CEN/TR 15951:2009

Pyrotechnic articles - Fireworks, category 4 - Overview of harmonized standards that will be developed by CEN/TC 212/WG 2

This Technical Report gives an overview of harmonized standards which will be proposed to be developed by CEN/TC 212 WG 2, Category 4 Fireworks. It also gives the interpretation WG 2 experts have made of some terms, definitions and requirements of Directive 2007/23/EC in order to assure future harmonized standards will encompass all varieties of fireworks, which are presently placed on the European market, in a consistent way and take the benefit of all the practical experience and usages of fireworks in the Member States.

Pyrotechnische Gegenstände - Feuerwerkskörper, Kategorie 4 - Überblick über harmonisierte Normen, die von CEN/TC 212/WG 2 erarbeitet werden

Articles pyrotechniques - Artifices de divertissement de catégorie 4 - Vue d'ensemble des normes harmonisées qui seront élaborées par le CEN/TC 212/WG 2

Le présent rapport technique donne une vue d'ensemble des normes harmonisées que le Groupe de Travail n°2 « Artifices de divertissement de catégorie 4 » du comité technique CEN/TC 212 proposera de développer. Il donne également l'interprétation que les experts du Groupe de Travail n°2 ont retenu pour certains termes, définitions et exigences de la Directive 2007/23/CE afin d'assurer que les futures normes harmonisées engloberont tous les types d'artifices de divertissement, qui sont actuellement mis sur le marché européen, d'une manière cohérente et tireront bénéfice de toute l'expérience pratique et des utilisations des artifices de divertissement dans les États membres.

Pirotehnični izdelki - Ognjemeti, kategorija 4 - Pregled harmoniziranih standardov, ki jih pripravlja CEN/TC 212/WG 2

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 13-Oct-2009
• ICS: 71.100.30 - Explosives. Pyrotechnics and fireworks
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 212 - Fireworks
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 212/WG 2 - Fireworks, category 4
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 14-Oct-2009
• Due Date: 20-Dec-2009
• Completion Date: 14-Oct-2009
• Directive: 2007/23/EC - Directive 2007/23/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 May 2007 on the placing on the market of pyrotechnic articles
• Directive: 2013/29/EU - Directive 2013/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of pyrotechnic articles (recast)
• Mandate: M/416 - Standardization mandate assigned to CEN concerning pyrotechnic articles
• Ref Project: SIST-TP CEN/TR 15951:2009 - Pyrotechnic articles - Fireworks, category 4 - Overview of harmonized standards that will be developed by CEN/TC 212/WG 2

Overview

CEN/TR 15951:2009 - "Pyrotechnic articles - Fireworks, category 4" is a CEN Technical Report prepared by CEN/TC 212/WG 2. It provides an overview of the harmonized standards to be developed for Category 4 Fireworks (professional fireworks) under the mandate from the European Commission (Mandate M416) and in support of Directive 2007/23/EC. The report clarifies the WG2 interpretation of key terms, defines the scope of C4 fireworks, and sets out the WG’s future work programme to ensure consistent, market-wide application of essential safety requirements (ESR).

Key topics and requirements

• Scope & definition: Interprets Article 3(a) of Directive 2007/23/EC to include fireworks that present high hazard, require modification/preparation before use, form components of more elaborate fireworks, or fail to meet C1–C3 criteria, and are intended for persons with specialist knowledge.
• Terminology & classification: Introduces structured terms - generic types, subtypes, family, individual item, type, and technical/trade name - to organise C4 fireworks for testing and certification.
• Essential safety requirements (ESR): Identifies parameters and performance characteristics that harmonized standards must address so C4 products comply with Directive 2007/23/EC.
• Test methods & identification: Lists and aligns appropriate test methods (including reuse of relevant WG1 methods where applicable) to demonstrate compliance.
• Labelling & marking: Defines labelling requirements to communicate hazards, usage restrictions (specialist users), and product identity.
• Harmonized standard structure & work programme: Outlines the harmonized standard(s) to be developed, projects to initiate within WG2, time targets, and interfaces with other CEN/TC 212 Working Groups.

Additional technical support material is provided in annexes: lists of generic types, subtypes, components, specific cases (e.g., stars), a glossary of technical terms, and parameters for complying with the ESR.

Practical applications and users

• Fireworks manufacturers and component suppliers: Use the report to prepare product design, documentation and conformity assessment strategies for C4 fireworks.
• Notified bodies and conformity assessors: Apply the harmonized standard framework and test methods for type-examination and certification.
• Professional pyrotechnicians and show producers: Gain clarity on the classification, labelling and safe use expectations for Category 4 fireworks.
• Regulators and market surveillance authorities: Use the report to assess compliance with Directive 2007/23/EC and to harmonise enforcement across EU Member States.
• Standards developers: Reference the WG2 work programme, terminology and interfaces when drafting C4 harmonized standards.

