Safety delay in pyrotechnical equipment: UK21/L016

Adopted EU recommendation LSA-062. UK approved recommendation on how to measure the safety delay of pyrotechnical devices.

Question

According to MSC.81 (70) chapter 4.5.2, hand flares, smoke signals and rocket parachute flares that are not operated from the bottom (safe) end should have a safety delay of 2 seconds. Neither a definition for safety delay nor instructions on how to carry out the delay time measurement are given.

How should the safety delay of pyrotechnical devices be measured?

Recommendation

To ensure superior safety for the users and consistent and reproducible conditions during certification, safety delay should be defined as the time between activation and the appearance of the first external noticeable reaction. 

References

• MSC.81 (70)

MSN 1874 as amended

The Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2016 as amended

Items affected

• UK/1.8, Rocket parachute flares (pyrotechnics)

• UK/1.9, Hand flares (pyrotechnics)

• UK/1.10, Buoyant smoke signals (pyrotechnics)

More information

Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/21
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Telephone: +44 (0) 203 817 2000

Email: MEQA@mcga.gov.uk

Website: www.gov.uk/mca

Updates to this page

Published 18 July 2023