2002-07-08 P & R Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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. I Background on Fireworks Statutory Requirements Requirements for fireworks can be broken down into two broad categories: Display fireworks - 1.3G (old name was special or class B fireworks) are the large fireworks used by trained and Iiqensed operators and are typical of what you would'see presented each evening at the Taste of Minnesota or at the Minnesota State Fair. Possession and use of these display fireworks by state certifi~ operators is covered under Minn. Stat. 624, and is not impacted by the recent law change. Consumer fireworks -1.4G (old name was common or class C fireworks) are small fireworks intended for public use. Prior to April 30, 2002, Minnesota Statute 624.21 "prohibited all forms of consumer fireworks except for toy pistols and caps. The 'recent law change has added an additional exception to this statU!:e: . (c) The term also does not include wire or wood. sparklers of not more than 100 grams of mixture per item, other sparkling items which are nonexplosive and nonaerial and contain 75 grams or less of chemical mixture per tube or a total of 200 grams or less for multiple tubes, snakes and glowworms, smoke devices, or trick noisemakers which include paper streamers, party poppers, string poppers, snappers, and drop pops, each consisting of not more than twenty-five hundredths grains of explosive mixture. The use of items listed'in this paragraph is not permitted on public property. This paragraph does not authorize the purchase of items listed in it by persons younger than 18 years of age. The age of a purchaser of items listed in this paragraph must be verified by photographic identifjcation. .~ Thus, the items listed in (c) above are no longer considered "fireworks" for purposes of Minnesota Statute 624.20 and 624.21 and no longer require use only by state certified operators. This allows the public to use these fireworks without a permit and without a certified operator. Fireworks not included in this new language still fall under the requirements for a permit and certified operator. All consumer fireworks sold in the US must meet the requirements of the three main federal government agencies that control fireworks: (1) The Consumer Product Safety Commission in 16 CFR 1500 and 16 CFR 1507 provides standards for the safe construction, labeling and performance of fireworks {Le. prevention of accidental ignition or tipping during use). The CPSC also enforces a list of prohibited fireworks such as M-BO's and others. (2) The Department of Transportation 49 CFR 170-173 defines consumer 1 .4G fireworks and contains requirements for transportation, labeling and shipment of fireworks. The DOT adopts by r~ference American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) Standard 87-1 Standard for - _Construction and Approval For Transportation of Fireworks, Novelties, and Theatrical Pyrotechnics. This is the main document-that defines different types of fireworks, their allowable composition (weight of chemical composition) and construction. (3) Finally, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms enforces requirements relating to the explosives nature of fireworks [27 CFR 55], such as separation distances for storage and manufacturing. State Fire Marshal Fireworks Fact Sheet April 30, 2002 www.flre.state.mn.us . Page5of6 Questions: firecode@state.mn.us