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1.3G(0335) - Placard designation of professional fireworks.

1.4G(0336) - Placard designation of consumer fireworks.

500 Gram - The largest amount of powder a consumer cake can have. Also called "Heavy Weights".

Aerial Firework  - Any other firework that is design to burst in the air.

Aerial Shell - Designed to burst in the air, after being launched from a mortar.

Atomic Pattern - Three contiguous circles representing the orbits of electrons circling a nucleus.

Automatic Electrical Firing Unit. A panel or box that operates automatically to provide the source of electric current used to ignite electric matches. The unit is attached by wires or cables to junctions that are connected to the electric matches, which in turn, are attached to fireworks devices. Automatic units often are operated by magnetic tape or by computer.

Bare Match - This is another name for Black match.

Barrage - When multiple items ignite at one time. Can contain multiple different items and types.

Battle in the Clouds - A shell that produces a series of loud salutes after it breaks with color mixed in.

Bees - Are an aerial effect that is very similar to the firefly effect. see Firefly.

Black Match - Cotton string that is soaked in Black Powder. Burns at a inch a second. Black Match that is enclosed by a paper tube is referred to piped match.

Black Powder - A composition, comprising Potassium Nitrate, Sulfur and Charcoal in the ration 75:15:10 widely used in fireworks.

Blind Shell - A shell that fails to break, that has been launched from its mortar. These are potentially dangerous if you ever come across one. If you should happen to stumble upon one of these please contact your local fire department. Do not go anywhere near it.

Bottle Rocket - A smaller version of a rocket, parts consist of a stick, and body with the propellant and a small amount  of color or report mixture.

Bottom Fuse - Is a method of fusing where the fuse is located at the base of each tube in a cake. Also in aerial shells the shell time delay is lit by igniting the lift charge of the shell.

Break - This is usually related to aerial shells. Most shells that you see at a professional display are called "single breaks". In consumer fireworks aerial shells come with up to 5 individual breaks.

Brick – Packs of firecrackers sold together in a "Brick" appearance. 

Bridgewire - A fine wire that either heats up or explodes when an electric current is applied. It is used to fire pyrotechnic devices.

Brocade  - Long burning stars that produce a willow effect, however doesn't last as long as a Kamuro.

Bursting Charge - The center of an aerial shell or other shell type device. This breaks the outer casing of the device and lights the stars that are inside of it. Flash powder is used in salute shells and professional display shells. Black powder is used in consumer shells, and effect shells.

Butterfly Break - This is related to the way in which a cylindrical shell breaks. A cylindrical shell breaks at a point towards the center of the shell.  There is also a complicated pattern shell that is made to look like a butterfly when it breaks.

Cake - see repeater.

Calibre - The inside diameter of a tube, or mortar.

Candle - This is another name for a roman candle.

Celebration Cracker - This typical are a roll of firecrackers that contain hundreds or thousands of individual firecracker that are fused together. These are a traditional part of Chinese New Year. They are used to scare away evil spirits.  The Celebration Cracker Strings are either unrolled or hung from a tree.

Cherry Bomb - An illegal firework that contain flash powder. It resembles a large cherry, due to the red coating and round ball shape. This is how it got its name.

Chinese Cracker  - Another name for Celebration Cracker.

Chrysanthemum Shell  - Unlike the Peony in which the stars produce no visible trail the chrysanthemum produce a strong tail as the stars move out.

Class B Fireworks - Professional Display Fireworks. UN335 (1.3G) Fireworks.

Class C Fireworks - Consumer Display Fireworks UN336 (1.4G) Fireworks.

Coconut Shell - a shell that contains a large comet that produces a coconut palm tree upon bursting. These shells are normally complemented with a color tail.

Comet - Bright tail with no break at the peak. Go up as long as their is fuel to burn.

Cone - A type of fountain that contain pyrotechnic composition at the top of the cone, with a fuse out of the top. Produce a small fountain like effect.

Cracker  - another name for Firecrackers.

Crackle - Audio sound.  The effect is produced by many sharp loud bangs. Sounds like popping a bunch of those bubble sheets.