Related standards and references

• Directive 2007/23/EC (placing on the market of pyrotechnic articles)
• Mandate M416 to CEN for pyrotechnic standardization
• Other CEN/TC 212 working groups (WG1 - Categories 1–3; WG3 - Theatrical pyrotechnic articles) for interface and test-method alignment

Keywords: CEN/TR 15951:2009, Category 4 Fireworks, pyrotechnic articles, harmonized standards, Directive 2007/23/EC, CEN/TC 212 WG2, essential safety requirements, labelling, test methods.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2009
3LURWHKQLþQLL]GHONL2JQMHPHWLNDWHJRULMD3UHJOHGKDUPRQL]LUDQLKVWDQGDUGRY
NLMLKSULSUDYOMD&(17&:*
Pyrotechnic articles - Fireworks, category 4 - Overview of harmonized standards that will
be developed by CEN/TC 212/WG 2
Pyrotechnische Gegenstände - Feuerwerkskörper, Kategorie 4 - Überblick über
harmonisierte Normen, die von CEN/TC 212/WG 2 erarbeitet werden
Articles pyrotechniques - Artifices de divertissement de catégorie 4 - Vue d'ensemble
des normes harmonisées qui seront élaborées par le CEN/TC 212/WG 2
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 15951:2009
ICS:
71.100.30 Eksplozivi. Pirotehnika Explosives. Pyrotechnics
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

TECHNICAL REPORT
CEN/TR 15951
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHER BERICHT
October 2009
ICS 71.100.30
English Version
Pyrotechnic articles - Fireworks, category 4 - Overview of
harmonized standards that will be developed by CEN/TC
212/WG 2
Articles pyrotechniques - Artifices de divertissement de Pyrotechnische Gegenstände - Feuerwerkskörper,
catégorie 4 - Vue d'ensemble des normes harmonisées qui Kategorie 4 - Überblick über harmonisierte Normen, die von
seront élaborées par le CEN/TC 212/WG 2 CEN/TC 212/WG 2 erarbeitet werden

This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 17 August 2009. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 212.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2009 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 15951:2009: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword .3
Introduction .4
1 Scope .5
2 Terminology .5
3 Interfaces between CEN/TC 212 Working Groups .8
4 List of C4 Fireworks and definitions .8
5 Parameters to be taken in consideration to meet the essential safety requirements . 11
6 Identification of test methods . 13
7 Labelling . 14
8 Harmonized Standard . 18
9 Projects to be initiated within WG 2 (List and Mandates) . 21
10 Future Work Program (Objectives, Tasks, Time targets) . 22
Annex A (informative) List of Generic Types and definitions . 25
Annex B (informative) List of Subtypes and definitions . 27
Annex C (informative) List of Components and definitions . 32
Annex D (informative) Specific case of "stars" . 35
Annex E (informative) List of Technical Terms . 36
Annex F (informative) Parameters to comply with ESR . 45
Bibliography . 48

