OAR 837-012-0870
Loading and Firing of Shells

(1)

Shells must be carried from the storage area to the discharge site only by their bodies, never by their fuses.
EXCEPTION: It is generally believed it is not safe to be loading mortars within ten feet of mortars being fired. When loading a shell into a recently fired mortar, the person should crouch alongside the mortar with his back toward the area where shells are being fired.

(2)

Shells must be checked for proper fit in their mortars prior to the display.

(3)

When being loaded into the mortars, shells must be held by their fuses or lowering cord if provided and carefully lowered into the mortar. At no time may the person loading the shells place any part of their body over the mouth of the mortar.

(4)

The person loading shells must be reasonably certain the shells are properly seated in the bottom of the mortars.

(5)

Shells must not, under any circumstances, be forced into a mortar too small to accept them. Shells that do not fit properly into the mortars must not be fired.

(6)

The safety cap protecting the fuse must not be removed until immediately before the shell is to be fired.
EXCEPTION: Where electrical ignition is used, there is no requirement for a safety cap.

(7)

Shells may be ignited by lighting the tip of the fuse with a fusee, torch, portfire, or similar device. The operator must never place any part of their body over the mortar at any time. As soon as the fuse is ignited, the operator must turn away from or retreat from the mortar area.
EXCEPTION: Alternatively, electrical ignition may be used.

(8)

The first shell fired must be observed carefully by the operator to determine that its trajectory is such that the shell functions over the fall-out area and that any dangerous debris or unexploded shells will land in the fall-out area. The operator must determine whether or not to begin the display and must monitor the display continuously to determine if the display continues to meet all requirements for the continuance of the display.

(9)

The display must be interrupted and the mortars must be re-angled or repositioned as necessary for safety any time during a display. In the case of a barge, the display must be interrupted and the barge must be repositioned as necessary for safety any time during display.

(10)

In the event of a shell failing to ignite in the mortar, the mortar must be marked in some manner to indicate the presence of an unfired shell, and the mortar may not be reloaded or reused so long as the misfired shell remains. Immediately following the display but no sooner than 15 minutes after the attempted firing, if the shell still has not fired, the mortar must be cautiously flooded with water and let stand for a minimum of five minutes before it is cautiously emptied of the shell. The operator must be knowledgeable in the proper disposal methods.
NOTE: Flooding the mortar with water may not be advisable in all cases, perhaps allow the mortar to stand additional time before removing the shell if it is not to be flooded.
EXCEPTION: When electrical ignition is used and the firing failure is electrical in nature or the aerial shell was intentionally not fired, the shell may be salvaged by the operator.

(11)

It is the responsibility of the person igniting the aerial shells to detect when a shell does not fire from a mortar. That person must warn others in the area and immediately cause the mortar to be marked to indicate the presence of an unfired aerial shell.
EXCEPTION: When electrically firing, it is not necessary to mark the mortar. However, individuals entering the area after the fireworks display must conduct themselves as though unfired shells remain until advised to the contrary by the operator.

(12)

Manual re-ignition of chain fused aerial shells may only be attempted at properly installed ignition points.

Source: Rule 837-012-0870 — Loading and Firing of Shells, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=837-012-0870.