Cross Match - This is usually a thin piece of match that is used to ignite the shell's internal time fuse. It is made by splitting the time fuse.

Crossette - Splitting Comet.

Crown -  The tips of the aerial shell after falling change colors.

Cut Star  - A star that is in a cube form.

Cylinder Shell - Typical aerial shell that is European Manufactured. These are sometimes stacked upon another to produce a typical multi-break shell.

Dahlia - Similar to a Peony except contains fewer, brighter stars.

Daylight Fireworks - Concentrates more on noise than light effects. Items include colored smoke, novelty effects such as parachutes and flags.

Daylight Shell  - Aerial shell that contains a report, confetti, or a parachutes. Use is for daytime.

Delay Fuse - The fuse that is used to give a delay before the device functions. Aerial shells contain a delay fuse that is used to set the delay for the shell before bursting so it can reach its desired height.

Display Area -  This is the total area that includes the spectator area, firing area, safety area, and the fallout area.

Display Fireworks  - UN 0335 (1.3G) Fireworks. Larger fireworks than what is allowed to be UN 0336 (1.4G) Fireworks. Contains more powder.

Double Break Shell - A aerial shell that is shaped like a peanut, produces to distinct breaks.

Dragon Eggs – groups of crackling sparks.

Electric Firing - If what is used in higher level professional shows. These systems range from as simple as a "nail board" to as complex as a computer controlled ignition. These systems are typically used to fire choreographed shows.

Electrical Firing Junction - A box or slat, connected by wire or cable to the firing unit, that contains electrical connectors that are intended to be attached to electric matches.

Electrical Firing Unit - A device that provides and controls the electric current used to ignite fireworks during an outdoor display. A firing unit normally has switches to control the routing of the current to the devices to be used during the display and also might contain test circuits and warning indicators. Units can be manual, automatic, or hand-held.

Electrical ignition - A technique used to ignite fireworks using a source of electric current. Typically, electric matches are attached to or inserted into fireworks devices prior to the display and are connected to wires leading back to an electrical firing unit. During the display, the operator or an assistant controls the ignition of the fireworks using the electrical firing unit.

Electric Igniter - Is the device that is used to ignite pyrotechnics electronically.

Electric Match - A device consisting of wires terminating at a relatively high resistance element surrounded by a small quantity of heat sensitive pyrotechnic composition. When a sufficient electrical current is passed through the wire circuit, the heat that is generated ignites the pyrotechnic composition, producing a small burst of flame. This flame can be used to ignite a fuse or a lift charge in a fireworks device. For the purposes of this code, the term electric match also refers to other similar technologies in which an electric current is used to produce a high temperature for ignition purposes.

Fallout Area - The area that debris from aerial devices falls. How much are that is needed depends on wind direction and how large of an item it was.

Finale - In a firework display the finale is a the end of the show. It is loud and bright.

Finale Rack - Is a rack that is used to how multiple rounds of shells that are use during the finale.

Firing Area - Is the actual area that the fireworks are being lit from.

Firing System - The source of ignition for pyrotechnic special effects devices. For an electrical system, it is the source of electric current used to initiate electric matches or other devices. Generally, the electrical firing system will have components, such as a primary key switch, test circuits, warning indicators, cables, isolation transformers, and switches to control the routing of the current to various pyrotechnic devices.

Fish - effect similar to the firefly

Firecracker - Tightly wrapped gunpowder that explodes when they are lit.

Firefly - This is an aerial effect which looks like a swarm of fireflies in the sky.

Flight  - A group of aerial shells that are fused together so that when the central fuse is lit all of the shell launch at the same time.

Fountain - Ground Display Fireworks. Effect ranges from 3ft -15ft high and 3ft to 5ft wide.

Front - Is a horizontal firing of multiple items like fountains, roman candles, etc... Creates a wall of fire.

Fuse - Used to ignite fireworks. Different types of fuse have different burn times per inch.

Fusee - A long time burning road flare to signal an emergency or to light fireworks in professional shows.

Glitter - Stars only flash once.

