pyrotechnic rules in Canada

[bob]

So I've been reading quite a bit on *Canadian Nature Resources* for the last week or so and I have found some information but there is still a lot I haven't so if anybody has any experiance with Canadian rules it would be great if you could give me a few pointers.

So far I have found out that if you have a magizen containg explosives you either have to check it irregerly once a day or have cameras set up. You also have to have signs set up saying there are explosives in the area but have then set up so a bullet shot at the sign will not hit the magazen. I have found the charts for how far away a magazen has to be from roads; buildings and trees. I have also found charts with how far away people have to be from mortars being fired, and lots of other stuff. The part I'm having trouble with is the manufacturing of explosives. I was able to find some information about it such as the building your manufacturning in must be made with a none flamable fram; the inside of the walls must be made nonflamable; there must be two doors going out side unless the building is too small to have two doors; all was of getting in must be locked; and then theres a hole bunch of stuff about fencing of the area which is kind of confusing because they say that just having ruff turane is enough but then they say a chain link fence would be OK. You must also be able to see the gate from where your are working or have it locked. and then theres a hole bunch of stuff about signs. So any more information would be nice.

bob

[mikeee]

I would locate another certified Pyro in your area if possible.

Visiting someone in the industry would answer a lot of questions

just by seeing how they have the operation set up.

Reading standards and interpreting the standards can be a challenge.

The officials seem to interpret standards differently quite often.

 

[taiwanluthiers]

I find that for most countries they really do not have anything on hobby pyrotechnics. You require a license to make anything whether its making a few ounces for your own pleasure or making tons of them commercially, and the steps to get them are the same. The spirit of the rules in the USA are the same, the only reason ATF says its ok to make your own as long as you make/shoot the same day is because the ATF can't (or doesn't govern) that sort of thing. They can only handle storage/manufacture, and the DOT handles transportation.

 

There's a good chance that getting "legal" involves actually starting a firework company, and licenses may not be granted to individuals at all.

[mikeee]

Canada is different when it comes to policies and laws compared to USA.

Are you in an urban area or out in the country?

Doing Pyro in a rural area I would assume they would cut you some slack.

If you are in a densely populated urban area I would be more concerned with what the laws are.

[taiwanluthiers]

Or at least at first, find out what are the laws regarding fireworks in your area (whether or not they're actually allowed), and go from there. If consumer fireworks aren't allowed or restricted, then it would be difficult. As for "rural area", it depends. Many American suburbs can be legally considered "rural area" but they have very strict and well-enforced firework laws. The suburb I grew up in totally disallows any fireworks (even has a sign all over the suburb stating that with a 250 dollar fine).

[bob]

I'm in the country. Were I live there isn't a town or anything but there is a little group of houses I would say are nearest neighbor is at least a hundred and fifty feet away but I could put my magizen and stuff a lot farther away as we have a few quortar sections of land.

and it seems that the Canadian laws do let people make explosives cause it says on there that you need a division 1 licence to make explosives to sell but you need a division 2 licence to make explosives for a hobbie.

bob

Edited January 1, 2013 by bob

[mikeee]

I would get on the good side of your neighbors, so they don't complain about the noise.

Maybe invite them over for a party when you decide to shoot some fireworks off.

Or give your neighbors a few to light off if they are interested.

Or find a more remote area where you won't bother anyone with noise.

Are you allowed to shoot guns where you live?

Not a lot of difference between gun shots and fireworks.

Some people with pets or horses complain about fireworks, but it is no different then lightning & thunder.

[bob]

Yeah we can shoot guns a lot of people do. When I say my nearest neighbor is 150 feet I mean to my house. However where I shoot my fireworks off at is at least 1000 feet from the nearest house. Yeah I would like to have a look at another pyros set up but I don't know of any in Alberta.

bob