Fireworks, theatrical pyrotechnics, automotive pyrotechnic components and other pyrotechnic articles placed on the European market must satisfy a specialised product-safety framework designed around their intended use, hazard level, performance and user group.
Directive 2013/29/EU establishes harmonised requirements for pyrotechnic articles made available on the EU market. It addresses product categorisation, Essential Safety Requirements, conformity assessment, Notified Body involvement, technical documentation, registration, labelling, the EU Declaration of Conformity and CE marking.
One of the most important starting points is correct classification. The Directive separates fireworks into categories F1, F2, F3 and F4; theatrical pyrotechnic articles into T1 and T2; and other pyrotechnic articles into P1 and P2. These categories reflect, among other considerations, hazard level, intended environment and whether specialist knowledge is required.
Manufacturers therefore need to determine much more than whether a product is simply “pyrotechnic.” The exact category affects the intended users, market conditions, labelling and conformity strategy.
This GAR Insight explains the Directive’s product categories, Essential Safety Requirements, harmonised standards, conformity assessment procedures, Notified Body involvement, technical documentation, registration and traceability, labelling and CE marking.
Navigate This Article
Explore the EU framework for classifying, assessing, certifying, registering, labelling and CE marking pyrotechnic articles.
Understanding Directive 2013/29/EU
Directive 2013/29/EU harmonises the laws of EU Member States concerning the making available on the market of pyrotechnic articles.
The Directive became fully applicable on 1 July 2015, replacing the earlier Directive 2007/23/EC.
Which Products Fall Within the Directive?
Directive 2013/29/EU applies to pyrotechnic articles within its defined scope, including fireworks, theatrical pyrotechnic articles and other pyrotechnic articles.
The Directive also contains specific exclusions. Products should therefore be classified against the legal scope before testing, certification or CE-marking activity begins.
Fireworks
Consumer and professional fireworks are classified into categories F1, F2, F3 or F4 according to their characteristics and intended use.
Theatrical Pyrotechnics
Articles designed for stage use, including indoor and outdoor productions, are classified as T1 or T2.
Other Pyrotechnic Articles
Pyrotechnic articles that are neither fireworks nor theatrical pyrotechnics are classified as P1 or P2.
Special Applications
Certain pyrotechnic articles designed for vehicles are also specifically addressed by the Directive’s labelling provisions.
F1–F4, T1–T2 and P1–P2 Categories
Pyrotechnic classification under Directive 2013/29/EU is built around the type of article, its hazard level, intended environment and whether specialist knowledge is necessary for safe use.
| Category | Product Group | General Regulatory Character |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Fireworks | Very low hazard and negligible noise level, intended for use in confined areas, including certain fireworks intended for use inside domestic buildings. |
| F2 | Fireworks | Low hazard and low noise level, intended for outdoor use in confined areas. |
| F3 | Fireworks | Medium hazard, intended for outdoor use in large open areas, with a noise level that is not harmful to human health. |
| F4 | Fireworks | High-hazard fireworks intended only for use by persons with specialist knowledge, with a noise level that is not harmful to human health. |
| T1 | Theatrical | Theatrical pyrotechnic articles presenting a low hazard. |
| T2 | Theatrical | Theatrical pyrotechnic articles intended for use only by persons with specialist knowledge. |
| P1 | Other Pyrotechnics | Pyrotechnic articles other than fireworks and theatrical pyrotechnics that present a low hazard. |
| P2 | Other Pyrotechnics | Pyrotechnic articles other than fireworks and theatrical pyrotechnics intended for handling or use only by persons with specialist knowledge. |
Essential Safety Requirements
Pyrotechnic articles must satisfy the Essential Safety Requirements established in Annex I of Directive 2013/29/EU before they may be placed on the European market.
The manufacturer must evaluate the product against the applicable safety requirements and provide technical evidence demonstrating conformity.
Performance
The article should achieve the performance characteristics stated by the manufacturer while operating safely.
Stability
Physical and chemical stability should be appropriate throughout the intended period and conditions of use.
Compatibility
Materials and components should be mutually compatible and suitable for their intended function.
Premature Initiation
Design should minimise the risk of accidental or premature initiation under foreseeable conditions.
Safe Handling
Construction should support safe handling, storage and use according to the intended category.
Predictable Function
The article should function reliably when correctly used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Harmonised European Standards
Harmonised European standards provide an important technical route for demonstrating conformity with the Essential Safety Requirements.
Where a pyrotechnic article conforms to a harmonised standard, or relevant parts of it, whose reference has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the product benefits from presumption of conformity with the Essential Safety Requirements covered by that standard.
Product Classification
Standards can provide technical criteria supporting consistent categorisation of pyrotechnic products.
Performance Testing
Test methods can address ignition, functioning, effects, stability and other product-specific characteristics.
Construction Requirements
Applicable standards may establish technical requirements for product design and construction.
Labelling
Relevant standards can support consistent presentation of product information alongside the Directive’s legal requirements.
Testing & Technical Evaluation
The technical assessment programme should reflect the precise category, construction, composition, intended effect and conditions of use of the pyrotechnic article.
Function
Verify that the intended pyrotechnic effect occurs reliably and predictably.
Ignition
Evaluate ignition behaviour and relevant initiation characteristics.
Mechanical Integrity
Assess construction characteristics affecting safe transport, handling and operation.
Stability
Evaluate relevant physical and chemical stability characteristics.
Effects
Measure relevant effects such as sound, projection, thermal output or other product-specific characteristics.
User Safety
Verify that safety distances, instructions and intended conditions of use are technically supported.
