what i find interesting to all the places that can manufacture pyro at the the moment cant make black power and yet flash is ok, so does this mean if we can get the small manufacturing licence back, will this open the doors to even the pyro manufactures here in the uk to be allowed to make bp, because they cant expect people to have to buy bp.
i think if anything flash should be more tightened and bp relaxed
Lots of issues relating to manufacture of BP.
Users in the UK currently would be -
1 Soft rock and dimension stone quarries
2 Re-enactors/home loaders/muzzle loading weapon users
3 Pyro makers
4 Model rocket users
I believe that there is not sufficient demand across the board from all these users to warrant a domestic source of BP. Certainly the commercial users will be finacially driven and care not where it is made.
You may persuade some of the purist re-enactors to use British BP in their guns and cannons but once again it has to be down to cost. Some groups may go through a few hundred kilos in a summer season others may measure their use in tens of kilos.
Another perspective is that of classification.
Generally speaking most pyro is classified as UN 1.4 or 1.3 ( I know that 1.1 articles are out there) and therefore under MSER the distances to be maintained when manufacturing and storing HT3 and HT4 are far less per kg than HT1. BP is classified UN 1.1 and attracts higher distances when stored. Also if storing BP with any pyro in HT3 or HT4 the entire quantity has to be treated as HT1 - for example 25kg of HT4 pyro alone requires no separation distance but add 1 kg of BP and you have 26kg of HT1 which needs separation.
I agree with the comment re flash. I have a healthy respect for it. I use it in moderate quantities in demonstrations and have witnessed its destructive power many times when it burns to a speed equivalent to a detonation.
There have been moves over the years for stricter legislative control on flash - but if it comes it will come with a price - namely certification of the individual and registration/licensing of the store.
Another dilemma here?