In response to findings presented in a new research report from the Fire Protection Research Foundation, the Standards Council of the National Fire Protection Association is considering changes with regard to its provisions on the retail sale of consumer fireworks.

NFPA has a long-standing position against any use by the general public of fireworks. Nevertheless, in 1999 NFPA set standards for the retail sales and storage of consumer fireworks for those jurisdictions where the sale of fireworks to the general public are permitted.

In October 2007, the Fire Protection Research Foundation released a report entitled “Fire Safety in Consumer Fireworks Storage and Retail Facilities – Hazard Assessment." The report documents a study that's purpose was to assemble research data related to the hazards associated with retail sale of consumer fireworks and identify research needed to develop appropriate facility fire safety provisions. The study included a review of available literature on fire incidence, characterizing of the hazard, and relevant international and analogous code provisions, and recommends further research to further develop the technical basis for the NFPA 1124, Chapter 7 provisions. The Standards Council was briefed on the findings and is contemplating revising the scope of the Technical Committee on Pyrotechnics, which is responsible for NFPA 1124, so that it no longer covers the retail sale of consumer fireworks. It is also considering taking steps to revise the scope of NFPA 1124 to exclude the retail sales of consumer fireworks, and to delete chapter 7 from NFPA 1124.

The Council will be holding a public hearing on June 2, from 8 until 11 a.m. in conjunction with NFPA’s World Safety Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas; written submissions must be received by May 9. Parties wishing to make written submissions should send them to the attention of the Secretary of the Standards Council at one of the following addresses: by regular mail, at Codes and Standards Administration, NFPA, One Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169; or, by email, at stds_admin@nfpa.org.