In response to findings presented in a new research report from the Fire Protection Research Foundation , NFPA’s Standards Council is considering changes to its provisions on the retail sale of consumer fireworks. NFPA has a long-standing position against any use of fireworks by the general public. Nevertheless, in 1999, the NFPA board of directors revised NFPA policy to permit the Technical Committee on Pyrotechnics to develop such standards in the interest of public safety for those jurisdictions where the sale of fireworks to the general public is permitted.

As a result, the scope of NFPA 1124, Manufacture, Transportation, Storage, and Retail Sales of Fireworks and Pyrotechnics, was expanded to include requirements for the retail sale of consumer fireworks. In addition, beginning with the 2003 edition, a new chapter was added to NFPA 1124, which details some minimum fire- and life-safety requirements for the retail sales of consumer fireworks.

In October 2007, the FPRF released a report titled Fire Safety in Consumer Fireworks Storage and Retail Facilities – Hazard Assessment . The report documents a study whose purpose was to assemble research data related to the hazards associated with retail sale of consumer fireworks and to identify research needed to develop appropriate facility fire-safety provisions. The study included a review of available literature on fire incidence, characterizing the hazard, and relevant international and analogous code provisions, and it recommends further research to further develop the technical basis for the NFPA 1124, Chapter 7 provisions.

The Standards Council was briefed on the findings of the FPRF report at its October 2007 meeting. After review and consideration of the report, the Council issued a decision that reads, in relevant part, as follows:

The Council has considered [the FPRF Report] in particular as it relates to provisions concerning the retail sales of consumer fireworks as contained in Chapter 7 of NFPA 1124. The stated purpose of NFPA 1124, with respect to Chapter 7, is to establish reasonable minimum fire and life safety requirements for the retail sales of consumer fireworks. The FPRF report, however, raises serious concerns regarding the technical basis for the requirements of Chapter 7, and calls into question whether sufficient research and other technical substantiation exists to support meaningful standards development in this area.

Based on the findings presented in the report, the council is contemplating the following actions:

• 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.
• 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.

Before making a final decision on this issue, the Council has directed that a notice be published soliciting public input on the Council’s contemplated course of action or on other proposed courses of action that may be submitted for the Council’s consideration.

The Council will hold a public hearing on Monday June 2, 2008, from 8 am until 11 a.m. in conjunction with NFPA’s World Safety Conference and Exposition to consider this matter. In making its decision, the Council will consider written submissions received by Friday, May 9, 2008. Send your submission to the attention of the Secretary of the Standards Council:

Codes and Standards Administration
NFPA
One Batterymarch Park
Quincy, MA 02169

Or by e-mail to stds_admin@nfpa.org.

Written submissions should be clearly identified as regarding the Standards Council hearing on consumer-fireworks retail sales provisions and should contain the name, affiliation and address of the submitters. Parties are not required to attend or speak at the hearing to have their submission considered by the Council.