Fireworks - Information & Advice

Buy, Sell, Store and Use Safely

Every year Regulatory Services, the Fire Brigade and Police deal with the sales, storage and use of fireworks.

These dealings range from requests to register a premise to store fireworks, complaints about the sale of fireworks to underage persons, the sale of either illegal fireworks that do not meet the correct standards, or those that should not be sold to the general public through to advising people holding displays and bonfires and investigating accidents or misuse of fireworks in the street.

As separate services we are committed to responsible safe sales, storage and use of regulated (British Standard) fireworks in order that we receive fewer complaints and people injured. 

The services are working together in 2003 to:

• Help traders understand and comply with legal duties
  placed on them in relation to sales and storage of Fireworks
• Help the buying public understand which fireworks they are permitted to buy and those that are not for public sale and how to recognise them
• Help organisers of displays understand how to organise and run their events as
  safely as possible

Fireworks, the facts!

These pages contain information on legal duties and good practice relating to fireworks sales, storage and use. In 2002, as in every other year, fireworks were the source of injuries and complaints both nationwide and locally. Injuries nationally were 12% lower last year. In Barnsley 9 people were treated for injuries from fireworks. The majority of injuries reported nationally were at family displays. However, this was closely followed by horseplay with fireworks in public places. Often these involved young people, below the age of eighteen, who should not be supplied with fireworks.

The Fire Service investigated 9 retailers for supplying fireworks whilst unregistered
or for unsafe storage. In some cases there were prosecutions. Regulatory Service Officers were able to respond to a number of instances of under age sales and provide advice and assistance to 11 organisations arranging displays and bonfires.

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: 

• There were more than 3400 fireworks related injuries reported in 2002
• Anyone who supplies fireworks must be registered with the Fire Brigade
• It is illegal to sell fireworks that do not meet the requirements of BS7114
• It is illegal to supply fireworks to anyone under 18 
• Regulatory Services and the Fire Service can provide advice on registration, supply and display of
  fireworks

• Download the Fireworks Newsletter (468k, .pdf)