Old flares
- Thread starter snowleopard
- Start date
martyn78
Member
Yeah. I used to keep old flares... One guess if i still do.
No the petrol container was NOT anywhere near.
.
No the petrol container was NOT anywhere near.
.
Gary Fox
N/A
What proof do you have that was caused by the age of a flare? It could have been almost anything.
Rum_Pirate
Well-known member
It would appear that you don't have any old flares any more. ?
martyn78
Member
My obtuse and possibly rude answer is 'I didn't realise I needed proof'.
Not really meant to be harsh comment.
There was NO any other cause, verified by the Greek fire officer, marina management and about a dozen people who saved the boat and possibly other boats.
So really only a guess, but not a lot of other options left.
martyn78
Member
Correct, but one helluva way to dispose of them.
Cardinal
Active member
How did the Greek Fire Officer et al know that your flares were old? Was a “manufacturing defect” or some other cause eg. storage conditions not considered?
oldmanofthehills
Well-known member
Simple flares are not explosive and cannot set themselves off on their own. The lighting mechanism is akin to a match, one should be careful with that end. Carefully indeed is the way to dismantle. Rocket flares are a different kettle of fish. Simple flares are widely used by truckers and others in USA to give illumination to incident and its only in the UK that they are treated like explosives likely to be misused by ne'er do wells.
All in all probably less dangerous than petrol which many of us store in large tanks a few metres behind us in a position such that colliding road vehicles could rupture it.
Medway Matt
Active member
If you're talking about generously cut trousers, it's fine. But if you're suggesting it's legal to modify pyrotechnics, then you're wrong.
It would also be rather stupid.
Gary Fox
N/A
I can do what I want to my own pyros, apart from making weapons.
Why would it be 'stupid'? What do you actually mean? Can you be more specific.
Caraway
Well-known member
Well, I am always keen to find out something new. Which statute forbids you to modify a flare?
Medway Matt
Active member
Wrong. Flares are designated category 1.4 explosives by the UN.
The pyrotechnic composition contained in flares is an energetic material since it contains both fuel and oxider. Just because they don't go 'bang' in normal use doesn't mean they aren't explosives.
I'm not sure using the practices of the USA is a good example; since explosives, in the form of tannerite, can be bought by Joe Public there.
Medway Matt
Active member
This is probably a good place to find out;
Explosives | The Crown Prosecution Service
Alternatively, why don't you phone up your local police station and ask them?
Medway Matt
Active member
No you can't, see my comments in post #33.
Do I really have to explain what's dangerous about pissing about with energetic substances?
Caraway
Well-known member
You're so boring .....
I don't see anywhere under "Table for Offences and Sanctions"
"Blowing your eyebrows off after misjudging the amount of explosive . .
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Gary Fox
N/A
So why would it be 'stupid' to dismantle a flare, apart from dubious legalistic verbiage?
Sandy
Well-known member
You failed to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Store in a cool dry place. In that cockpit locker between the liferaft and the lid in the heat of the Greek sunshine that are is going to get very, very, very hot. You were lucky that the quick reaction of other people saved your boat.
I would be interested if you ever measured the temperature in that area after the fire, just to see how hot it can get on a hot day in the Med. The place to store pyrotechnics in that climate was below the waterline next to the hull.
Interestingly, batteries could have also caused damage as their recommended temperature range is -14c to +50c.
Gary Fox
N/A
Yes would you care to explain, without swearing and insults if possible, why carefully dismantling a flare would be dangerous compared to, for example, oxyacetylene cutting and welding. A difficult task because there is no rational answer.
Medway Matt
Active member
I guess so but I retain a full complement of digits, limbs, eyes etc. ?
Medway Matt
Active member
Good grief.