- GB 24284—2026, Code of Practice for Safety of Fireworks Shows, was released on August 27, 2026 and takes effect on September 1, 2027, replacing the current GB 24284—2009 edition. This marks the first revision of the standard, proposed and administered by the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China. Below is a summary of the major technical changes for industry reference.
-
Scope Adjustment
-
- The new edition clearly applies to the design, operation, management, and safety assessment of large-scale fireworks display activities, while adding an exclusion clause: it does not apply to trial firing activities conducted by production enterprises or professional testing institutions, making the scope more precise.
-
Expanded Terms and Definitions
The new edition adds four new terms: Fixed-Position Fireworks Show (multiple shows at an unchanged venue with consistent organizer, operator, and storage conditions), Stage Fireworks Show (close-proximity shows staged alongside live performances), Fireworks Show Technician (personnel qualified under GA 898), and Salute Shell (single or combination fireworks containing salute effect components). The standalone definition for "firing equipment" has been removed, while terms such as "radiation radius," "safety distance," and "internal separation distance" have been redefined.-
Classification and Product Ratios
The new edition replaces the previous "including size X and above" phrasing with direct size listings for Classes I–IV (e.g., "10-inch and above," "8-inch and 7-inch"), improving clarity. The Class V definition is expanded to cover five scenarios: launch tubes with inner diameter >50.8 mm (excluding fountains), salute shells, stage fireworks, shell rack fireworks, and total product count ≥2,000 rounds—covering a broader range of real-world display scenarios.Classification (Table 1)
Large Shell Quantity Ratios (Section 4.2)
The new edition significantly simplifies the ratio controls for large aerial shells:- Class I: Shells of 8-inch and above shall not exceed 50% of the total shell count (the old edition set separate limits of 15%, 2%, and 3% for 8-inch+, 12-inch+, and 10-inch shells, respectively)
- Class II: Shells of 6-inch and above shall not exceed 50% of the total (the old edition limited 8-inch shells to 5%)
- Classes III, IV, and V: No ratio restrictions (the old edition required 6-inch shells to not exceed 20% for Class III)
-
-
Qualification and Personnel Requirements
-
Entity Qualification (Section 5.1)
The new edition explicitly links display class to entity qualification levels under GA 899: Class I requires Grade A qualification, Class II requires Grade B or above, and Classes III–V require Grade C or above. The old edition only vaguely required "corresponding qualification."Personnel Qualification (Section 5.2)
The new edition specifies the correspondence between technical titles and display classes: Class I technical directors must hold senior titles, Class II requires intermediate or above, and Classes III and below require junior or above. It also clarifies that personnel performing loading, testing, ignition, and clearing operations must hold fireworks show technician or operator qualifications. A new provision states that within the same display event, the roles of firing operator, safety officer, and storage keeper shall not be held by the same person (Section 6).-
Safety Distances and Internal Separation
Safety Distance (Table 2)
The new edition consolidates safety distance parameters that were previously split between the main text and an appendix, adds a "Stage Fireworks" column (100 m for important sites), while keeping distance values unchanged from the old edition. Two important new provisions are added:- When the actual launch height of aerial shells exceeds the corresponding safety distance in the table, the spectator safety distance shall be no less than the launch height
- Where the venue cannot meet standard safety distances, the technical design plan may propose adjustments, subject to safety assessment approval, with safety distances adjustable within ±30%
-
Internal Separation Distance (Table 3)
The new edition merges internal separation parameters from the old edition's main text and Appendix A into a single table, adding a new requirement of ≥1.0 m for safety evacuation passages. All internal separation distance values remain consistent with the old edition.