Foreword
This document (CEN/TR 15951:2009) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 212 “Pyrotechnic
articles”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This document (CEN/TR 15951:2009) has been prepared by Working Group Nr 2 “C4 Fireworks” of Technical
Committee CEN/TC 212 “Pyrotechnic articles”, the convenor and secretary of which are respectively Italian
and French. Experts from ten countries have participated to its elaboration: Belgium, Czech Republic,
Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain, The Netherlands and United Kingdom.
It has been approved by votes of all the members of CEN/TC 212 “Pyrotechnic articles” on August 2009.
Introduction
rd
Directive 2007/23/EC of May 23 2007 on the placing on the market of pyrotechnic articles, has been
th
published on June 14 2007 in the Official Journal of the European Union. (Ref. Mandate M 416).
In its Annex 1, Directive 2007/23/EC gives the essential safety requirements (ESR) pyrotechnic articles shall
comply with. In order to facilitate the process of demonstrating compliance with these ESR, harmonized
standards for the design, manufacture and testing of pyrotechnic articles must be developed.
CEN has been mandated by the European Commission (EC) to develop these harmonized standards:
Mandate M 416 describes the work that CEN shall perform.
CEN has entrusted coordination of this work to CEN/TC 212 ‘Pyrotechnic articles’ with the following scope:
“Standardization of fireworks, theatrical pyrotechnic articles, pyrotechnic articles for vehicles and other
pyrotechnic articles, particularly from the point of view of their safe use”.
th th
During its meeting in Delft on October 16 and 17 2007, CEN/TC 212 has decided to share the
corresponding work to be done between several Working Groups. Resolutions have been voted to establish
five Working Groups, one of which is Working Group 2 (CEN/TC 212 / WG2) in charge of standardization of
Category 4 Fireworks.
Because no European standards exist at present for Category 4 Fireworks, preliminary work needs to be
performed before a list of standards to be developed by WG2 can be drawn up. It has been accepted by
CEN/TC 212 and proposed to the European Community a one-year period will be allocated to WG2 to prepare
a CEN Technical Report in which its future work program will be described and an overview of the harmonized
standards it will develop will be given including the reasons why WG 2 propose to develop these standards.
th
Five work sessions have taken place, respectively in NEN – Delft – Netherlands on February 6 2008, in BAM
st th
– Berlin – Germany on May 21 2008, in NEN – Delft – Netherlands on September 10 2008, in AFNOR –
th rd
Paris – France on November 12 2008 and in UNI – Milano – Italy on February 3 2009.
The present document is the final draft of the Technical Report for Category 4 Fireworks. It has been written in
close coordination with the other working groups of CEN/TC 212 WG 1 “Fireworks, Categories 1, 2 and 3",
WG 3 “Theatrical Pyrotechnic Articles”, WG 4 “Pyrotechnic articles for vehicles” and WG 5 “Other pyrotechnic
articles”.
1 Scope
This Technical Report gives an overview of harmonized standards which will be proposed to be developed by
CEN/TC 212 WG 2, Category 4 Fireworks. It also gives the interpretation WG 2 experts have made of some
terms, definitions and requirements of Directive 2007/23/EC in order to assure future harmonized standards
will encompass all varieties of fireworks, which are presently placed on the European market, in a consistent
way and take the benefit of all the practical experience and usages of fireworks in the Member States.
2 Terminology
2.1 Definition of “C4 Fireworks”
Article 3 (a) of Directive 2007/23/EC gives the following definition of “C4 Fireworks”:
“Fireworks which present a high hazard, which are intended for use only by persons with specialist knowledge
(commonly known as fireworks for professional use) and whose noise level is not harmful to human health”
This definition raises the following comments:
 Exceptions can be found to this definition, because some “fireworks for professional use” – e.g. lances –
cannot be considered as “presenting a high hazard” or generate a low noise level by themselves (e.g.
less than C1 maximum noise level). But they have been designed for use in combination with other
fireworks articles, mainly Category 4 Fireworks. Then they are only used by persons with specialist
knowledge and never offered to the consumer market. Consequently WG 2 experts consider these
articles belong to category 4.
 C1-C2-C3 fireworks articles will no longer be considered as belonging to categories 1, 2 or 3, if they do
not comply with all the requirements of these categories. As soon as a potentially C1, C2 or C3 article
definitively does not meet one of the requirements for C1-C2-C3 Fireworks, it will be categorized as a C4
article.
 Nothing in the definition of “pyrotechnic articles” in Directive 2007/23/EC means an article must be a
complete product. Then the case of “incomplete” fireworks articles must also be considered. Such articles
are commonly placed on the market. An example is a “roman candle without fuse”. This article needs
adaptation of a fuse for its ignition and different types of fuse may be used. This operation can be made
by firers at the firing place, but limited to persons with specialized knowledge.
Another example is a “shell without lift charge”. This article can be used in two distinct ways. It can be
placed in the mortar above a separate “bag charge” which will act as a lift charge and will have been
placed first in the mortar – or – this “bag charge” can be fit to it first before placing the assembly in the
mortar.
Such products require “modification or preparation before use”, which appears to be a better wording than
“incomplete”.
 Likewise, “components” of fireworks can be considered as “pyrotechnic articles” from the point of view of
Directive 2007/23/EC, as far as they are placed on the market. Such pyrotechnic objects as rocket
motors, drivers, delay fuses, shells to be included in more elaborated shells, etc. are used for the
construction of fireworks. Some of them can have other applications than fireworks manufacturing and
