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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We are open to suggestions if you have any ideas of what should be posted here.

Videos
How do I view your video clips? If you see a icon next to a product then it has a video clip to go with it. The clips are in flash format. You really need broadband and a fairly up to date computer to view them. Click on the icon and the clip should stream within 5-10 seconds.  We will video new products as and when we can.  Products come and go, so the chance of us ever getting everything videoed is somewhat remote!

Do I need some sort of license?
No! All fireworks in our packs can be legally sold to and used by members of the public at any time of year. There are special rules that enable you to store fireworks at home for your display. If you sell fireworks commercially you DO need a license!

How do Sandling Fireworks compare with what's in the shops?
Shop goods have improved over recent years but cheaper ranges may contain more empty space and packaging than firework!
Sandling Fireworks can be up to a third cheaper than shop goods, however you are free to pick and choose in some shops if you don't mind paying the price. See for yourself by looking at the web sites of other distributors and compare what you get with what we have to offer. You will be pleasantly surprised.

I have been offered fireworks from a van salesman or at a car boot sale. Why are they so cheap?
It is illegal to sell fireworks this way. Recent years have seen a huge increase in illegal imports. Importers who distribute this way often have no licensed storage, no insurance and do not batch test their fireworks. These operators are out to make a quick buck. The quality of some of these fireworks is quite awful! Avoid at all costs. Don't say we didn't warn you. See pics at bottom of page!

Why are Sandling Fireworks better value?
By buying directly from the importer and manufacturer you are cutting out the profit of the wholesaler and retailer.

How does the quality of Sandling Fireworks compare?
Most of our fireworks are manufactured to our specifications by Inter Oriental Fireworks in China or assembled at our own factory in Gloucester. Because we don't have the wholesalers markup to consider we can afford to have our fireworks manufactured to a very high standard indeed.

Can I pick and choose my fireworks from your packs?
Unfortunately not! We spend half the year packing our fireworks and it would cause havoc to unpack them again at our busiest time of year! You should be able to choose any combination of fireworks you want from our Special Packs section.

Can I collect?
Because our fireworks are stored at several remote locations collection is not possible. Our Airport address is an office only and is not licensed to store fireworks.

I am worried about giving my details over the internet. How secure is it?
Any credit card details are transmitted to us in an encrypted form via a secure server although your name and address is sent by standard email. It is probably more secure  than telephone or fax and to date has proved 100% reliable.

Why are some small shop fireworks labeled as display fireworks?
It is an unfortunate shortfall of British Standards that any firework likely to produce sparks falling more than three metres away have to be labelled as display fireworks. There is little that can be done until such time that British Standards is superseded by a European standard or the European standard bites the dust and British Standards can be revised.

When can fireworks be bought and when can they be used?
Sandling Fireworks is licensed to sell fireworks all year round. Other suppliers not holding this special license are only able to supply at certain times of year. Fireworks can be used on any occasion any time of year.  It is now an offence to use fireworks after 11pm except for November 5th -12 midnight, News Year's Eve, Diwali, Chinese Year, New Years Eve 1a.m. For garden parties it is a courtesy to notify neighbours of your event. Avoid causing disturbance to hospitals, old peoples homes, animal shelters, etc., and avoid using fireworks late at night. For larger displays the police should be notified — they merely need to know. For public events the fire brigade and police should be notified. Nearby airports or coast guards should also be warned where appropriate. If you have not organized a display before, an advice book "Giving Your Own Firework Display - How to run and fire it safely" is available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 6FS or you can download a pdf version for free by clicking  here. Organizations ordering our packs may request POSTERS with which to advertise their event.

The firework instructions state that I must ensure the firework cannot fall over. How do I do this?
Roman candles and fountains can be pushed into soft soil. Larger roman candles should be secured to a wooden stake. The stake should be on the audience side of the firework so that if anything goes wrong the firework will fall away from the audience. For a garden display you could secure to an upright stake a length of stout cardboard tube or a short length of plastic pipe about an inch or so wide.  You can then place a roman candle into the tube and light it. When spent, remove it and place the next one in the tube. Never use a metal tube for this purpose!

Any firework cake except those that are quite squat are prone to flip over due to the recoil of the shots. This tends to happen towards the end of the fireworks functioning when it is light on one side and heavy on the other. The instructions state that they should be attached to an upright stake and that you should ensure the firework cannot fall over. If you go to the training day section of our web site you will see a photo of how we do this. Any convenient wooden stake can be used and the firework secured to it with gaffer tape. Note the stake goes on the audience side so if the firework does explode or fall over it will point away from the audience. You can put the firework in a poly bag to waterproof it and mark the position of the fuse with an arrow. The firework will fire through the polythene. Securing the firework also helps to keep the tubes together should there be a malfunction. Some cakes from other manufacturers will state that they should be partly buried in soft soil .

Another method is to use a hard base such as a sheet of wood or paving slab and position bricks or blocks around the fireworks to prevent it falling over. This way you can bring out one firework at a time without having to secure the whole lot.

Can I buy shells from you?
Shells are only available to professional operators. There is no qualification or license that enables you to buy shells. The penalty for supplying shells or other Category 4 fireworks to the public is six month in jail or a £5000 fine! It has now become an offence for members of the the public to possess Category 4 items.

How do I become a professional?
To purchase Category 4 fireworks such as aerial shells you have run a firework display company on a profit making basis. You also need licensed storage with the necessary safety distance, full time products and public liability insurance and a special driving license to transport explosives, to name but a few! You also need to be able to prove competence, usually by working as a display firer for a number of years. It is not a way to make easy money (if only!)! At the moment there are about 150 display operators dotted around the country and that's about 100 too many. You can become qualified to fire Category 4 fireworks by attending a training course and taking the BPA exams. Although this does not permit to buy Category 4 fireworks you can then work as a firer for a professional company and get to fire the big stuff! There are more details on the BPA web site www.pyro.org.uk.

Firing displays sounds like fun! How do I get involved?
Standing in a field up to your knees in mud in horizontal sleet is not always fun! If you want to know more about working in the display trade have a look at the BPA website under Hot Topics, careers in the firework industry. The BPA offer accreditation to firers by way of a training course and exams. You can take BPA level 1 after you have helped fire three professional shows and BPA level 2 after a further 12. Please note that holding a BPA certificate does not in itself allow you to buy Category 4 fireworks. See details of firework displays here.

Even if you do not buy our fireworks, please buy from a reputable company or risk this happening to you:

Look nice on the outside..........

But inside is a different matter. 90% empty space or polystyrene!