Occasionally Mighty-Mite receives requests for more information on fireworks mortars, in particular HDPE mortars. The following is a brief, alphabetical bibliography of articles or reports of research on fireworks mortars, their materials, construction, placement, use, etc. Some focus specifically on HDPE mortars while others look at all types of materials used, or issues regarding placement or use during firing. These may have further references that may be helpful as well.
Also are some of the government regulations in the US and Canada that reference HDPE mortars, and the National Fire Protection Assoc. (NFPA) National Fire Codes ®.
The specifications for Mighty-Mite Mortars and Pyro-Pipe Mortars were developed based in part on some of the data from these articles, reports and regulations, as well as our own field use of the early prototypes in the early 1980s. The original Mighty-Mites were first made in 3" ID, had walls thinner than those currently made, with a square bottom and were red in color. They are still being used today.
We also looked at some of the early work done by fireworks companies in England, Australia, Canada and the US in their efforts to develop and use various types of HDPE pipe for fireworks mortars over the last few decades.
Contestabile, E., et al, Blast Pressure from Exploding Fireworks Mortars, Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Fireworks, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Energy Mines & Resources Canada (CANMET), Ottawa, ONT, Canada, 1994
Contestabile, E., et al, Evaluation of fireworks mortars, Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Fireworks, Montréal, PQ; Canada, Energy Mines & Resources Canada (CANMET), Ottawa, ONT, Canada, 1992
Contestabile, E., Fireworks mortar plugs and fasteners, Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL), Energy Mines & Resources Canada (CANMET), Ottawa, ONT, Canada, MRL 91-102(J)
Contestabile, E., et al, Evaluation of large diameter fireworks shells and mortars, Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL), Energy Mines & Resources Canada (CANMET), Ottawa, ONT, Canada, MRL 90-041(OPJ)
Contestabile, E., et al, The TNT equivalent of fireworks report shells, Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL), Energy Mines & Resources Canada (CANMET), Ottawa, ONT, Canada, MRL 90-029(OPJ)
Contestabile, E., et al, A study of the firing characteristics of high altitude display fireworks, Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL), Energy Mines & Resources Canada (CANMET), Ottawa, ONT, Canada, MRL 88-020(OPJ)
Drewes, J. M., Demonstration of HDPE Mortars with planned malfunctions, American Fireworks News Video Magazine #2, American Fireworks News (AFN) Dingmans Ferry, PA, USA, 1993
Hyman, D., Destructive Testing Trials on HDPE Mortars, Report by Primo Fireworks Manufacturing Co., Madera, CA, USA, February 1988
Kosanke, B. J. & K. L., Repeat Firings of 4" (102 mm), SDR 17 HDPE Mortars, Proceedings of First International Symposium on Fireworks, Montréal, PQ, Canada; Energy Mines & Resources Canada (CANMET), Ottawa, ONT, Canada, 1992
Kosanke, K. L., Further Information about HDPE Mortars, Fireworks Business #60, American Fireworks News (AFN) Dingmans Ferry, PA, USA, 1989
Kosanke, K. L., Destructive Testing & Field Experience with HDPE Mortars, American Fireworks News #72, American Fireworks News (AFN) Dingmans Ferry, PA, USA, 1987
Kosanke, K. L., HDPE Mortars for Electrically Fired Displays, Fireworks Business #34, American Fireworks News (AFN) Dingmans Ferry, PA, USA, 1986; and Bulletin #54 of the Pyrotechnics Guild International, Inc. (PGI), Chicago, IL, USA, 1986
Ofca, Bill, Causes of Display Defects Part 1, Fireworks Safety Manual, A Collection of Essays, B & C Productions, Inc., Hyde Park, NY, 1991
Weeth, C.P., Limited Field Demonstrations of Lightweight Fireworks Mortars in Above Ground Wood Frame Racks, Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Fireworks, Naples, Italy; Energy Mines & Resources Canada (CANMET), Ottawa, ONT, Canada, 2000
Weeth, C.P., A Case Study of a 6" Aerial Shell Malfunction in an HDPE Mortar Mounted in an Above-Ground Wooden Rack During a Manually Ignited Display, Fourth International Symposium on Fireworks, Halifax, NS, Canada; Energy Mines & Resources Canada (CANMET), Ottawa, ONT, Canada, 1998
Weeth, C. P., Mortar Specifications and NFPA 1123 - Another View, Fireworks Business, American Fireworks News (AFN) Dingmans Ferry, PA, USA, July 1998
Weeth, C. P., HDPE Mortars for Multi-break shells, American Fireworks News #188, American Fireworks News (AFN) Dingmans Ferry, PA, USA, 1997
Weeth, C. P, Tests of Display Materials, Fireworks Business #69, American Fireworks News (AFN) Dingmans Ferry, PA, USA, 1989
Weeth, C. P, More on Mortars, American Fireworks News #92, American Fireworks News (AFN) Dingmans Ferry, PA, USA, 1989
Weeth, C. P, Mortar Update: Steel vs. cardboard vs. HDPE Mortars, American Fireworks News #90, American Fireworks News (AFN) Dingmans Ferry, PA, USA, 1989
Study Guide for Display Operator Training Program, Pyrotechnics Guild International, Inc. (PGI), Chicago, IL, USA, 1993
Official Fireworks Safety Guidelines, Pyrotechnics Guild International, Inc. (PGI), Chicago, IL, USA, 1994
Title 19 California Code of Regulations, Chapter 6 Fireworks Regulations, Article 1, Section 999 Mortars, California State Fire Marshal, Sacramento, CA, USA, 1992
Fireworks Manual, Explosives Division Class 7.2.2, Energy Mines & Resources Canada (CANMET), Ottawa, ONT, Canada, 1991
NFPA 1123 Code for Fireworks Display, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Quincy, MA, USA, 1995
If you are interested in obtaining any of these documents or videos, contact the following:
Jack & Dorothy Drewes, HC67, Box 30, Dingmans Ferry, PA 18328 USA
(717) 828-8417 ----- Fax (717) 828-8695 ----- 8AM - 6PM ET ----- afn@fireworksnews.com
Also the 1992, 1994 & 1996 CANMET Proceedings of the International Symposium on Fireworks.
7171 Bowling Dr., Sacramento, CA 95823 USA
(916)262-1936 ----- FAX (916)262-1912
Canada Centre for Mineral & Energy Technology (CANMET)
Please note: Some may no longer be available, available only in the full publication, have been updated or changed, or there may be a cost associated with purchasing or obtaining copies of them.
© April 1996, Mighty-Mite Marketing, Inc., La Crosse, WI USA. All rights reserved worldwide.
Revised December 19, 2008