837‑012‑0305
Purpose and Scope—Pest Control Fireworks in Oregon 837‑012‑0310
Pest Control Fireworks Permit Applications 837‑012‑0315
Definitions 837‑012‑0320
Storage of Pest Control Fireworks 837‑012‑0325
Permits-Denial, Suspension, Revocation 837‑012‑0330
General 837‑012‑0340
Permit Fees 837‑012‑0350
Issuance of Pest Control Fireworks Permits 837‑012‑0360
Purchase of Pest Control Fireworks 837‑012‑0370
Prohibited Acts and Limitations 837‑012‑0500
Purpose and Scope—Wholesale Sales and Storage of Fireworks in Oregon 837‑012‑0505
Effective Dates 837‑012‑0510
Definitions 837‑012‑0515
General 837‑012‑0520
Wholesale Permit Applications 837‑012‑0525
Wholesale Permits 837‑012‑0530
Permit Fees 837‑012‑0535
Denial, Suspension and/or Revocation of Wholesale Permit 837‑012‑0540
Wholesale Sites Located in Oregon 837‑012‑0545
Sales and Records — General 837‑012‑0550
Sales to Out-of-State Residents by In-State Wholesalers 837‑012‑0555
Prohibited Acts and Limitations 837‑012‑0560
Civil and Criminal Enforcement Actions 837‑012‑0565
Transportation 837‑012‑0570
Hazardous Materials Reporting for Wholesalers with Oregon Storage Sites 837‑012‑0600
Purpose and Scope—Retail Sales and Storage of Pyrotechnics (Allowed Fireworks) in Oregon 837‑012‑0605
Effective Dates 837‑012‑0610
Definitions 837‑012‑0615
General 837‑012‑0620
Retail Permit Applications 837‑012‑0625
Retail Permit Fees 837‑012‑0630
Issuance of Retail Permits 837‑012‑0635
Purchase of Retail Fireworks by Retail Permit Holder 837‑012‑0640
Permits — Denial, Suspension and/or Revocation 837‑012‑0645
Sales and Storage of Retail Fireworks 837‑012‑0650
Outdoor Sales 837‑012‑0655
Indoor Sales 837‑012‑0660
Records and Postings 837‑012‑0665
Advertisements 837‑012‑0670
Prohibited Acts and Limitations 837‑012‑0675
Civil and Criminal Enforcement Actions 837‑012‑0700
Purpose and Scope—Display of Fireworks in Oregon 837‑012‑0710
Effective Dates 837‑012‑0720
Definitions 837‑012‑0730
General 837‑012‑0740
Display Permit Applications 837‑012‑0750
Display Permit Application Fees 837‑012‑0760
Issuance of Display Permits 837‑012‑0770
Operator Certificate Applications 837‑012‑0780
Operator and Assistant Qualifications 837‑012‑0790
Issuance of Operator Certificate 837‑012‑0800
Renewal of Operator Certificate 837‑012‑0810
Training Course Instructor 837‑012‑0820
Pyrotechnician Training Course Requirements 837‑012‑0830
Denial, Suspension or Revocation of Display Permit or General or Limited Operator Certificate 837‑012‑0835
Purchase, Transportation and Storage of Display Fireworks 837‑012‑0840
Selection of Display Site and Set Up 837‑012‑0850
Construction of Fireworks Aerial Shells 837‑012‑0855
Barge Requirements 837‑012‑0860
Operation of Fireworks Display 837‑012‑0865
Operations for Barge Displays 837‑012‑0870
Loading and Firing of Shells 837‑012‑0875
Mortar Racks for Barge Displays 837‑012‑0880
Ground Display Fireworks 837‑012‑0890
Site Clean-Up 837‑012‑0900
Transportation and Storage 837‑012‑0910
Prohibited Acts and Limitations 837‑012‑0920
Records Keeping 837‑012‑0940
Civil and Criminal Enforcement Actions 837‑012‑0950
Insurance Requirements 837‑012‑0960
Fire Protection 837‑012‑0970
Reports for General Displays 837‑012‑1000
Authority and Application—Fireworks Citations and Civil Penalty Assessments 837‑012‑1010
Purpose and Scope 837‑012‑1020
Effective Dates 837‑012‑1030
Definitions 837‑012‑1040
General 837‑012‑1050
Violation Types, Instances, and Penalty Assessments 837‑012‑1060
Issuance of Civil Penalty Citation and Forwarding to the Office of State Fire Marshal 837‑012‑1070
Hearings 837‑012‑1080
Informal Conference 837‑012‑1090
Formal Hearing 837‑012‑1100
Penalty Adjustments 837‑012‑1110
Judicial Review 837‑012‑1120
Payment of Civil Penalty 837‑012‑1130
Type I Violations 837‑012‑1140
Type II Violations 837‑012‑1150
Type III Violations 837‑012‑1160
Type IV Violations 837‑012‑1200
Purpose and Scope—Explosives 837‑012‑1210
Definitions 837‑012‑1220
General 837‑012‑1230
Fees 837‑012‑1240
Applications 837‑012‑1250
Eligibility for a Certificate of Possession 837‑012‑1260
Certificate of Possession — Examination 837‑012‑1270
Certificate of Possession — Issuance 837‑012‑1280
Certificate of Possession - Renewal 837‑012‑1290
Explosives Storage 837‑012‑1300
Magazine Registration and Inspection 837‑012‑1310
State Fire Marshal Inspection of Magazines 837‑012‑1320
Certificate of Registration of Magazine — With Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Inspection 837‑012‑1330
Certificate of Registration of Magazine — Renewal 837‑012‑1340
Fire and Life Safety Standards 837‑012‑1350
Removal/Confiscation of Explosives 837‑012‑1360
Magazine Re-location — Reporting 837‑012‑1370
Record Keeping Requirements for Explosives 837‑012‑1380
Hazardous Materials Reporting 837‑012‑1390
Denial, Suspension or Revocation 837‑012‑1400
Contested Cases 837‑012‑1410
Informal Conference 837‑012‑1420
Formal Hearing
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 837-012-0870’s source at or​.us