Ground Displays  - Contains items like cones, fountain, firecrackers, and novelty.

Half-Mat - 40/16 of 1 1/2" firecrackers.

Hand Held Electrical Firing Unit - A small, hand-held unit with manually operated switches that control the flow of electric current to electric matches attached to fireworks devices. The unit is connected directly to the electric matches by means of wires.

Hang fire - when a fuse burns slower that expected or appears to have gone out. It is never safe to approach these from anywhere from a few seconds to minutes. Proceed with great caution.

HDPE - High Density Polyethylene. Used for mortar launchers. If a non salute shell fails to lift off and bursts inside of the mortar, the mortar bells instead of shattering.

Igniter  - A piece of wire that has a heat sensitive material in the center of the wire the is bent in half. When currant passes through the wire, the wire heats up and the composition ignites.

Kraft Paper – brown paper used in fireworks for tubes and quick match pipe

Kamuro - Silver or gold, that falls a distance from the center burst before, changes color at the end of its path.

Lady Fingers - Smaller firecrackers. 7/8"

Lance - Is a tube that contains a color composition. These are used in Lancework or Set pieces. Can come in many different colors.

Lancework - Similar to set pieces. Usually a design, logo, or words spelled out, by using multiple lances, fused together with quick match.

Leader - The fuse of an aerial shell. It is used to light the lift charge after the delay fuse.

Lift Charge –  consists of  black powder that launches the shell out of the mortar pipe. This can also apply to roman candles, or repeaters (cakes).

M-80 - This is not a firework! This is a military explosive. That is why it has a M in front of the number. Made out of Flash Powder. Illegal since 1967 Child Protection Act.

Manual Electrical Firing Unit - A panel or box with manually operated switches that control the flow of electric current to electric matches attached to fireworks devices. The unit contains wires or cables that are attached to junctions that are, in turn, connected to the electric matches.

Manual Ignition - A technique used to ignite fireworks using hand-held ignition source such as a fusee or portfire.

Maroon - A firework which produces a single loud report.

Mat - 80/16 of firecrackers.

Match - Is the generic term used for quick match or black match

Mine - The canister bursts inside of the pipe shooting the stars out of the pipe in a V shape. Not to be confused with land mine.

Misfire - When a firework fails to ignite properly.

Mortar - Used to launch Aerial Shells. Range in sizes from 1.75" to 16".

Mortar Rack - Used in professional displays to hold multiple shells.

Mortar Shell - Unlike the firework mine a mortar shell does not burst inside the pipe, rather it is shot out of the mortar tube to a desired height where it bursts.

Multi-Break Shell - Aerial Shells that contain multiple partitions that are separated, and are ignited my the preceding section bursting. This is different from a "shell of shells" because there is only on break at a time instead of multiple breaks.

Niagara Falls - Is a ground display that is suspended from a rope between two poles. It is made up of multiple tubes that are fused together by Quick Match or electrically fired. It produces an effect that looks like a waterfall.

No-fire Current - The maximum current that can be applied to an electric match for 5 seconds at room temperature without the match igniting.

Novelty - This is a type of firework that consists of vehicles, animals, and other misc. items.

Palm - This effect might remind you of looking at a palm tree.

Parachute - A device with a parachute. So are for day use and others for night. Night time one usually contain a color flare hanging on it.

Pattern Shell  - Aerial shell that produces a clear shape, for example a circle, Saturn with ring and moons, or even an atom.

Peanut Shell - See Double Break Shells.

Peony - An effect with burning stars with no trails.

PGI - Pyrotechnic Guild International

Piped Match - Bare match that is enclosed in a paper tube that is used to transfer fire from one firework to another. Is also used as the leader of a shell.

Pistil  - Is an effect in aerial shells when the center of the burst is of different color and/or effect from the outside part of the burst.

Plug - This term is usually used when talking about a mortar tube. The plug of a mortar tube is as long as it is wide. This term can also apply to other devices in which one end of a tube is closed.

Punk - Used to light fireworks.

PVC  - Not to be confused with HDPE. PVC cannot be used in mortar rack. If a shell breaks in a PVC mortar the pipe will shatter.