are “other pyrotechnic articles” as defined by Directive 2007/23/EC (See Clause 3 hereafter). The others
– which are only used as components of fireworks – can be identified to “fireworks which are intended to
be part of a more elaborate firework”, then as “C4 Fireworks” to be used by persons with specialist
knowledge in pyrotechnical factories.
NOTE The specific case of “stars” is discussed in 4.1.
 In the English language, “professional use” mainly means “paid at work” and the sentence between
brackets must be considered as informative but not prevailing. The important term is “person with
specialist knowledge”, which implies these persons are not necessarily paid to prepare and fire the
fireworks.
To conclude and to assure their work will be fully exhaustive, WG 2 experts have adopted the following
interpretation of the definition of C4 Fireworks of Directive 2007/23/EC:
“With respect to Article 3 (a) of Directive 2007/23/EC, Category 4 includes (1) fireworks which present a high
hazard or (2) require modification / preparation before use or (3) are intended to be part of a more elaborate
firework or (4) which do not meet all the requirements for C1-C2-C3 Fireworks, and which are intended for use
only by persons with specialist knowledge (commonly known as fireworks for professional use) and whose
noise level is not harmful to human health.”
Resolution TC 212 28/2008 has been approved by CEN/TC 212.
2.2 Other terms
The future C4 fireworks harmonized standard(s) will identify the design parameters and performance
characteristics to be taken in consideration for the corresponding articles to meet the essential safety
requirements of Directive 2007/23/EC. For each design parameter or performance characteristic it (they) will
state requirements and criteria which shall be complied with.
According to the variety of articles usually observed during C4 fireworks shows, it is clearly noticeable these
articles will not have all in common the same design parameters and performance characteristics. However,
collections of articles sharing the same design parameters and performance characteristics exist. Then WG 2
experts have considered it was necessary to identify these collections of C4 fireworks articles and draw up
their list.
The future harmonized standard(s) will state requirements and criteria for each identified homogeneous
collection, which does not mean there may not exist requirements or criteria applicable to several collections
as well as to all the C4 fireworks articles whatever their design or behaviour in normal use.
Word “type” has been proposed to name these collections of articles. But, this word is already used by
Directive 2007/23/EC, in its Annex II, with another meaning. Then, because Directive 2007/23/EC cannot be
modified, its definition of word “type” must be considered as imperative.
This does not exclude the possibility of using the word “type” in another meaning but – in that case – it has
been suggested to add a qualifying term to it, as it is for the expressions “type of use” and “type of pyrotechnic
article” in Directive 2007/23/EC itself. This proposal has been approved by CEN/TC 212 (See Resolution
43/2008).
Therefore, the following terms and definitions will be used hereafter and in the harmonized standard(s) to be
developed by Working Group 2:
 Type: sample representative of the production envisaged.
NOTE 1 This definition corresponds to the use of the term ‘type’ in Annex II §2(c) of Directive 2007/23/EC for the
purposes of type-examination.
 Generic type: set of articles with a common, very general, design feature and/or with a common
characteristic effect.
 Subtype: set of articles within a generic type with specific design features.
 Individual item: article within a generic type or subtype for which every possible feature and
characteristic has been fixed.
NOTE 2 Each feature and characteristic will be specified in the technical name or a technical data sheet, as
appropriate.
 Technical name: general description of an individual item.
 Trade name: description of an individual item from a particular supplier.
 Family: set of individual items that will be considered together for the purposes of testing and approval.
NOTE 3 This last definition is fully compliant with Directive 2007/23/EC which states in “Whereas (18)”: “Groups of
pyrotechnic articles that are similar in design, function or behaviour should be assessed by the notified bodies as product
families”.
The figure hereafter shows how WG 2 experts intend to organize Category 4 Firework articles in “individual
items” (samples of which will be “types”), “families” and “generic types”, starting from the precise design level
to the general design level. Example is given for “shells”.
At the bottom are located the individual items submitted to conformity assessment procedures by the means
of “types”. As shown they are attributed a relatively long name to give information to the users on the typical
calibre and effects (e.g. green ring) of the shell.
In the middle are set up “families” of individual items which may be considered together for the purposes of
testing and certification (samples of which will be groups of the corresponding “types”).
These families exhibit a first level of generalization of the characteristics of individual items and the
corresponding types. For example, their colour and their possible tracing effect are not concerned by the
essential safety requirements of Directive 2007/23/EC. So they can be neglected as far as compliance with
these requirements is concerned and type tests may only be performed on one type and extended by
similarity to others which share the same generalized characteristics.
At the top, a higher level of generalization of the characteristics of types is again possible. For instance, WG2
experts think all types of shells can be put together in a unique collection of groups because they have already
noted that the essential safety requirements of Directive 2007/23/EC will only imply design and performance
requirements which will be common to every type of shells and none at a lower level (e.g. that of a family).
WG2 harmonized standard will only deal with these “generic types”.

