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I am looking for some verifiable figures for the energy output of Flash Powder. I appreciate that there are many variants of the substance but what I am looking for is something along the lines of -


Composition make-up (% of fuel / %oxidiser )

Energy output per specified weight - for example x joules per gram

Mean temperature of the measurement

Source of the data



Thanks in advance.

I have had an enquiry regarding the availability of pyro tubes that meet the following specifications -

They are to be loaded into 12mm diameter holes so the outside diameter should be 10/11mm ( 9 is too small).
The wall thickness around 1mm
Length around 100mm

The construction must be robust enough to deal with wet conditions.

Ideas and suggestions welcome.

Wasnt too sure which heading to post this under (moderators please feel free to move it)

I am wondering if any of the electronics wizards out there could design and build a basic initiator device for starting shock tube. They are available commercially ( Dyno- start, and a plug in for Shrike for example) but at silly prices.

Shock tube initiation has its place in certain pyro applications, especially in SFX. We currently use systems based on percussion primers bit we also have a need for a push button option.

I have had an enquiry from a contact in Switzerland who is wanting some 1.4g flash pots for a forthcoming stage show.
Has anybody got any experience of sending pyro by surface mail out of the UK? There is plenty of info around regarding importing by mail but very litte re exporting.
Alternatively - do any of our well travelled members know of a pyro supplier in Switzerland?

Right folks. After a number of PM's regarding the matter I have the following update.

I have been in discussion today with the Regulatory Contact Officer at HM Explosives Inspectorate ( the first port of call and font of all knowledge for all things firework related) and posed the scenario as follows -

If an individual lawfully possesses Cat 3 articles and takes them to a place of use where he subsequently modifies or adapts the fusing arrangements of these articles to link them in multiple or to use any other fusing arrangment other than that supplied at the point of manufacture to fire them individually or in multiple does this act of lawful fusing under MSER render the articles to be Cat 4 by any default process?

We spent the day examining many pieces of legislation and internal guidance documents and cannot find any reference that would make those re-fused Cat 3 articles fall to cat 4 by a default.

There is a precedence that any article that has never been assigned a Cat under BS7114 shall default to cat 4 but no mention of those that already categorised.

There is still an issue relating to the transport of any article that has modified in such a way as to alter the characteristics from how it was submitted for CAD but this only kicks in if you need to disassemble a shot and remove it from the place of use or if you have fused the article at a place of storage.

In all fusing operations of course competence is essential, as is compliance with MSER ACOP in respect of risk assessments and safe practices.

Hope this helps a bit.