Pennsylvania Code
Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Part I - Department of Labor and Industry
Chapter 5 - BLASTING, DEMOLITION, FIREWORKS AND EXPLOSIVES
Subchapter C - FIREWORKS
SPECIFICATIONS
Section 5.64 - Manufacturing

Universal Citation: 34 PA Code ยง 5.64

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 38, September 21, 2024

(a) No stove or exposed flame or electric heating device shall be used in any part of a fireworks plant, except in the boiler room or machine shop, if no fireworks or chemicals are stored therein.

(b) All parts of the buildings in fireworks plants shall be kept clean, orderly and free from accumulation of dust or rubbish. Powder or other explosive materials, when spilled on the floor, shall be immediately cleaned up.

(c) Electric motors, metallic belt fasteners or other devices which might cause a spark due to static electricity shall not be used. Metal tools shall not be utilized where explosive raw materials are being used. Kegs or containers containing explosives shall be opened with wooden or fibre mallets. No metal hammers, screw drivers or other tools shall be used.

(d) Fireworks in a finished or unfinished state shall not be kept or stored in buildings where other fireworks are in the process of manufacture, or where explosive raw material is stored.

(e) All explosive raw materials used in the manufacture of fireworks shall be kept in class A magazines, and each kind of explosive raw material shall be kept in a separate container. Covers shall be provided and used on all kegs or containers. Explosive raw materials used for current work each day may be kept in the factory building if they are kept in class C magazines when not actually being used. The amount remaining each day may be permitted to remain in the class C magazine if the amount does not exceed 100 pounds. The construction specifications for class A and class C magazines are as follows:

(1) Class A magazines. In class A magazines the following requirements shall be met:
(i) The magazine shall be constructed of one of the following materials:
(A) Frame. The walls shall be constructed of two by four inch studding with a two inch plank outside wall. The inside wall shall be lined with tongued and grooved roofers. The outer wall shall be covered with No. 26 gage galvanized corrugated iron or sheet steel on the outside. The space between the outer and inner wall shall be filled with dry, coarse sand (not crushed stone or gravel). All lumber shall be well-seasoned and free from loose knots, wind shakes, bark edges or decay.

(B) Brick. The wall shall be 8 inches in thickness. The bricks shall be of medium soft variety laid in cement mortar containing not over 25% lime.

(C) Concrete. The walls shall be 6 inches in thickness constructed of nine parts sand and one part cement, and 1/2 inch face surface of three parts sand and one part cement.

(D) Tile. The walls shall be constructed of either 6 inch or 8 inch tile. The spaces in the tile shall be filled with dry, coarse sand (not crushed stone or gravel).

(ii) The foundation shall be constructed of stone laid in cement, concrete, or brick piers, or a solid foundation may be used.

(iii) Magazines of less than 30,000 pounds capacity shall have 7/8 inch tongued and grooved flooring. Magazines of larger capacity shall have double flooring.

(iv) The floor and ceiling shall be constructed to within 2 inches of the walls in order to provide a 2 inch ventilation space.

(v) All nail heads shall be countersunk. No metal shall be exposed within the building.

(vi) The door shall be 3 feet wide and 6 1/2 feet high, constructed of at least three layers of 7/8 inch hardwood lumber and metal covered.

(vii) A bulletproof sand roof shall be used, constructed as a form box by laying a floor of a good grade of tongued and grooved boards on ceiling joists and build a 1 by 4 inch rim, line with one layer of building paper and fill with 4 inches of dry, coarse sand (not crushed stone or gravel).

(viii) The outer roof shall be covered with No. 26 galvanized corrugated iron fastened to 7/8 inch sheathing with galvanized nails and lead washers. Galvanized iron ridge rool shall be used.

(ix) The cornice of the roof shall be constructed of No. 26 gauge galvanized flat iron, bent over roof sheathing and ends of rafters and extending three inches down the wall.

(x) Gutters and down spouts should be used on the door side only.

(xi) Ventilators shall be spaced not more than 5 feet center to center on sides and roof.

(xii) All materials and workmanship used in the construction of magazines shall be first class.

(2) Class C magazines. The following requirements shall be complied with:
(i) The principle of construction is simply placing one substantial box inside of another with a 5 inch space filled with dry, coarse sand (not crushed stone or gravel).

(ii) The outer box shall be built on the type of an ordinary contractor's tool box, equipped with a sloping hinged lid.

(iii) The box shall be constructed of 7/8 inch tongued and grooved boards or 1 1/8 inch plain lumber. The outside of the box shall be covered with not less than No. 24 gauge sheet iron if used in open quarry work.

(iv) The outer box will be 1 foot longer, 1 foot wider and 6 inches deeper than the inner box so that when the inner box is set inside the outer box the tops will be level with each other and there will be a 5 inch space on all sides for sand filling. The inner box shall be set inside of the larger box and fastened into place.

(v) The inside of all boxes shall be surfaced. No nail, bolt or metal screw heads shall be exposed on the inside of the box.

(vi) At the top, sides and ends of each box, there shall be cut 1/4 inch by 2 inch notches, spaced about 1 foot apart, and not directly opposite.

(vii) The box (magazine) shall be set so that it is level and supported either on wooden sills, bricks or piers. The bottom of the magazine shall be kept about 6 inches off the ground.

(viii) The space between boxes shall be filled with dry, coarse sand (not crushed stone or gravel) to within 1/4 inch of the top of the boxes. To prevent sand from falling into the storage space or into a shifting position, a cover may be placed over the sand space.

(ix) All magazines shall be provided with substantial locks.

(x) Upon each end of the magazine, above the side walls, or upon its barricade, there shall be kept conspicuously posted at all times a sign with the words "MAGAZINE-EXPLOSIVES-DANGEROUS," legibly printed in letters not less than six inches in height.

(f) Employes handling loose explosives or working in or around factory buildings where there is a possibility of explosion by the attrition of metals shall wear powder or rubber soled shoes, without iron or steel nails. Neither iron nor steel buttons, nor other metal attachments, shall be worn on clothes, nor shall metal objects, such as knives, keys, and the like be carried in pockets. Suitable facilities shall be provided where employes may change their clothes. Washing facilities shall also be provided. No lockers are permitted in explosive buildings.

(g) All machinery and moving parts of machinery, ladders, floors, ventilation, lighting, sanitation and the like shall be in accordance with the regulations of the Department covering these subjects.

(h) Fireworks plants shall be lighted by electricity with vapor-proof keyless lamps where artificial light is necessary. Temporary or loose electric wiring or extension lights are prohibited. All wiring shall be of a permanent character installed in rigid metal conduit. No open knife switches may be used.

(i) Where heating is desired, it shall be by means of steam, indirect hot air radiation, or hot water. Radiators shall be so placed that they may readily be cleaned underneath and behind.

(j) Workrooms in factory buildings shall have at least two means of exit leading directly or ultimately to the outside.

(k) No fireworks shall be manufactured except such as are approved for transportation by the Interstate Commerce Commission.

(l) No fireworks, or component parts of fireworks, shall be dried in the open or outdoors. Where drying is necessary it shall be done in a dryhouse.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Pennsylvania may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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