Figure 1 – Generic type, family and item
2.3 Technical terms
A list of technical terms which will possibly be used in setting design or performance requirements in the future
harmonized standard(s) for C4 Fireworks has also been drawn up. Some of these terms which are presently
used in standards developed by WG1 have strictly the same definition.
This list is given in Annex E.
It will be updated as far as it is necessary during the development phase of WG 2 harmonized standard(s).
3 Interfaces between CEN/TC 212 Working Groups
3.1 Interface between WG2 and WG1
Because drafts of WG 1 harmonized standards for “fireworks, categories 1, 2 and 3” already exist, they have
been taken in account by WG 2 as far as it is necessary to prevent from conflicting situations (See Clause 4
hereafter) or useful when parts of these standards can be profitably applied to C4 fireworks (e.g. some test
methods).
Indeed, WG 1 harmonized standards are not considered as prototypes of WG 2 harmonised standard(s). They
will be distinct documents and requirements of WG 2 harmonised standard(s) will be limited to what is strictly
necessary and sufficient from the point of view of their use by persons with specialist knowledge.
3.2. Interface between WG2 and WG3
WG 2 and WG 3 have exchanged their mutual opinions or solutions whenever they share the same questions
or the same problems (e.g. use of high explosives or nitrocellulose with high nitrogen content in C4, T1 or T2
articles – See 5.1 hereafter)
3.3. Interface between WG2 and WG5
Components of firework articles are usually sold by manufacturers to other manufacturers in some European
countries. WG 2 experts have considered “Category 4 firework articles” may include components of fireworks
such as stars, crackers, volcanoes, tourbillions, quick match, black match, cord igniters, fuses or delays…
from the point of view of Directive 2007/23/EC (See 2.1 here above).
WG 2 and WG 5 have met the following agreement:
 WG 5 will treat components of fireworks when they are used in other fields than fireworks (for example,
electric igniters, quick match, black match, cord igniters, pressed fuses, stars).
 When these components are strictly relevant to the fireworks market, they will enter into the scope of
work of WG2 (for example, crackers, volcanoes, tourbillions).
4 List of C4 Fireworks and definitions
4.1 Preliminary remarks
WG 1 dealing with “fireworks, categories 1, 2 and 3” has already elaborated drafts of harmonised standards
dealing with “Terminology” and “Categorization”. These documents include definitions of some articles which
will never have a C4 version and does not include definitions of articles which only exist as C4 fireworks
(“shells” for instance). However, these documents have been taken in account by WG 2 to assure the same
definitions are used for the same types of articles by WG 1 and WG 2 as far as there are no justifiable
technical reasons to create differences or additions.
WG 2 experts have met the necessity to create such differences and additions in a number of cases, because:
 Some WG1 definitions include requirements which are specific to C1-C2-C3 Fireworks and must not be
imposed to C4 Fireworks as far as they are used by persons with specialized knowledge, e.g. cases of
C1-C2-C3 Fountains must be non metallic and the corresponding WG1 definition states it, but metallic
cases are already used for C4 Fountains and there is no major reason to forbid it.
 Requirements for C4 Fireworks do not need to be as precise, specific or numerous as for consumer
fireworks for they will only be used by persons with specialized knowledge. Then several types of firework
may be grouped under a more general type of firework or generic type, which simplifies the way design
and performance requirements will be set in the future harmonized standard(s). WG 2 experts have
decided to proceed to this grouping under some existing names of firework types and have consequently
adapted corresponding definitions.
The final list and definitions of types of C4 Fireworks will be a separate document from WG 1 Consumer
Fireworks Terminology and Categorization standards.
4.2 Criteria used to determine “generic types”
Criteria which have been used to determine “generic types” result directly from definition given here above to
this term (See 2.2). A first list of possible C4 fireworks sharing similar, but general, design features and “space
x time” performance characteristics has been drawn up. By “space x time”, WG 2 experts mean a pyrotechnic
effect or a sequence of pyrotechnic effects spreading progressively in the air during a given time.
Considering this list was exhibiting too many entries (45 distinct C4 fireworks, 14 C1-C2-C3 fireworks and 12
components), WG 2 experts have decided to simplify their approach of “generic types” after having taken
notice that:
 the essential safety requirements of Directive 2007/23/EC will only necessitate to determine requirements
on a limited number of design and performance characteristics, as far as C4 fireworks are used by
persons with specialist knowledge allowing them to assure safety of the public and protection of the
environment by application of well mastered rules and instructions resulting from their experience and
training;
 as a consequence of this limited number of design and performance characteristics, some possible
generic types can be generalized to encompass other possible generic types which can then be
considered as particular cases of these “generalised” generic types. For example, a “shot tube” is a
“roman candle” the sequence of which is limited to a single shot.
Doing this, WG 2 experts have determined 12 “generalised” firework products which will become the “generic
types” on which will be placed design and performance requirements in the future harmonized standard(s) for
C4 fireworks.
The other 34 remaining firework products will only be particular variants of these “generic types”, consequently
falling under the same design and performance requirements. To keep things clear, WG 2 experts have
chosen to call them “sub types”.
The original list of firework products has then been split into three distinct lists: list of generic types (See 4.3),
list if subtypes (See 4.4) and list of components (See 4.5)
4.3 Generic types: list and definitions
The following 12 generic types have been selected:
