The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015

The Regulations on Pyrotechnic Articles specifies essential safety requirements regarding high levels of consumer protection, the safety of the public and environmental protection that the product must meet in order for the manufacturer to affix the UKCA marking.

The Regulation covers equipment such as fireworks, theatrical pyrotechnic articles and pyrotechnic articles for technical purposes, such as gas generators used in airbags or in seatbelt pretensioners.

The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 implemented Directive 2013/29/EU on the making available on the market of pyrotechnic articles and Commission Implementing Directive 2014/58/EU on the traceability of pyrotechnic articles. 

Regulation 3 defines a pyrotechnic article as an article which contains explosive substances or an explosive mixture of substances designed to produce heat, light, sound, gas or smoke or a combination of such effects through self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions. Regulation 3 (2) lists articles excluded from scope, e.g. articles intended for non-commercial use by the armed forces.

Schedule 1 to the 2015 Regulations provide categories of pyrotechnic articles, some of which should only be used by those with specialist knowledge, including fireworks theatrical and other pyrotechnic articles, including vehicle air-bag activators and bird-scarers.

It is necessary to consult the Regulations to ensure that the product complies with all the essential requirements. The Regulations on Pyrotechnic Articles always foresees the involvement of an Approved Body. An Approved Body verifies the compliance of a product by conducting a conformity assessment. It also ensures that the technical documentation sufficiently supports product compliance. If the Approved Body is involved in the production control phase, its identification number will follow the UKCA marking.

When the Approved Body is convinced of product compliance, it will issue a certificate of conformity to confirm this. The manufacturer will then draw up the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) to declare on his sole responsibility conformity to the relevant Directive. The establishment of the DoC is a legal obligation.

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