COMMONLY USED FIREWORKS TERMS

1.4G Explosives: Formerly known as Class C common fireworks. Items classified as 1.4G explosives are consumer fireworks intended for use by the general public.

Aerial Shell: A cartridge containing pyrotechnic composition, a burst charge, and an internal time fuse or module, that is propelled into the air from a mortar.

Barrage: A rapidly fired sequence of aerial fireworks.

Bouquet: Fountains fired in groups. 

Break: An individual burst from an aerial shell, generally producing either a visual effect (stars) or noise (salute).

Cake: A chain-fused firework that propels a series of aerial shell, comet or mine effects into the air from collectively attached tubes.

Comet: A pellet of composition which is propelled from a mortar or shell and produces a long tailed effect. Large comets are constructed much like aerial display shells, with attached lift charge ready for loading into mortars.

Consumer Fireworks: Also known as 1.4G fireworks. Fireworks that are intended for use by the consumer. The permitted usage of consumer fireworks varies by state. Examples are fountains, cones, and firecrackers.

Dud: Any device in which the fuse or igniter fails to ignite the main pyrotechnic charge. The term, dud, is reported to have originated as an acronym for dangerous unexploded device

Fountain: Device that projects a spray of sparks. Fireworks Fountains spray up in the air from the ground and give the effect of a reversed waterfall.

Mortar: A tube from which certain aerial devices are fired into the air.

Novelty: A device containing small amounts of pyrotechnic and/or explosive composition but does not fall under the category of consumer fireworks. Such devices produce limited visible or audible effects. Examples are snakes, tanks, poppers, and snappers.

Report: A component of an aerial display shell or mine. A report contains salute powder, a powerful pyrotechnic composition (usually flash powder) which explodes violently, producing a loud noise with the visual effect of a bright flash and smoke.

Roman Candle: A chain-fused firework that propels a series of aerial shell, comet or mine effects into the air from a single tube.

Salute: Fireworks designed to produce an explosive sound as its primary effect.

Safe and Sane: Fireworks that do not fly or explode. Fountains, sparklers, wheels, smoke and snake items, strobes, ground spinners, novelty fireworks that do not travel, snappers and caps are usually considered "Safe and Sane" fireworks. Firecrackers, rockets, missiles, mines, shells, aerial cakes, flying spinners and roman candles are usually not considered "Safe and Sane" fireworks.

Stars: Fireworks materials that are compressed into small cubes or round pellets.