Welcome to the forum for the discussion of Professional fireworks, retailing, wholesaling, displaying and related topics.
This forum is intended for use by "professional" firers and those in the fireworks trade, such as retailers, wholesalers or importers.
For the purposes of moderation "professional" is defined as anyone whose use of category four fireworks is legal or who would fall under that definition by their involvement in the trade. This would include people directly in the fireworks trade (who make a living from fireworks and are therefore defined as professional by law) and people who are employed by fireworks companies as firers, either full time, part time, seasonally or on a casual basis - providing such employment and use of cat 4 is bona fide.
JOINING THIS FORUM:
This forum is freely accessible to all members on a read only basis.
However to post a message, or reply to existing ones, you need to register as a professional member, using the link below
The registration process involves filling in a simple form in which you declare that you have a genuine connection to the fireworks trade and that any topics you post relate to activities which are
fully legal for you to carry out. You also tell UKFR your real name and (briefly) your connection to the trade in order to substantiate your application.
You must go through this process even if you are a known or obvious professional member, I do not pro-actively or automatically change forum profiles to Pro status since the registration also serves as a disclaimer and additional terms and conditions apply which you must agree to.
Members of the public who have no connection to the fireworks trade or are not legally entitled to obtain or use category 4 (professional) fireworks are not permitted to join this forum.
In keeping with my intention to assume members are honest and genuine, I am happy to accept a self-declaration of your professional status via the registration form below. Please note however that this is a moderated forum and if your posts or conduct causes concern, myself or an appointed moderator reserves the right to ask you for further clarification, references or proof of your professional status.
I may also want to follow up (verify) the information you fill in where your trade connection is ambiguous or where you are a new member with no posting history.
Click here for the Registration Form
WHAT IS A PROFESSIONAL FIRER?
For the purposes of access to this forum, I do not wish to get involved in the debate over what a "professional" is; in any case this always leads to a bun fight here. The main point to stress is that some members may not be classed as "professional" by some definitions, yet their use of cat 4 would be legal. For example, a casual firer employed on a professional display. So, as far as this forum is concerned, the criteria for an acceptable post is: "Is the activity being carried out legal for that member to conduct in those circumstances?".
UKFR and this Pro forum welcomes members who are just starting out as a firer. The minimum level you should have reached is participation in at least one show (at any level, even just working under full supervision)
with an intention to continue your training and involvement.
You do NOT need to be BPA qualified to apply for access to this forum.
If you are in the fireworks trade as a retailer, wholesaler or importer then you obviously do not need to be involved with professional firing. Your posts here must reflect this however, so we would not expect the company director of a consumer fireworks shop to start asking how to use Cat 4!
ACCEPTABLE TOPICS:
Anything related to professional fireworks displaying providing the activities discussed are legal for those discussing them.
Anything related to the fireworks trade such as retailing, wholesaling or importing.
Notifications of demo nights are welcome in this forum. Please make it clear whether your demo night is for consumer or professional products. It is assumed demo nights posted here are TRADE ONLY however we suggest you make it clear either way. Demo nights open to the public are best posted in the General forum. For trade-only demo nights, we suggest you post a general location (such as town or city) along with contact details, this will help to ensure only bonafide or invited trade members attend and the event is not gatecrashed
UNACCEPTABLE TOPICS:
Discussion of any activity that is not legal.
DISCLAIMER:
It is intended that any displaying and Cat 4 activities discussed in this forum are LEGAL for those discussing them. I should warn NON professionals that certain activities which are legal for professionals, may not be legal for you including modifying fireworks. All professional activities discussed are carried out by trained professionals under safe conditions. I accept no responsibility for any post nor any member's use of fireworks whether they are professional or not. If you are professional, the following of advice posted by other members is entirely your own risk.