Mixed feelings about Flares

[justanothersailboat]

There's a nail on head in there. Usual suspects whinging about having to spend a small amount of money, as per normal.

Mostly agree, it's definitely possible to pay a not-outrageous amount of money and get the problem over and done with. Minor caveat that since nobody's publishing prices, comparison is yet more work and some places seem to be charging through the nose for it, so I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss someone complaining of the cost as a whinger. Also, if I had 100 (and they were mostly hand-me-downs rather than my fault) I probably would have been upset at the price too. Hanging on to a shedload of the things was always bad practice, it's just been upgraded from "bad habit" to "bad habit that takes more time and money to fix and may cause legal problems if you don't". As you say, the stuff is not torpex.

I remain slightly puzzled by the higher rates of flare injury (per use) among yachtsmen than among a certain sector of football fans. I wonder if the football fans can help us with the disposal problem...

 

[ylop]

So your professional advice as an RYA instructor is that TEP can be safely disposed on by burying in house foundations?

 

[Mark-1]

I remain slightly puzzled by the higher rates of flare injury (per use) among yachtsmen than among a certain sector of football fans.

Are reliable numbers recorded?

 

[capnsensible]

So your professional advice as an RYA instructor is that TEP can be safely disposed on by burying in house foundations?

Absolutely not. Where did you dream that up? Try again, what I said was in 50 years the chemicals will have degraded to useless.

You may wish to read the thread again.....

 

[capnsensible]

Are reliable numbers recorded?

Indeed.

 

[billskip]

Absolutely not. Where did you dream that up? Try again, what I said was in 50 years the chemicals will have degraded to useless.

You may wish to read the thread again.....

Wasn't you, was ddb I think.

 

[ylop]

Absolutely not. Where did you dream that up? Try again, what I said was in 50 years the chemicals will have degraded to useless.

You posted some AI harvested generic stuff that didn’t say anything useful about the degradation of flares - it’s widely accepted that eventually they become less effective but I don’t think they necessarily become inert? If someone had some flares sitting in their garage that expired in 1975 (someone here probably does!) would you happily smash them open? Because I’ve read stuff about people who use or tried one that was 10-20 yrs beyond its expiry and they say things like “still worked, maybe wasn’t as Red”.

I imagine that if a builder did stick some in the foundations it would create some head scratching for the authorities if in the future it was unearthed.

 

[capnsensible]

Wasn't you, was ddb I think.

In that case, many apologies! I should take my own advice.....

 

[capnsensible]

You posted some AI harvested generic stuff that didn’t say anything useful about the degradation of flares - it’s widely accepted that eventually they become less effective but I don’t think they necessarily become inert? If someone had some flares sitting in their garage that expired in 1975 (someone here probably does!) would you happily smash them open? Because I’ve read stuff about people who use or tried one that was 10-20 yrs beyond its expiry and they say things like “still worked, maybe wasn’t as Red”.

I imagine that if a builder did stick some in the foundations it would create some head scratching for the authorities if in the future it was unearthed.

Nope, copied from one of the dozens of websites online that tell you how they are manufactured or what the chemicals are. Youtube vids available too.

I fully accept any mix up over deep burial but this is most definitely A1 stuff.,

 

[capnsensible]

Wasn't you, was ddb I think.

Actually, see # 102.....

 

[Frogmogman]

For the more adventurous how about cutting them in half emptying the contents into a large heap then infighting it from a distance. There should be a satisfying woof with a cloud of coloured smoke. The empty cases can then be burnt without problem.

Wow.

That just reminded me of returning from Ireland after visiting my great aunt at her farm in the West of Ireland in about 1971. We bumped into some friends of my parents on the ferry, who had just spent an exhausting weekend helping the friends they had been staying with to shift and burn a stack of gelignite that had been hidden in their barn since the troubles in the 20s, and burning it on a bonfire.

Everyone had survived the experience without incident, but looking back it seems completely insane.