 Aerial Wheel
 Aqua Firework (or: aquatic firework, nautical firework)
 Combination
 Components
 Fountain
 Guided Firework
 Mine
 Report
 Rocket
 Roman Candle
 Shell
 Smoke / Fog Generator
For corresponding definitions, comments and description of principal effects, see Annex A.
4.4 Other types of firework: list, definitions and links to generic types
The following 33 firework products have been considered as subtypes of the previous generic types:
Aqua Shell (or Aquatic Shell, Nautical Shell), Bag Mine (or Mortar Mine), Battery, Bengal Flame, Cake,
Daylight Shell, Flash Banger, Flight Rocket, Gerbs, Ground Maroon, Lance, Lancework, Maroon, Maroon
Shell, Multibreak Shell, Parachute Rocket, Parachute Shell, Peanut Shell, Portfire, Preloaded mortar (or Shell
in mortar), Repeater Shell, Saxon, Set Piece, Shell of shells, Shot tube, Signal Rocket, Strobe, Tourbillion,
Underwater Firework (or Sub aquatic firework), Volcano, Waterfall, Wheel.
For corresponding definitions, links to generic types and description of principal effects, see Annex B.
4.5 Components: list and definitions
The following list is limited to pyrotechnic components which can be placed on the market and exchanged
between industrialists throughout Europe. These components are not only intended for use by fireworks
manufacturers, but can also be used – under given conditions – by persons with specialist knowledge which
will be trained accordingly.
Bombette, Butterfly, Cracker, Fuse (including Delay Fuse), Motor, Serpent, Spinner, Star (including Comet,
Crossette, Flash Pellet, Hummer and Whistle).
This list of components is not exhaustive.
For corresponding definitions, comments and description of principal effects, see Annex C.
For the specific case of “stars”, see Annex D.
4.6 Specific uses of articles
Special use of C1, C2 and C3 products:
C1, C2 and C3 articles may be used by persons with specialist knowledge in a different way that required and
type-certified as “customer” fireworks. This possibility must be introduced as acceptable in a C4 standard,
provided that the persons with specialist knowledge evaluate the new safety distances corresponding to their
special use of the articles on the basis of performance characteristics to be supplied with the articles (label
and/or “data sheet”).
Dual use:
Some products may have a dual use: outdoor fireworks and indoor / theatrical pyrotechnic articles, without
any modifications or adaptations. In that case, it seems logical to WG 2 experts that they must be type-
certified under the category corresponding to their most restricting use. For example, a T2 article may be
generally used in a fireworks display as a C4 product without being C4 type-certified, but the contrary may not
be possible.
4.7 Recommendations for integration of new items
Lists of generic types and subtypes given in Annexes A and B may not be fully exhaustive and correspond to
the present knowledge of WG 2 experts. New items may be identified during the development phase or after
the publication of C4 fireworks harmonized standard(s).
During the development phase:
Every new item will be compared by WG 2 experts to existing generic types and subtypes in the lists given in
Annex A and Annex B. If it can be considered as a variant of an existing generic type or subtype, it will not be
necessary to add it to these lists. In the opposite case and if it is not specific to one manufacturer or importer,
the new item will lead either to the creation of a new subtype linked to an existing generic type or to the
creation of a new generic type.
If the new item is specific to one manufacturer or importer, it will not be encompassed by the C4 fireworks
harmonized standard(s) in development and its CE type-certification process will be determined by the
Notified Body of one Member State.
After publication of harmonised standards:
If the new item is specific to one manufacturer or importer, its CE type-certification process will be determined
by the Notified Body of one Member State.
Alternatively, the first Notified Body which will identify the new item will compare it to the lists of generic types
and subtypes which will be part of C4 fireworks harmonized standard(s). If it can be considered as a variant of
an existing generic type or subtype, no update of the harmonized standard(s) will be needed. If not, the
Notified Body will propose to the Notified Bodies of the other Member States to ask CEN for a modification of
the harmonized standards. Then the normal CEN process for updating standards will apply.
5 Parameters to be taken in consideration to meet the essential safety requirements
5.1 General aspects
Important parameters which rule the behaviour and performance of each type of firework in normal use must
be identified and analyzed first. This approach does not need to be fully exhaustive, but limited to parameters
which are influent from the strict point of view of compliance with the essential safety requirements of
Directive 2007/23/EC. Therefore their precise liaison to each of these requirements must be determined.
Lastly these parameters will be split in two categories: “prescriptive” parameters – that is parameters
submitted to requirements (limits, restrictions, tolerances.) and checked in the “type” examination or quality
acceptance process – and “informational” parameters – that is parameters which will be given in parallel as
information (e.g. to users). Examples of these “informational” parameters are calibres of mortars to be used,
direction of ejection of projectiles, temperature limits, etc.
Following experience of WG 1 and what is more because C4 fireworks harmonized standard(s) deal with
products to be used by “persons with specialist knowledge”, WG 2 experts have concluded that:
 Requirements must be limited to those which are strictly necessary and sufficient to ensure compliance
with the essential safety requirements of Directive 2007/23/EC.
 The set of construction and performance requirements to be considered as relevant to these essential
safety requirements will be minimized, taking in account they must be considered from the point of view of
a person with specialized knowledge. A first approach shows the number of generic types (See 4.3) and
involved parameters (See 5.2) will be low.
 Consequently it is not necessary to create a standard for each type of C4 fireworks, and then these
