Consumer Fireworks Regulations ImageIn the United States, consumer fireworks laws can vary widely from state to state, or even from county to county. It is not uncommon for consumers to cross a state or county line in order to purchase certain types of fireworks which are outlawed where they live. Furthermore, it is common for certain densely populated areas to have restrictions on the time of year which fireworks can be purchased, sold, or used, and have specific selling periods in place. These factors are all influenced by consumer fireworks regulations set forth by the United States government.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission defines what fireworks may be considered consumer fireworks. Below, we have listed the specifications, guidelines, and general consumer fireworks regulations set forth by the US government’s Code of Federal Regulations and the APA Standard 87-1 of the American Pyrotechnics Association. Please remember that these are general consumer fireworks regulations, and you should always check with your local and state gevernments to find out what the official consumer fireworks regulations are in your area.


Composition Limits for 1.4G Fireworks:

Type of device Composition limit
Fountains, Cone-type50 grams
Fountains, Cylindrical75 grams
Skyrockets or Missiles20 grams
Helicopters20 grams
Roman Candles20 grams
Aerial Shells, Mines, Comets60 grams
Firecrackers or ground-based reports0.05 grams per cracker or report
Any aerial report component0.13 grams per report component
Reloadable aerial shells60 grams per shell
44 mm. diameter max.
12 shells per package max.
400 grams total per package
Aerial display shellsClassified as 1.3G unless tested
Multiple-tube devices, dense-packedMaximum 200 grams total pyrotechnic composition
Multiple-tube devices, 500-gramMaximum 500 grams total pyrotechnic composition
Must be on a base
Tube separation of 13 mm between tubes
Wheels60 grams per driver
200 grams total composition
Ground Spinners20 grams
Toy Smoke Devices100 grams
Wire sparklers100 grams

 

Chemicals Allowed in 1.4G Fireworks:

Chemical allowed Typical use
AluminumFuel
Ammonium PerchlorateOxygen Donor
AntimonyFuel
Antimony SulfideFuel
Barium CarbonateNeutralizer
Barium NitrateOxygen Donor
Barium SulfateOxygen Donor
Bismuth OxideOxygen Donor
Boric AcidNeutralizer
Calcium CarbonateNeutralizer
Calcium SulfateOxygen Donor
Carbon or CharcoalFuel
Copper MetalColor Agent
Copper OxideOxygen Donor,
Color Agent
Copper Salts (except Copper Chlorate)Color Agent
DextrineFuel/Binder
Hexamethylenenetetramine (Hexamine)Fuel
Iron and Iron Alloys (e.g., ferro/titanium)Fuel
Iron OxideOxygen Donor
Magnalium (Magnesium/Aluminum alloy)Fuel
Magnesium CarbonateNeutralizer
Magnesium SulfateOxygen Donor
Nitrocellulose based lacquersBinder
Phosphorus, Red (only as provided in regulations)Fuel
Potassium or Sodium BenzoateWhistle
Potassium Bichromate (Potassium Dichromate) (not to exceed 5% of formulation)Oxygen Donor
Potassium Chlorate (only as provided in regulations)Oxygen Donor
Potassium Hydrogen PhthalateWhistle
Potassium NitrateOxygen Donor
Potassium PerchlorateOxygen Donor
Potassium SulfateOxygen Donor
SiliconFuel
Sodium Bicarbonate (Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate)Neutralizer
Sodium NitrateOxygen Donor
Sodium SalicylateWhistle
Sodium Salts (except Sodium Chlorate)Color Agent
Sodium SulfateOxygen Donor
Strontium CarbonateColor Agent
Strontium NitrateOxygen Donor
Strontium Salts (except Strontium Chlorate)Color Agent
Strontium SulfateOxygen Donor
SulfurFuel
Titanium (particle size must not pass through 100 mesh sieve)Fuel
Miscellaneous Compounds Allowed
Organic compounds (compounds such as lactose, shellac, red gum, chlorinated paraffin and polyvinyl chloride, consisting of some combination of carbon with hydrogen, oxygen and/or chlorine; nitrogen may be present if it accounts for less than 10% (by weight) of the compound.)
Nitrocellulose containing greater than 10% nitrogen by weight is permitted as a propelling or expelling charge provided there is less than 15 grams of nitrocellulose per article.
NOTE: Exact chemical identity of each “Organic compound” must be included when submitting an Approval Application to the U.S. DOT.

 

Chemicals Prohibited in 1.4G Fireworks:

Arsenic sulfide, arsenates, or arsenites
Boron
Chlorates, except:
a. In colored smoke mixtures in which an equal or greater weight of sodium bicarbonate is included
b. In party poppers
c. In those small items (such as ground spinners) wherein the total powder content does not exceed 4 grams, of which not greater than 15% (or 600 mg) is potassium, sodium, or barium chlorate
d. In firecrackers
e. In toy caps
Gallates or gallic acid
Lead, including lead tetroxide (red lead oxide) and other lead compounds
Magnesium (magnesium/aluminum alloys, called magnalium, are permitted)
Mercury salts
Phosphorus (red or white) (red phosphorus is permissible in caps and party poppers)
Picrates or picric acid
Thiocyanates
Titanium, except in particle size too large to pass through a 100-mesh sieve
Zirconium
*Please note that while we always attempt to keep this section up-to-date with the latest consumer fireworks regulations, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information. This information is for reference purposes only, and you should check with your state or local government for accurate information. Wedding Day Sparklers is not responsible for errors in the information on this site, and will not be held responsible for any violations of the law.