Fireworks Types and Definitions

Do you ever find yourself gazing at a fireworks display at the same time wondering about what various effects mean – they don’t have to be rockets all the time, do they? See a pyrotechnics eyes glisten when you ask them what rockets he/she owns!

The sky should be full with a myriad of colours, patterns and effects. Shhhh! Don’t divulge to anyone the fact that it is true that there are only some types of firework. There are a variety of effects that are derived from these a few kinds and this is where the skill of the designer is focussed.

In this brief article, we will deal with the different types and what the impact of each has and how they’re used in a show.

Roman Candles

Roman candles make up the main fuel for the firework display, typically lasting for between 25 and 30 minutes and offering the continuity. They can produce a range of effects including, comets, bombettes, mines or crossettes, butterflies and serpents as well as noise effects like flash reports, whistles, hummers and screechers. Typically, eight shots are fired per candle they are either fired singly at regular intervals across the width of the location or in a bouquet of 3 five or seven and can be turned to form the illusion of a lattice. They can also be arranged in various forms in the sky.

Rockets

They are among the most popular kinds of fireworks near me for consumers and are used to describe what you see in the sky! The rocket motor on the end of a stick propels the pyrotechnic payload towards the sky, exploding to create an impact at the trajectory at the apex. The loud rumble of the motor, usually accompanied by the sound of a silver or gold tail, is often the most recognizable sound of a TV sound engineer wishes to present “BIG” fireworks. In reality, the professional market employs rockets less frequently since the stick and rocket motor return to the ground. If you are buying a rocket in a store, beware of the head that is large which is usually filled with air and intended to entice you to buy it – larger isn’t always the best option for rockets!

Cakes or Combination Batteries

Combination Batteries or Cakes, as they are popularly known (because they resemble cakes!) are a popular choice to create continuity
and duration in a display. They are made up of many smaller tubes that are joined to fire in succession – often very quickly and at other times slow. They’re similar to roman candles in terms of many effects produced by the tubes but they are pre-angled, so the effects across the sky of fans and z-shaped, w patterns and different speeds of ignition create many possibilities. Cakes are available in a range of sizes, from a tiny 19 shot crackling willow cake up to a large 600 shot rapid-fire peacock tail battery. The first will provide an effect that is similar to a normal roman candle, whereas the second will fire an intensely wide effect fan with 600 different effects in just 8 seconds, resulting in a gigantic peacock’s tail in the sky.

Single shot tubes

A relatively new addition to the firework choreographers armoury Single shot effects are becoming increasingly popular in display of pyromusical fireworks where a large range of effects that are single shots could be utilized to emphasize a particular moment in the music. They are also used to add an extra dimension providing movement and animation in to the show by generating chase sequences, be it a race of comets around on the Olympic Stadium or a one-shot comet mines racing around on the outside of the London Eye, they can be utilised to create some memorable photos. Like the name suggests, they are an effect that is created by one tube however they can be found in a variety of colors and effects.

Fountains

Fountains are a different kind of fireworks that are used in a variety of ways to enhance a display. From small silver fountains to large displays of coloured chip fountains that release a massive explosion of sparks that reach 8 meters into the air. When stacked on wooden frames or set pieces, they can create beautiful lattice patterns as well as being used as drivers to create Catherine wheels. Fountains can last often up to 50 seconds, so they are good for creating a focal point to an exhibit.

Mines

They are typically used to signify the beginning and closing of a firework display. They can also be employed as a complement to music in order to mark a crescendo, or a significant change in key or tempo. When they are fired with a large frontal area, they can generate a large star-shaped wall that can wow the audience. Mines come in many different dimensions and offer a range of sounds and visual effects.

Aerial Star Shells

Last but not least and exclusively the realm of the professional pyrotechnician, we have rockets with aerial stars. The professional industry will most of the time use them instead of rockets. They are fired from mortar tubes. aerial star shells can be launched the sky and be able to reach a height of 250 meters in just a few seconds. It is constructed to start the explosive charge at the peak in the flight vertically and a huge canopy of stars is lit to create patterns colours and sounds. The bursting charge from the biggest star shell could create 150m of star-filled sky. Star shells come in a range of sizes, and are usually fired in a series of barrages.