requirements can be included in a sole common standard which will encompass all generic types of
C4 fireworks.
 Some of these requirements will be common to every C4 Fireworks type; then they will be gathered in a
common clause of the future standard.
 Specific requirements for a given type of C4 Fireworks will be written on a type per type basis in a
“Specific requirements” clause.
 No requirements coming from other Directives or regulations (REACH for instance) will be part of the
future WG 2 standard.
 Lists of generic types, sub types, components and corresponding definitions (See § 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5) will
be included in this future WG 2 standard.
 Definitions of technical terms (cf. 4.7) will be added to this “Terminology” clause. Entries will be limited to
terms which are essential to the good understanding of the requirements.
5.2 Recommended construction and performance parameters
List of forbidden substances:
From the point of view of Directive 2007/23/EC, “forbidden substances” are the only ones which may be
harmful for the health of fireworks firers and attendance or cause environmental damages. Substances which
may be dangerous during the manufacturing process have not to be taken in account.
A list of forbidden substances will be determined for C4 fireworks and, because they are intended for use by
“persons with specialist knowledge”, it can be different from and less restrictive than the list which has been
drawn up by WG1 for “consumer fireworks”. This list must not include substances which have no concern with
fireworks.
REACH Directive will apply to chemical substances used in fireworks, but it is not necessary to refer to it in a
C4 fireworks standard.
Other restrictive regulations might apply.
Use of blasting agents and military explosives:
In its Annex I § (4) (a) and (b), Directive 2007/23/EC of 23 May 2007 “on the placing on the market of
pyrotechnic articles” states pyrotechnic articles must contain neither commercial blasting agents, except for
black powder or flash composition, nor military explosives.
As some T1 and T2, P1 and P2 articles, some C4 Fireworks already contain small amounts of explosives (e.g.
nitrocellulose with high nitrogen content, single base or double base propellants one component of which is
nitroglycerine) and must not be excluded from the European market as far as they comply with all the other
essential safety requirements, except this § (4) (a) (b) of Directive 2007/23/EC / Annex I. Hence they must be
included within the scope of preparing Standards for C4 Fireworks and to prepare suitable guidance.
CEN/TC 212 will prepare a specific resolution on that topic.
Limitations in mass and calibre:
These limitations exist in several European countries (e.g. Italy and France), but not in all of them (e.g.
Germany, Spain and United Kingdom) and not always for safety in use.
If limitations have to be fixed in the harmonized standard, they cannot result from a compilation of all the
national applicable laws, but only from the necessity of complying with the essential safety requirements.
Local limitations applying to the manufacturing process or to transportation of dangerous goods are not
relevant to Directive 2007/23/EC and must be ignored in the harmonized standard(s).
Recommended construction and performance parameters:
The table in Annex F lists construction and performance parameters which will preferably be taken in account
to determine compliance of C4 Fireworks with the essential safety requirements of Directive 2007/23/EC. This
list aims at giving initial guidelines for the development of the future C4 Fireworks harmonised standard; it will
be updated if necessary to meet the best compromise between the needs of all Member States within
CEN/TC 212.
6 Identification of test methods
6.1 General aspects
Test methods are required to prove compliance with the Essential Safety Requirements of
Directive 2007/23/EC. They are intended to check and/or measure construction and performance parameters
which will be eventually selected as relevant to one or more of the Essential Safety Requirements and
submitted to requirements in the future C4 Fireworks harmonized standard. These test methods are meant for
persons and institutions performing the tests and for the Notified Bodies.
It must be reminded of the following aspects of type-examination and batch testing:
 Tests will not always be performed by Notified Bodies, but by Authorized / Certified Laboratories, some of
them possibly part of a manufacturer’s organization (cf. Modules in Annex II of Directive 2007/23/EC).
 A construction or performance parameter can be measured in various ways. Alternative test methods – if
approved – can be used. Then it is important is to determine the minimum required to compare results
obtained from different test methods (e.g. accuracy, vibration and temperature levels).
 All laboratories involved to apply these test methods shall be agreed by a Notified Body, plus certified by
an independent Certification Body, specialized in test protocols, calibration. and corresponding EN or
ISO standards.
Considering the above aspects, WG2 experts recommend:
 The harmonized standard will draw up the list of tests to be performed and corresponding requirements
for the tests methods to be used.
 Approved test methods must be described in this standard.
 The test descriptions must enable all persons involved to perform the test in a safe and reproducible
manner.
 Only Notified Bodies are authorised to use alternative test methods or to give derogation to a certified
laboratory to use alternative test methods.
 Only Notifies Bodies are authorised – after agreement of all the other Notified Bodies – to ask
CEN/TC 212 to add a new test method in C4 firework harmonized standard.
For a given type of C4 fireworks, there must be a link between the “type tests” and the “batch tests”. Indeed
the “type tests” will prove that the design and performances of the product comply with the essential safety
requirements of Directive 2007/23/EC. The “data sheet” of the product, which gives the corresponding
performance and safety characteristics to be used by persons with specialist knowledge which will use the
product, will be part of the type-examination process. The “batch tests” will be the manufacturer’s proof that