Conformity Assessment Procedures
Directive 2013/29/EU establishes specific conformity assessment routes from which the manufacturer must select the appropriate procedure.
| Module | Procedure | Role |
|---|---|---|
| B | EU-Type Examination | A Notified Body examines the technical design and verifies that the representative type satisfies the applicable Directive requirements. |
| C2 | Internal Production Control + Supervised Product Checks | Production conformity is maintained internally, with supervised product checks at random intervals. |
| D | Production Process Quality Assurance | An approved quality system covers production, final product inspection and testing. |
| E | Product Quality Assurance | An approved quality system covers final product inspection and testing. |
| G | Unit Verification | An individual pyrotechnic article is independently examined for conformity. |
| H | Full Quality Assurance | Available under the Directive insofar as it concerns category F4 fireworks. |
The Role of the Notified Body
Notified Body involvement is a central component of the conformity assessment framework for pyrotechnic articles.
Technical Design Assessment
Under Module B, the Notified Body evaluates the technical documentation and a representative specimen of the product.
Testing
Appropriate examinations and tests are performed or reviewed as part of the conformity assessment.
Quality-System Assessment
Modules D, E and H involve assessment and surveillance of relevant manufacturer quality systems.
Production Checks
Module C2 requires supervised product checks at random intervals.
Registration & Traceability
Pyrotechnic articles are subject to a specific registration and traceability framework supporting market surveillance and the identification of conformity-assessment certificates.
The Notified Body carrying out the relevant conformity assessment assigns a registration number to the pyrotechnic article. The manufacturer must ensure that this registration number is included in the product labelling.
Registration Number
The article is assigned a registration number through the conformity-assessment system.
Notified Body Register
Notified Bodies maintain registers containing information on certificates issued for pyrotechnic articles.
Manufacturer Records
Manufacturers maintain records of registration numbers for articles they make available on the market.
Importer Records
Importers also have record-keeping responsibilities concerning registration numbers of articles they make available.
Technical Documentation
Technical documentation must make it possible to assess the pyrotechnic article’s conformity with the applicable requirements and should include an adequate analysis and assessment of the risks.
Labelling & User Information
Pyrotechnic labelling is a substantive compliance requirement. Information must be visible, clearly legible and indelible and must meet the detailed requirements applicable to the particular article.
Manufacturer
Required manufacturer identification and contact information must accompany the product as prescribed.
Registration Number
The registration number assigned through conformity assessment must appear in the labelling.
Product & Category
Relevant identification and category information must be provided.
Age Limits
Where applicable, the relevant minimum-age information must accompany the product.
Instructions
Appropriate instructions for safe use and required safety information must be supplied.
Language
Labelling and safety information must satisfy the language requirements of the Member State where the article is made available.
EU Declaration of Conformity & CE Marking
Once conformity has been demonstrated through the applicable assessment procedure, the manufacturer draws up the EU Declaration of Conformity and affixes CE marking.
EU Declaration
The declaration states that fulfilment of the applicable Annex I Essential Safety Requirements has been demonstrated.
Manufacturer Responsibility
By drawing up the EU Declaration of Conformity, the manufacturer assumes responsibility for compliance of the pyrotechnic article.
CE Marking
CE marking must be affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly before the pyrotechnic article is placed on the market.
Notified Body Identification
The relevant Notified Body identification number accompanies the CE marking where required by the applicable conformity module.
Manufacturers, Importers & Distributors
Directive 2013/29/EU distributes compliance responsibilities across the economic operators involved in making pyrotechnic articles available on the European market.
Manufacturer
Designs and manufactures the article in conformity, completes conformity assessment, prepares technical documentation and the EU Declaration, and applies required marking and labelling.
Importer
Must verify that the manufacturer has completed the appropriate conformity assessment and that required documentation, CE marking and labelling are present.
Distributor
Must act with due care and verify relevant conformity elements before making the article available.
From Product Classification to CE Marking
A structured conformity programme should establish the regulatory route before certification and testing activities begin.
Define Product
Establish construction, composition, intended effect and intended use.
Confirm Scope
Verify applicability of Directive 2013/29/EU.
Classify
Determine the appropriate F, T or P category.
Map ESRs
Identify applicable Annex I Essential Safety Requirements.
Select Standards
Identify applicable harmonised European standards.
Plan Testing
Establish the product-specific technical evaluation programme.
Select Module
Determine the appropriate conformity-assessment route.
Appoint Notified Body
Verify notification scope and complete independent assessment.
Control Production
Ensure manufactured products remain in conformity.
Complete Documentation
Finalise the technical file and conformity evidence.
Register & Label
Apply registration, identification and market-specific labelling requirements.
Declare & CE Mark
Issue the EU Declaration of Conformity and apply CE marking.
From Pyrotechnic Design to Demonstrable EU Conformity
Successful CE marking under Directive 2013/29/EU begins with correct product definition and classification. A manufacturer must determine whether the article is a firework, theatrical pyrotechnic article or another pyrotechnic article and then establish its appropriate F, T or P category.
That classification provides the foundation for identifying applicable Essential Safety Requirements, selecting relevant harmonised standards and defining the technical testing programme.
Independent conformity assessment then connects the technical design with the applicable certification route. Depending on the selected procedure, this can involve EU-type examination, supervised product checks, quality-system assessment, unit verification or, for category F4 fireworks, full quality assurance.
Finally, the manufacturer must ensure that production remains consistent with the assessed product, prepare the required technical documentation and EU Declaration of Conformity, meet registration and labelling requirements, and correctly apply CE marking before placing the article on the European market.
The Classification Question
Has the product been correctly identified as F1, F2, F3, F4, T1, T2, P1 or P2 according to its intended use, hazard level and required user competence?
The Conformity Question
Can the manufacturer demonstrate that the CE-marked product corresponds to the design, category, technical assessment, certification and production controls documented in the conformity file?