 

[ylop]

I fully accept any mix up over deep burial but this is most definitely A1 stuff.,

Just to clarify:

DDB suggested he would bury in building foundations. I questioned if that was wise given the risks to someone exposing with power tools in the future and you seemed to be saying no real risk - and your evidence was a long cut n paste from somewhere about pyrotechnics that contained nothing about the kinetics or decomposition or the stability or safety of the byproducts. I think we are in agreement though - just pay the fee to do it safely/legally/responsibly (I think it was £2.95 a flare when I last paid - it may be more now).

 

[billskip]

Actually, see # 102.....

Ylop was referring to words in a post by ddb, I wasn't aware ddb was an rya instructor, what I meant was "it wasn't you that said that, it was ddb I think"
Keyboard worriers eh....

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Ylop was referring to words in a post by ddb, I wasn't aware ddb was an rya instructor, what I meant was "it wasn't you that said that, it was ddb I think"
Keyboard worriers eh....

Regardless who knows what methods they will be using to break concrete foundations in 30 or 50 years but if they are anything like those in use today, excavator with hydraulic pick or pincers a couple of flares aren't going to cause a problem.

 

[Scomber]

We've plenty out of date to get rid of. Might see what Largs say or similar. Many yrs ago we let off a few out back of our place, maybe bonfire night , cant remember,, we're very rural so no probs with neighbours. However,,, I won't be doing it again ,,, as one misfired badly ,,, we were lucky.

 

[billskip]

Regardless who knows what methods they will be using to break concrete foundations in 30 or 50 years but if they are anything like those in use today, excavator with hydraulic pick or pincers a couple of flares aren't going to cause a problem.

Going by the fireworks displays here and the thunderous noise of explosion I would think there is much more danger and energy in a fireworks than a parashute flare.
To me the concern with flares would be combustion fire rather than explosive energy. I don't think there is a large amount of energy required to propel the very light parachute flare.
"Letting them off" can't be anymore dangerous than fireworks, and the flares are designed for close quarter handling.
The illegal bit is the fact its a distress flare rather than firework.
I'm surprised yotty's don't complain about the comparison cost of marine fireworks
with Guy Fawkes fireworks. You get more bang for your buck.

 

[penberth3]

....It is, of course, absurd that explosives regulation is so sloppily drafted that a box of old marine flares is now a big problem, but there's no chance of sense there.

I see. So a large quantity of decaying 50-year old Pyro is quite safe and no problem to anyone?

Not much sense coming from you, is there?

 

[Daydream believer]

So your professional advice as an RYA instructor is that TEP can be safely disposed on by burying in house foundations?

Not necessarily .They could be a home for the mentally disadvantaged, school, or a community centre. I also built churches & libraries.
So one could blow up a load of school kids, old people, or god botherers. Depends on whose foundations were in for concreting at the time..
Let's face it. The mafia never bothered. But I have never built a motorway- yet

 

[RunAgroundHard]

We've plenty out of date to get rid of. Might see what Largs say or similar. Many yrs ago we let off a few out back of our place, maybe bonfire night , cant remember,, we're very rural so no probs with neighbours. However,,, I won't be doing it again ,,, as one misfired badly ,,, we were lucky.

Very interesting reading that. I wonder if there are statistics available on failure rate.

Largs Marina chandlery used to take old flares for disposal if you bought new ones from them, I think they charged a nominal fee, very little. I don't know if they still do that.

Regarding Ocean Safety, Greenock, call and book in, as their flare bin fills up due to commercial vessel servicing and they will not accept walk in requests for flare disposal. Phone them first.

Ocean Safety, Greenock, Address: Unit 3 Carnock St, Greenock PA15 1HB, Phone: 01475 729075

 

[OCuea]

We've plenty out of date to get rid of. Might see what Largs say or similar. Many yrs ago we let off a few out back of our place, maybe bonfire night , cant remember,, we're very rural so no probs with neighbours. However,,, I won't be doing it again ,,, as one misfired badly ,,, we were lucky.

Out of interest, what colour or type of flare misfired? How did it misfire?