-
-
Technical Requirements for Firing Operations
-
Stage Fireworks (Section 5.4)
The new edition expands the list of permitted product types, adding pellet-type small aerial shells, Roman candles (non-bursting) and their combinations, and smoke-type fireworks. Safety requirements are tightened: no flammable materials within 5 m / 2 m of the ignition point depending on product type.Operation Plans (Section 5.5)
The new technical design plan now requires: product quality inspection certificates, personnel assignments and responsibilities, on-site safety management measures, and emergency response plans. Reviewer qualifications are refined: Classes I and II require review by senior-titled technicians, while Classes III–V require intermediate-titled or above.Mortar Tube Installation (Section 5.7)
- New fixation methods added: frame fixation devices (limited to 6-inch and below) and grid fixation devices, expanding beyond the old edition's three methods (double-layer steel pipes, wooden frames, and sand fill)
- Steel pipes must comply with construction industry scaffolding standards
- Shells of 8-inch and above are prohibited from angled firing (the old edition stated "not recommended"), and the safety distance multiplier for angled firing is increased from 1.5× to 2× the launch height (for aerial shells)
- New installation acceptance procedure: the technical director, technicians, and safety officer must jointly inspect and sign off on-site
Loading and Testing (Section 5.8)
- New prohibition on loading shells that are deformed or expired
- Shell rack construction personnel must hold a "Construction Special Operations Qualification Certificate"
- Fuse protection now includes anti-static measures; installation work is prohibited during thunderstorms
- New requirement that unrelated personnel must evacuate to safe areas during system testing
Ignition (Section 5.9)
The new edition requires ignition to proceed only upon receiving the firing command from the on-site commander, and Classes I and II shall prioritize programmed control system ignition (the old edition stated "recommended").Suspension or Termination (Section 5.10)
New extreme weather conditions added (rainstorms, lightning, hail, dense fog). Terminology such as "low burst" and "muzzle burst" is adjusted to "rack collapse" and "tube toppling."-
Safety Management
New Provisions
- Section 6.3: Each large-scale fireworks display (excluding fixed-position) requires individual approval; fixed-position display permits are valid for no more than 6 months
- Section 6.4: Operating personnel must wear safety helmets and adopt anti-static measures
- Section 6.8: Temporary storage sites require 24-hour dedicated supervision, warning signs, and protective fencing where necessary
Revised Provisions
- Section 6.6 (formerly 6.3): Safety officers must "be responsible for on-site safety supervision and inspection"
- Section 6.9 (formerly 6.6): Clearing operations now require that "remaining products shall have their electric matches safely removed on-site, then packed in cases for recovery"
- Section 6.10 (formerly 6.7): Command structure adds "medical rescue" responsibilities; safety cordon requirements add "manned emergency access channels"
- The new edition clearly applies to the design, operation, management, and safety assessment of large-scale fireworks display activities, while adding an exclusion clause: it does not apply to trial firing activities conducted by production enterprises or professional testing institutions, making the scope more precise.
-
Safety Assessment
-
-
Assessment Body
The new edition changes the assessment body from "qualified assessment institutions" to "an expert panel of no fewer than 3 experts", who must have no conflict of interest with the organizer or operating entity, and must hold senior technical titles or professional qualifications.Assessment Content
The assessment content is refined, consolidating the old edition's 7 items with optimizations, and adding evaluation of "compliance of the operating entity's qualifications and personnel credentials."Assessment Conclusion
The conclusion scale is simplified from the old edition's three-tier "compliant / basically compliant / non-compliant" to a two-tier "compliant / non-compliant." Non-compliant assessments must include a single consolidated list of corrective actions. A new provision requires that if adjustments to the display plan are necessary during implementation, a new safety assessment must be organized.-
New Chapter: Operational Workflow (Chapter 8)
The new edition adds Chapter 8, defining the complete management workflow from initial proposal to post-display clearing:Organizer proposal → Display planning → Venue selection → Operator selection → Technical design plan → (Special safety review) → Organizational implementation plan → Safety assessment → Operator application → Public security approval → Site preparation → Device installation → Product loading or installation → Connection → System testing → Ignition and firing → Post-display clearing-
Appendix Revisions
- The old Appendix A "Basic Safety Parameters of Aerial Shells" has been deleted, with relevant content integrated into Section 5.3.2 of the main text
- The appendix diagrams are upgraded from informative (old edition) to normative appendices, with new diagrams for frame fixation, grid fixation, and square steel pipe fixation, providing a more comprehensive illustration system
This summary is based on a comparison between GB 24284—2026 and GB 24284—2009, provided for industry reference and learning purposes. The full text of GB 24284—2026 is attached below.
GB 24284—2026, Code of Practice for Safety of Fireworks Shows -
Post time: 2026-10-09 11:36:32
