Fireworks Supervisors with the Flatbed
endorsement may fire from a flatbed, which is a towed trailer carrying already mounted and
secured mortars ready to be moved to the display site. The following conditions
apply:
- The mortars are
securely fixed to the platform.
- The flatbed must be sited in accordance with appropriate separation
distances.
- The loading of the mortars must be made at the firing site.
- The firing must be totally electric.
- The towing vehicle must be separated from the flatbed and outside the
display site during the loading and firing of the display.
3.5
Firing from a Floating Platform
General
Fireworks Supervisors with the Floating Platform endorsement may fire from a
floating platform such as a raft. A raft used as a launching ramp is unstable;
waves, currents and recoil from the fireworks being fired cause the platform to shift and
deviate the intended trajectory of the aerial shells. Fireworks can usually be fired
from a floating platform if fired electrically and the applicable separation distances to
spectators are respected. High-level fireworks up to and including 155mm calibre
shells can be fired from a raft as long as the construction of the floating platform meets
certain standards. However, any display shells greater than 155mm including report
shells (maximum 100mm calibre) can only be fired from a certified barge where ballast
provides stability and the barge is well anchored by cables.
3.5.1
Approvals
- All displays shot from loading
platforms require written approval from the Explosives Regulatory Division.
Previous approval can be carried over from year to year for the same company or person to
shoot the same show on the same site.
- ERD approval requires the
following pre-requisites:
- All motorized and/or manned floating platforms used for
the display must either have a Certificate of Registry (Small Vessel Register) or a Small
Commercial Vessel License. The Applications for Registry or License is available
through the Registrar of Ships at the Transport Canada (TCan) website.
- Motorized and/or manned platforms require a Notice of
Inspection conducted by a Marine Safety Inspector of Transport Canada (TCan).
- Displays on floating
platforms in a harbour or on a navigable waterway require approval from the Canadian
Marine Authorities (TCan & CCG).
- Displays on Seaways such as
the St. Lawrence Seaway must be fired from barges that have been inspected and certified
by TCan.
