FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We are open to suggestions if you have any ideas of what should be posted here!

VIDEOS
How do I view your video clips? If you see a icon next to a product then it has a video clip to go with it. The videos are in format that can be viewed on desktop PCs, laptops and most mobile phones and tablets. It is best if you are linked to broadband as videos are quite big files and might take a long time to download. Click on the icon and the clip should stream within 5 seconds. If you find the video keeps stopping then you have a slow connection.

DO I NEED SOME SORT OF LICENSE?
No! All fireworks in our packs can be legally sold to and used by members of the public at any time of year. There are special rules that enable you to store fireworks at home for your display. If you sell fireworks commercially you DO need a license!

HOW DO WE COMPARE TO SHOPS?
We have a special license enabling us to sell all round. Most shops are restricted to certain selling periods.
Shop goods have improved over recent years but cheaper ranges may contain more empty space and packaging than firework! Sandling Fireworks are usually cheaper than shop goods, however you are free to pick and choose in some shops if you don't mind paying the price. See for yourself by looking at the web sites of other distributors and compare what you get with what we have to offer. You will be pleasantly surprised.  

I HAVE BEEN OFFERED FIREWORKS FROM A VAN OR MARKKET STALL, WHY ARE THEY SO CHEAP?
It is illegal to sell fireworks this way.  Importers who distribute this way often have no licensed storage, no insurance and do not batch test their fireworks. These operators are out to make a quick buck. The quality of some of these fireworks is quite awful! Avoid at all costs. Don't say we didn't warn you.

WHAT ABOUT THE QUALITY?
Most of our fireworks are manufactured to our specifications by Inter Oriental Fireworks in China or assembled at our own factory in Gloucester. We  have our fireworks manufactured to a very high standard indeed. We have now included in our range selected items from other importers where feel the quality and value meets our high standard.

CAN I PICK AND CHOOSE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS FROM YOUR PACKS?
Unfortunately not! Our firework elves spend half the year packing our fireworks and it would cause havoc to unpack them again at our busiest time of year. You should be able to choose any combination of fireworks you want from our huge range.

CAN I COLLECT?
Because our fireworks are stored at several remote locations collection is not usually possible. Our Old Chapel address is an office only and is not licensed to store fireworks. If you feel you need to collect please phone our office.

HOW SECURE IS YOUR ONLINE ORDER SYSTEM?
Any credit card details are transmitted to us in an encrypted form via a secure server although your name and address is sent by standard email. It is probably more secure than telephone or fax and to date has proved 100% reliable.


WHEN CAN FIREWORKS BE BOUGHT AND WHEN CAN THEY BE USED?
Sandling Fireworks is licensed to sell fireworks all year round. Other suppliers not holding this special license are only able to supply at certain times of year. Fireworks can be used on any occasion at any time of year. However, It is now an offence to use fireworks after 11pm except for November 5th -12 midnight,  Diwali, Chinese Year, New Years Eve 1a.m. For garden parties it is a courtesy to notify neighbours of your event. Avoid causing disturbance to hospitals, old peoples homes, animal shelters, etc., and avoid using fireworks late at night. For larger displays the police should be notified — they merely need to know. For public events the fire brigade and police should be notified. Nearby airports or coast guards should also be warned where appropriate. If you have not organized a display before, an advice book The Blue Book "Giving Your Own Firework Display" is available free to download  here.

HOW FAR AWAY FROM A ROAD DO FIREWORKS HAVE TO BE?
The Road Traffic Act states that fireworks must be 15m away from the centre of a road. Clearly a degree of common sense is needed here.

The Highways Act 1980 states:
If a person without lawful authority or excuse—
(a)lights any fire on or over a highway which consists of or comprises a carriageway; or
(b)discharges any firearm or firework within 50 feet of the centre of such a highway.

HOW CAN I ENSURE A FIREWORK WILL NOT FALL OVER.
Roman candles and fountains can be pushed into soft soil. Larger roman candles should be secured to a wooden stake. The stake should be on the audience side of the firework so that if anything goes wrong the firework will fall away from the audience. For a garden display you could secure to an upright stake a length of stout cardboard tube or a short length of plastic pipe about an inch or so wide. You can then place a roman candle into the tube and light it. When spent, remove it and place the next one in the tube. Never use a metal tube for this purpose!

Any firework cake except those that are quite squat can be prone to flip over due to the recoil of the shots, particularly if placed on uneven ground. This can happen towards the end of the fireworks functioning when it is light on one side and heavy on the other. You should ensure the firework cannot fall over by attaching to a stake or supporting with bricks or similar.. If you go to the training day section of our web site you will see a photo of how we do this. Any convenient wooden stake can be used and the firework secured to it with gaffer tape. Note the stake goes on the audience side so if the firework does explode or fall over it will point away from the audience. You can put the firework in a poly bag to waterproof it and mark the position of the fuse with an arrow. The firework will fire through the polythene. Securing the firework also helps to keep the tubes together should there be a malfunction.

CAN I BUY SHELLS?
Shells are only available to professional operators. There is no qualification or license that enables you to buy them. The penalty for supplying shells or other Category 4 fireworks to the public is six month in jail or a £5000 fine! It is now an offence for members of the the public to possess Category 4 items.

HOW DO I BECOME PROFESSIONAL?
To purchase Category 4 fireworks such as aerial shells you have run a firework display company on a profit making basis. You also need licensed storage with the necessary safety distance, full time products and public liability insurance and a special driving license to transport explosives. You also need to be able to prove competence, usually by working as a display firer for an existing display company. It is not an easy way to make  money (if only!)! At the moment there are about 150 display operators dotted around the country and that's about 100 too many. You can become qualified to fire Category 4 fireworks by attending a training course and taking the BPA exams. Although this does not permit you to buy Category 4 fireworks for yourself, you can then work as a firer for a professional company and get to fire the big stuff! There are more details on the BPA web site www.pyro.org.uk.

FIRING DISPLAYS SOUNDS LIKE FUN. HOWDO I GET INVOLVED?
Standing in a field up to your knees in mud in horizontal sleet is not always fun! If you want to know more about working in the display trade have a look at the BPA website under Hot Topics, careers in the firework industry. The BPA offer accreditation to firers by way of a training course and exams. You can take BPA Firers course and exam after you have helped fire three professional shows and you can progress to BPA Senior Firers course and exam after a further 12. BPA course are now City and Guilds Accredited. Please note that holding a BPA certificate does not in itself allow you to buy Category 4 fireworks.