Quads - Another name for Quadruple break shells.

Quick Match - Black match with a paper tube around it, forcing the gases forward. The fuse burns around 60-100 ft a second.

Rack - Units used to fire mortars or rockets that consist of more than one firing position.

Rain - Long lasting stars from an aerial shell or rocket that fall all the way to the ground.

Repeater - Shoots multiple shots after lighting one fuse. These last anywhere from 12 seconds to a few minutes.

Report - Loud Explosion.

Ring Shell  -  This effect produces an asymmetric ring of stars.

Rising Effect - This usually talks about a tail to an aerial shell, but can also be whistles, crackling, or small shells.

Rocket - A larger version of the bottle rocket can weigh anywhere from 1 oz. to 16oz.

Roman Candle - Shoot flaming balls one after another. Several balls are loaded into a spiral wound paper tube with each shell containing a lift charge and a delay in between shots.

Roundel Shell -  Is an aerial shell that contains several reports that are timed to burst in a ring pattern one after another.

Salute - Loud Explosion. Louder than a report. No color just a single white flash.

Safety Fuse (Cannon or Visco Fuse)  - Slow burning, waterproof fuse. Is great for creating a delay in the firing of multiple items.

Serpent -  A small tube that is filled with a colored composition and maybe a report. These are fired from aerial shells and fly in a random pattern.

Set Piece - A set piece is made up of lances, and if animation is wanted some times wheel. These are made into different piece that are suppose to represent something and are lit by starting a chain reaction off of one continuous piece of quick match. Can be static or contain movement.

Shell  -  The typical shell is either in a ball or cylinder shape and can range from 1.75" to 24" in size. It parts are a lifting charge, burst charge, stars. These are fired from mortars that are equal to the size of the shell.

Shell of Shells – a large shell that contains smaller bombette shells as well as stars. When the first shell burst it releases the other smaller shells and stars, within a few seconds the smaller shells burst. Not to be confused with Multi-break shells.

Shell Candle - Shoots small shells that burst instead of flaming balls.

Shots - How many times a certain piece will fire. 25 Shot Independence Day means that  the piece will fire 25 times.

Side Spit - bits of burning material off of a burning fuse.

Smoke - is a bunch of tiny particles that are suspended in the air. Smoke can come in many different colors. Devises that emit smoke con as one of the follow forms; Canisters, Balls, or Genades.

Sparkler - Usually made out of iron fillings, can be different colors, handheld, the stick the iron fillings or powder are attached to is usually metal but are now being made on bamboo.

Spinner- Is another name for devices with wings that rotate very fast and rise into the sky. Also an aerial effect the casing is similar to the devices with wings to rotate the flames shoot out of the side.

Stars - Used in Roman Candles, Aerial Shells, Rockets, and Mines. Can come in many different shapes like round balls, squares or cylinders. Produce the colors when they burn.

Squib - Used in professional show to electrical fire shells, cakes, or other items.

Strobe - Stars flash multiple times. Strobes "On, Off, On"

Tail - With some aerial fireworks during the accent their is a effect that looks like it has  a tail. Rising column of sparks on aerial shells

Trunk - A rising effect that is typical seen on willow and palm tree aerial shells.

Visco Fuse - Is used in consumer fireworks and in professional fireworks to create delays in the rate of firing. It is a cord with a black powder core with and outer layer of thread and lacquer. Also called Cannon Fuse. Normally green or red in color.

Volley  - A mass firing of rockets or aerial shells.

Waterfall - This effect is used in professional shows by attaching tubes filled with a composition based of aluminum, to a rope or wire that is hung horizontally or vertically. The tubes with the composition are spaced evenly and are ignited at relatively the same moment by using electrical firing or quick match.

Whirlwind – tube that spins in the air with sparks. This produces a tornado like effect.

Whistle – a partly hollow tube, that produces a high pitch whistling sound. Produced by burning a composition made with potassium benzoate, potassium salicylate.

Willow - This effect has failing trails of effect. Long burning made normally with a high amount of charcoal. Looks like a gigantic willow tree.