PYR 1129: Standard Method of Fire Test for Covered Fuse on Consumer Fireworks

Fuse covers have been required on all consumer fireworks devices by NFPA 1124: Code for the Manufacture, Transportation, Storage, and Retail Sales of Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles since 2003, which marked the first edition in which fire and life safety requirements for retail sales venues were added. The fuse cover is intended to make ignition by direct contact with the fuse more difficult and delay ignition of the device when exposed to a fire originating somewhere else. To date there has been no specific guidance as to what materials could qualify for use as fuse covers and in what configuration or dimension.

The first-edition 2013 PYR 1129: Standard Method of Fire Test for Covered Fuse on Consumer Fireworks describes a method for determining that consumer fireworks being offered for sale to consumers in a retail sales area contain material over an ignition fuse or ignition point that complies with the requirements for covered fuse in NFPA 1124. This first-edition Draft Standard establishes the performance characteristics of fuse covers for demonstration in test fires and defines the pass/fail criteria. It provides procedures to test the ignition resistance to three types of ignition stimuli: open flame, hot surface contact, and incendiary sparks.

PYR 1129 offers specific guidance to help users decide what kind of materials to install, assists the AHJ in making judgments on what is an acceptable fuse cover, and achieves consistency in enforcement of the requirements. It's a valuable tool of the trade for pyrotechnics device manufacturers (consumer fireworks), retail venue operators for consumer fireworks, enforcers (AHJs), testing laboratories, and insurance professionals. (Softbound, 14 pp., 2013)