There was a lot to learn from this short video on pyrotechnics. There is a village behind every pyro effect. It is not only the person triggering the effects, but manufacturers, technicians and designers are also involved. Products are handmade and require precise measurements. Pyrotechnics require a tremendous amount of safety precautions such as grounded floors and special suits to prevent sparks from igniting materials. .
Pyrotechnic companies have certain things to think about before using these dangerous devices on a show. .
-Budget.
-Control Systems.
-Crew.
-What kind of costumes/materials are being used? Are they flammable?.
-Temperatures can can be very high.
These items are well thought out months in advance to allow for lots of testing and to make sure the client can get what they want done safely. .
Pyro can be made with fuel and an oxidizer in a shell. Powder previously hand mixed is measured and then pressed into little tubes which then are placed into a shell. The general public might hurt themselves if all the details were leaked therefore, recipes for pyro are usually kept secret. Filler Powder is used to keep direct contact between all pyro components in a shell and don't let them shift inside the shell. A burst charge is what ignites a shell and explodes the pattern packed inside of it. .
Rules and regulations are different for pyro effects indoors and outdoors also close proximity to audiences is a big issue. A pirate show in the video has an audience that is close by. That must have required tons of calculations and testing because it has automated scenery and actors. Black Sabbath's tour as shown in the video had pyro hung on truss as well as on stage. The crew put visual marks and strobes to give the performers a heads up. .
To fire pyro for any given event there must be a licensed pyrotechnician and since most pyro effect are now run from a board it demands a knowledge of electronic control systems.