Classification of Fireworks

1.1G (UN0333) – DOT classification for explosives that pose a mass detonation hazard

1.2G (UN0334) – DOT classification for explosives that pose a projectile hazard

1.3G (UN0335) – DOT classification for explosives that pose a flaming projectile hazard (display fireworks)

1.4G (UN0336) – DOT classification for explosives that pose a limited hazard (consumer fireworks)

1.4S (UN0337) – DOT classification for explosives that pose only a limited or small hazard, such as fuse.

Types of Fireworks

Aerial shell  spherical or cylindrical-shaped firework propelled into the air from a mortar, where it bursts and ignites the contents inside.  The most common and well-known type of firework.

Assortment  a variety of fireworks sold in a box.  Comes in all different sizes, and usually includes aerial repeaters, fountains, spinners, rockets, and firecrackers.

Battery – any group of fireworks fused together as one unit so that they will ignite all at once or in a short period of time, such as a missile battery or a roman candle battery.  

Cake  a repeating aerial firework consisting of many shots, named after its usual short, cake-like appearance.  Cakes consist of one fuse attached to several tubes (sometimes hundreds) which fire in sequence, launching a variety effects into the air, including comets, crossettes, whistles, reports, mines, spinners, and flying fish.

Celebration Roll  a chain of hundreds or thousands of firecrackers (designed to be hung up) traditionally used by the Chinese during holidays 

Comet  basically a large star that emits thick showers of bright sparks on the way up

Cracker  short term for firecracker

Firecracker – a small rolled paper tube containing flash powder, typically braided by their fuses into long strings.  When the fuse is lit, the flame travels to the inside of the firecracker and ignites the powder, causing it to explode.  In the United States, firecrackers can only contain 50 mg of flash powder.

Fountain  firework that produces upward showers of sparks.  Also called gerbs  

Lance  a small tube of pyrotechnic composition that burns with a steady, colorful, flare-like flame for about one minute.  Lances are attached to frameworks in patterns and fused together to create set pieces. 

Mine (star mine)  a firework similar to a shell that explodes in a mortar, igniting effects such as stars and launching them in a fan-shaped pattern into the air.  Not to be confused with military land mines.

Missile – a type of rocket that uses fins rather than a stick for guidance.

Novelty – a small firework shaped like a animal, vehicle, or structure.  Novelties emit small sprays of sparks, crackle, and whistle, and often move around on little wheels.

Pattern shell  shell that breaks in a perfect spherical pattern

Rocket  a firework that is propelled by an rocket engine into the air, where it releases its effects.  Rockets are almost never used anymore in public fireworks displays.

Roman candle  tube-shaped device that fires a series of stars into the air

Salute loud report without stars or colors

Shell of Shells  a large shell that contains smaller shells as well as stars, and upon bursting ignite the smaller shells and create secondary bursts 

Smoke  a dispersion of fine solid particles in air, typically in the 10-5-10-9 meter range.  Smokes are typically produced by the incomplete burning of an organic substance (black carbon smoke) or the vaporization of a volatile ingredient which condenses in air.

Snake – a small black pellet that, when lit, burns slowly to produce a long column of brittle ash that resembles a snake coming out of the ground.

Sparkler  a wire coated in a pyrotechnic composition that gives off sparks while burning.  Though they seem harmless and are considered “safe”, they cause more injuries than any other firework

Strobe  bright stars that each flash repeatedly.  Also refers to a consumer fireworks device that emits a series of extremely bright flashes.