the manufactured products comply with the characteristics given in this “data sheet” of the product. Then,
these “batch tests” will be limited to perform some “type tests” – but not all of them – which will be considered
as necessary and sufficient to prove compliance with characteristics announced by the manufacturer in its
“data sheet”.
6.2 Links between ESR and test methods
In the future C4 Fireworks harmonized standard, the list of recommended test methods will be introduced by a
table which will summarize the links between “Essential Safety Requirements”, “Construction or performance
requirements”, “Corresponding parameters to be measured” and “Test methods”.
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A first draft of such a table have been reviewed by WG 2 experts at their meetings on November 12 2008 in
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Paris and February 3 2009 in Milan. No final decision has been taken about the selection of tests to be
applied to C4 fireworks in type and/or batch testing. This will be done by WG2 experts during the development
phase of C4 fireworks harmonized standard(s). In that perspective, Document CEN/TC 212 WG 2 N049
(See ref. [4]) will be taken in account as a starting document.
7 Labelling
Articles 12.2 and 12.3 of Directive 2007/23/EC states:
2. The labelling of pyrotechnic articles shall include as a minimum the name and address of the manufacturer
or, where the manufacturer is not established in the Community, the name of the manufacturer and the name
and address of the importer, the name and type of the article, the minimum age limits as indicated in Article
7(1) and (2), the relevant category and instructions for use, the year of production for category 3 and 4
fireworks and, where appropriate, a minimum safety distance. The labelling shall include the net equivalent
quantity (NEQ) of active explosive material.
3. In addition, fireworks shall display the following minimum information: (.)
Category 4: ‘for use only by persons with specialist knowledge’ and minimum safety distance(s).
WG 2 experts have considered some terms in these articles must be interpreted because C4 fireworks are
only intended for use by persons with specialist knowledge:
 Minimum safety distance
 Name and type of the article
7.1 Minimum Safety Distance
Requirement of Article 12.3 of Directive 2007/23/EC on “minimum safety distance” aims at providing users
with basic information to assure protection of the public against every hazard resulting from normal use of
pyrotechnic articles.
In the case of articles – such as e.g. C1-C2-C3 Fireworks – which are designed to be used by standard
consumers who have no specialist knowledge in pyrotechnics, “minimum safety distances” should not be
determined by users. Then following user’s instructions is mandatory. “Consumer articles” shall only be used
according to these instructions and “minimum safety distances” are predetermined as fixed values by
manufacturers or importers to cover every situation these non specialists might encounter while they strictly
follow user’s instructions. Indeed, these “minimum safety distances” include a safety margin to take in account
statistical dispersion of the performance characteristics of the articles and weather conditions in real use.
In the case of articles – e.g. C4 Fireworks – which are designed to be used by persons with specialist
knowledge, “minimum safety distances” ought to be understood in a different manner. These articles may be
used in non standard conditions – “non standard” meaning different from conditions determined for the
type-examination performance tests. For example, according to the artistic spreading of visual effects which is
needed in fireworks displays, some articles may not be fired vertically and other may be shot behind walls or
natural slopes which may create an efficient protection for the attendance.
WG 2 experts have pointed out that:
 Safety distances may vary according to the firing conditions: trajectory drift caused by the wind, safety
protections preventing from hazardous effects, non vertical firing, etc.
 “Safety data”, such as standard performance distance, would then be more advisable than safety
distances;
 Safety data displayed on the product label must correspond to “standard conditions” (e.g. vertical firing
and wind speed less than xx m/s) and commonly understandable by every person with specialist
knowledge;
 Persons with specialist knowledge will evaluate, on the basis of appropriate data displayed on the label,
the real safety distances corresponding to the real firing conditions.
As it is not possible to change the term “minimum safety distance” in Directive 2007/23/EC and because
Directive 2007/23/EC says “a (and not the) minimum safety distance”, WG 2 experts have decided to submit
to EC their interpretation of “minimum safety distance” on account of the fact C4 Fireworks are designed for
use by persons with specialist knowledge.
Firstly, they have pointed out fireworks shooting activities lead to different situations within European Union:
 Some countries (e.g. France and UK) are confronted to peak periods of one or two days during which a
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lot of C4 fireworks displays are fired. For instance, 10 000 displays are fired on July 14 in France and
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around November 5 in UK. A large number of firers are needed and French WG 2 experts think one
cannot assure the majority of these firers have a sufficient knowledge to calculate safety distances
according to the firing conditions. On the contrary, British WG 2 experts think this difficulty can be solved
by requiring firers should periodically prove their specialist knowledge, for example, by maintaining a log
book and recommending a minimum of N shows per annum to maintain their status. This is presently
done in UK as well as in France, but France and UK have not the same confidence in that procedure.
This explains why France prefers – as in present French regulations – C4 fireworks labels display a
“minimum safety distance” determined on the basis of tests performed in standard conditions (e.g. vertical
tests, wind speed below X m/s.). From this standa
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