Help us to improve the website - give your feedback.

UN default scheme for fireworks

Explosives: update

The UK has left the EU, and some rules and procedures have changed from 1 January 2021[55].

The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR)[56] contains a default system for the classification of fireworks. This is referred to in ADR at Section 2.2.1.1.7.5 as the Default Fireworks Classification Table.

What's covered by the scheme?

Fireworks in this context are considered to be 'pyrotechnic articles for entertainment purposes' as defined in ADR and are expected to be assigned, on classification, to UN Nos 0333–0336.

Pyrotechnic articles assigned to other UN numbers and pyrotechnic substances are not included in the default scheme.

How does the scheme work?

The default system lists fireworks classified according to type. The classifications are those agreed by the UN Sub Committee on Dangerous Goods, and are awarded where information from specific UN tests or Competent Authority Documents are not available.

In practice, it is applied to most imported fireworks. The default system may also be used at HSE's discretion for fireworks manufactured, assembled or modified in Great Britain.

The default system does not replace the requirement for all fireworks to have been classified by the Competent Authority of a Contracting Party to ADR, and should not be interpreted or used as a basis for 'self-classification'.

Classification by the default system may be claimed where test results are not available or where no satisfactory documentary evidence of classification in the country of manufacture can be obtained.

An application for claiming classification of fireworks by the default system requires submission of supporting technical evidence.  This should be in the form of technical drawings and include pyrotechnic composition data to demonstrate analogy with the firework type and specification for that assigned classification, as presented in the Default Fireworks Classification Table in ADR.  Applications for classifying fireworks that are not already specified in the Table can be classified only on the basis of test data derived from Test Series 6, as prescribed in the Manual of Tests and Criteria[57].

Classification assigned on the basis of test results will take precedence over classification assigned under the default system.

Applying for classification under the default scheme

Complete the application form and submit, with evidence, to HSE for agreement.

Reference should be made to Section 2.2.1.1.7 of ADR[60] for additional information concerning the assignment of fireworks to divisions and the notes appended to the Default Fireworks Classification Table.

Link URLs in this page

  1. Explosiveshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/index.htm
  2. Explosives Regulations 2014 (Amendment) Regulations 2016https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/regulations2016.htm
  3. Overview - The Explosives Regulations 2014https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/new-regulations.htm
  4. Guidance structurehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/guidance-structure.htm
  5. Subsector guidancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/new-regs-subsector.htm
  6. Explosives Legislative Reviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/explosives-legislative-review.htm
  7. Getting startedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/getting-started.htm
  8. Overview - Authorisations/licensinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/index.htm
  9. Hazard type https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/hazard-classification.htm
  10. Safety requirementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/safety-requirements.htm
  11. Separation distanceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/separation/index.htm
  12. Building and construction typehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/separation/separation-distance-tables.htm
  13. Applying for a licencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/how-to-apply.htm
  14. Local authority assenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/local-authority-assent.htm
  15. Explosives in portshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/licensing-explosives-in-ports.htm
  16. Information for enforcing authoritieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/enforcing-authorities.htm
  17. Refusals and revocations of authorisationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/refusals-revocations.htm
  18. Safeguarding planshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/safeguarding-plans.htm
  19. Manufacturinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/manufacturing.htm
  20. Securityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/storage/storage-security.htm
  21. Storing explosiveshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/storage/index.htm
  22. Overview - Classification for transporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/index.htm
  23. UN test resultshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/un-test-results.htm
  24. UN test series FAQshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/faq-conducting-un-test-series-6.htm
  25. Analogyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/analogy.htm
  26. Non-contracting partyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/non-contracting-party.htm
  27. UN default scheme for fireworkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/un-default-scheme-fireworks.htm
  28. How to applyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/how-to-apply.htm
  29. Overview - Fireworkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/fireworks/index.htm
  30. Firework displayshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/fireworks/using.htm
  31. Storing and selling fireworkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/fireworks/industry.htm
  32. Transfer of explosiveshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/transfer-of-explosives.htm
  33. Overview - Ammonium nitratehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ammonium/index.htm
  34. Ammonium nitrate and COMAHhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ammonium/comah.htm
  35. Storage of ammonium nitrate blasting intermediate (ANBI)https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ammonium/storage-ammonium-nitrate.htm
  36. Notification thresholdhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ammonium/notification-threshold.htm
  37. High nitrogen contenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ammonium/high-nitrogen-content.htm
  38. Land use planninghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ammonium/land-use-planning.htm
  39. Discarding and disposalhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/disposal.htm
  40. Reporting losshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/reporting-loss.htm
  41. Placing civil explosives on the markethttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ce-marking/index.htm
  42. Market surveillancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/market-surveillance.htm
  43. Record keeping requirementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/record-keeping.htm
  44. Manufacture, storage and carriage of thermiteshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/manufacture-storage-carriage-of-thermites.htm
  45. Overview - Other topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/other.htm
  46. Exemptionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/exemptions/index.htm
  47. Record of explosives incidentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/eidas.htm
  48. Identification and traceability https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/traceability-itoer.htm
  49. Applying for a Site Identification Codehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/applying-for-site-identification-code.htm
  50. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/resources.htm
  51. Formshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/forms/explosive/index.htm
  52. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/publications.htm
  53. Useful linkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/useful-links.htm
  54. Contactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/contact.htm
  55. The UK has left the EU, and some rules and procedures have changed from 1 January 2021https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ce-marking/index.htm
  56. European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR)https://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/adr/adr2019/19contentse.html
  57. Manual of Tests and Criteriahttp://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/manual/rev7/manrev7-files_e.html
  58. Fees notehttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/253/made
  59. Application formhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/forms/explosive/lp83.xls
  60. ADRhttps://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/adr/adr2019/19contentse.html

Is this page useful?

Updated 2024-06-12