wayne

Wayne,

 

Thank you for all the clarification. With regards to your/UKPS guidance document will this include information for the beginner in relation to all the relevant parts of legislation and legal licensing required to part take in experimental pyrotechnics?

Yes, it will cover everything required.

In simple terms, yes, once you have your explosive certificate (COER)/acquire and keep.

This will all become a whole lot more understandable once the good practice guide is published - I'm still working on this with the HSE.  I have a meeting with the HSE next Monday (8th) at Bootle, so it will be making an appearance shortly.

I might be dim but I don't get COER schedule 1 (yes I know its going to be changed to something in ER2014) but things not on the list we need A&K correct? so BP cert is needed yes? Flash at the moment IS on the list so no cert needed correct? Flash comes off the list so cert required yes? So where is the mention of whistle? It is not on schedule 1 is it? nor colour gerb comps, so if its not on why don't we need A&K?

 

I hope I've written that in an understandable way.

 

Rod

Don't be apprehensive about applying for a COER certificate (unless you've got a dodgy past!).  I've spent 6 years doing the hard work to get us in a position where experimental pyro is recognised by the authorities, so you have nothing at all to worry about.  Applying for COER actually demonstrates that you're trying to do the right thing.  Police/HSE/Home office are a whole lot less scary and more helpful than most perceive them to be!

Cheers,

Wayne.

It will be indeed classed as a firearm.  Regardless if you want to fire blank or otherwise, its still is capable of firing a projectile.  Don't worry though, the firearm license(for cannon)/COER(for BP) is free, so no big deal!  Contact your local Police ELO (Explosive Liaison Officer) and they will tell you all you need to know.

Also, think about joining:

http://www.mlagb.com/

and here's a interesting posting for you:

http://www.mlagb.com...?num=1102258105

Sounds fun, I may have to look at cannons in the future!

Cheers,

Wayne.

Wow!  What a lot of cynical comments!

Yes, its yet more restrictions on our freedoms and yes it may not be effective in its objectives, but remember, this is a consultation that we have been asked to respond to so to ensure that, "it creates as little impact on us as possible".  Things would be massively different if we wasn't even considered in the matter!

We have managed to get ourselves into a position of respect and the home office value our feedback.  Lets not have any childish gut reactions of, "they're just wanting to ban everything".  Accept its a modern way of life that the authorities will want to control and to be seen to control any means of terrorism.  As long as we are considered (which we obviously are) in any new regulations with a view to limiting any impact to us, lets just do what we can to minimise the impact.  There's no point us replying saying "option 1 - no change" as realistically this won't be an option without a significant reason.

As for licensing, I see no issue with this as long as it is at a "reasonable" cost.  The consultation document provides a question for you to enter what is a reasonable maximum license value ranging from £0 to £80+.  Realistically, the cost cannot be extortionate otherwise no one will apply and the whole point will be lost.  That said, I see no issue with a "reasonable" cost license being a requirement as it goes all the more towards demonstrating competence in pyrotechnics.  Furthermore, it will allow us to source chemicals from professional suppliers without issue - how many of you can say that at the moment?  An official license will allow you to go to any chemical supplier and purchase chemicals with pride rather than trepidation and worry!  As for the "reasonable" cost of the license, I see our hobby the same as any other, it costs money to do it!  If you expect that legitimate pyrotechnic experimentation should be free of all costs, then find another hobby!  If you want to go fishing, do you just go to the river and cast your line in?  No, you must obtain a rod license, a river license and anything else governing the particular river that you wish to fish.  Its no different with pyrotechnics except there a whole lot more at stake than ensuring that rivers aren't fished when the fish are in spawn!

Please feel free to respond personally to the consultation but please do not detail it as a representative view of the society.  By all means state that you are a member of the society, but do not state that you are represent group opinion.

Lets not waste time grumbling to ourselves how unfair the world is to our hobby, lets just get on with the business of ensuring that any new regulations are workable for what we want to do.  We're not going to be able to stop change, but we can certainly steer it in the right direction.  After all, can you imagine what position we would all be in now if we were never a part of the ELR?

Cheers,

Wayne.

Hi All,

Just a quick update to let you all know that both meetings were very productive and helped greatly to move things along in the right direction. I can't say a lot about the detail yet, but I really feel we are at the turning point in the process and all the the work is starting to come together.

Once the good practise guidance is published (an undefined time as yet), this will clarify all the requirements you will need to fulfil to lawfully experiment and clear up all the misinformation and grey areas that exist now. You will find it a revelation!

With this is mind, I would like to reiterate that as society members it is your duty to remain lawful, professional and competent at all times. Please keep this in mind.

Cheers,

Wayne.

Hi All,

As well as the presentation above, I just thought I'd give you an update on other ELR progress.

Over the recent months, I've been working on a draft good practice guidance document in relation to experimentation under Reg 9(2)(a).  This is still on going.

I'm attending my second ELR coordination meeting tomorrow at the HSE in Bootle.  These meetings contain a large proportion of working group content which is irrelevant in our context, but its still important that we remain an active part of the ELR process.

Next Thursday (02/05), I'm hosting a meeting with representatives of the HSE to review our progress with the good practice guidance document.  Richard Harwood will also be in attendance. This will help steer the document in the right direction with regards to the content, detail level and formatting.  I have also enrolled in the HSE sub-sector guidance working group which will help in coordinating the guidance document from all sub-sectors.

Cheers,

Wayne.