, I've had a further E-mail from Andi Jamieson, who is the ELO for Northants, and copied to the enquiry officer handling my application. In it, he says that having seen my E-mail responding to their E-mail copied in my previous post and having a look at the updated UKPS Good Practice Guide via the link that I sent them, he now believes that the Police are responsible for issuing licences for pyrotechnics. Consequently, he's advised my case officer to go ahead and issue me with an appropriate certificate.

It seems that re-sending them the link to the GPG has done the trick and broken the stalemate so is, perhaps, something that future applicants should include with their application covering letter.

I'm not going to celebrate until I have the piece of paper in my hand but, a big thanks to all of you that posted advice and support for my endeavours and a special thanks to Wayne.

I'll let you know when it arrives.

Thanks for that Wayne, I presume that that's Reg 2 of ER2014? I'll pass the info on to them and hope that they can find it on their Intranet.

Nothing back from then so far but, it is still very early days.