party poppers

[cda]

Have not had to deal with the question in a long time

The party poppers, bottle looking device, pull the string, makes noise, strings come out

I know they are not fireworks, but the use to be marked novelty item.

Has the markings changed??

Code reference in IFC so they can be sold in a store???

 

[rshuey]

A party popper is an object commonly used at parties. It emits a loud popping noise by means of a small friction-actuated explosive charge that is emitted by pulling a string or by compressed air released when released. In some party poppers an explosive charge is not used. In party poppers with an explosive charge, there are less than 16 milligrams of explosive charge. The streamers are non flammable for safe use. The charge or compressed air blows out some confetti or streamers and emits a popping sound. Although they are in some places sold with fireworks, they are not considered fireworks and are often legal where fireworks are banned and/or excluded from regulation of fireworks sales. They are also generally listed as a novelty item or trick noise maker and are sold year round in many party supply stores or with party supplies in many stores.

 

[FM William Burns]

The pyrotechnic material is so low (typically .25 of a grain) that they are not required to be classified as hazardous materials. These devices substantially under regulated quantities n many if not all states to my understanding. A similar item will be the party snaps and toy caps (all unregulated and legal in many states). I treat them as another combustible material with regards to storage and don't care if retailers sell them or not.

 

[Insurance Engineer]

I would treat them as a Group A Plastic or Class IV commodity depending on how they are packaged. So this could limit the storage height depending on if the building has fire sprinklers. Grp A plastic to 5' , class IV 10' if on shelves, racks, etc. as per NFPA 13.

 

[FM William Burns]

I would treat them as a Group A Plastic or Class IV commodity depending on how they are packaged. So this could limit the storage height depending on if the building has fire sprinklers. Grp A plastic to 5' , class IV 10' if on shelves, racks, etc. as per NFPA 13.

Totally agree if in bulk arrays in a warehouse or big box occupancy beyond the mixed commodity allowances but to date we only typically see them in quantities, arrays and heights in mercantile occupancies well below levels allowing us to consider enhanced sprinkler design schemes. Therefore we typically treat them as other retail plastic commodities being sold within protected mercantile occupancies. All may change soon since our state just passed into law the allowance for sales of consumer fireworks in mercantile occupancies so our evaluations on existing fire protection schemes for those intending to sell will increase and where applicable will change considerably or we'll be filing plenty of complaints with the state jurisdictional authority who wanted this.

 

[RJJ]

Insurance engineer: As I read this post I was thinking what you posted. Not a problem when you have 50 or 100 or so. Box them up and stack them and a problem is starting to begin.

 

[beach]

Do they then become "Party Poopers"?

 

[Insurance Engineer]

I would also think from a fire fighting point of view as they start to pop when burning ( I assume they will) if the FD does not know what is burning, they MAY think it is ammunition and back out, so let everyone know.

And yes I was thinking more of a warehouse full of this stuff and or just some in a warehouse. Remember (see mixed commodities) NFPA 13 only allows 10 pallet loads in a 40K sq. ft. to be a higher commodity before the ENTIRE warehouse is considered the higher commodity.