On January 6, 2015 a massive explosion at a fireworks warehouse in the town of Granada in Columbia resulted in one person being injured and 17 homes being damaged. It was also reported that five more structures that were used to warehouse gunpowder were also destroyed.
The volatile chemicals and explosive compositions associated with pyrotechnic devices can lead to increased hazards during manufacturing, storage and transportation. These types of accidents typically result in a catastrophic loss. In recent years, some of the largest industrial explosions throughout the world have been linked to fireworks manufacturing and storage. This trend extends into transportation, where some of the worst maritime and air cargo shipping accidents can also be linked to fireworks and their associated chemicals. Whatever the type of incident, AEI has experts equipped to properly investigate these accidents and work effectively with the many competing government organizations involved after a catastrophic loss of this nature.
Both international and federal codes dictate the rules and regulations associated with the manufacturing, transportation and storage of fireworks. Here in the US, the ATF, DOT and CPSC play a major role in this process. Trade organizations such as NFPA, API and PGI dictate the codes and standard of care associated with conducting professional displays. There are further competing state and local laws that also regulate the use of and sales of consumer devices. AEI Corporation commonly performs code assessments for clients to determine the appropriate standard of care or specific codes involved with a pyrotechnic/fireworks-related incident or accident investigation.
