SCOPE

This code is intended as a suggested guide to assist all Local Government fire officers and is the opinion of the Hi Flyte Club President based on 12 years of personal experience and research. This guideline is for persons flying model rocket motors using up to and including a total combined impulse of 320 Newton-Seconds.

PURPOSE

To give local district fire officers guidelines to approve launch sites for model rocketry during fire ban season. This code has been reviewed and accepted by the Australian Fire Protection Association.

DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this code these titles shall be defined as follows: -

(1) Model Rocket: Shall mean a recoverable aero-model;

(2) Tall dry grass: Shall mean grass that is of a substantial height that is an obvious fire hazard;

(3) Short dry grass: Shall mean grass that is of a low height and is considered a lower fire hazard;

(4) Dry grain field: Shall mean a grain crop usually tall and considered a fire hazard;

(5) Bush area: Shall mean an area that is usually scrub or forest covered lands and is considered a fire hazard;

(6) Grazing paddock: Shall mean an area where animals have been grazing thereby keeping the grass down low;

(7) Launch pad: Shall mean a device used to give ridged guidance for a model rocket to launch;

(8) Suitable fire extinguisher: Shall mean a fire extinguisher best suitable for grass fires (e.g. knapsack type extinguisher);

(9) Major highway: Shall mean an arterial road with an obvious large amount of traffic, e.g. Highway 1.

APPROVAL GUIDELINES

(a) If area has tall dry grass, dry grain fields or bush area. Launch site approval should not be considered.

(b) If the area has short dry grass and/or a gazing paddock, launch site approval can be considered under the following conditions: -

(1) Area 2 metres by 2 metres around launch pad be cleared of any easy to burn materials. Or, alternatively a 2 metre by 2 metre fire resistant tarp can be placed under the launch pad;

(2) A suitable fire extinguisher should also be handy;

(3) If it is a club situation, or a windy day, a fireguard should be appointed. (Duties of fireguard are listed in this guide).

(c) If area is close to a major road or highway. The launch site should be well back from the major road or highway. A model rocket will probably not damage a car, but it could startle a driver.

(d) Area should be big enough to allow substantial drift of model rockets descending. Suggested minimum size of area with intended motors to be used: -

Installed Total Impulse (Newton Seconds)	Standard Motor Description	Minimum Site Dimensions on Square (metres on each side)
0.00 - 1.25	1/4A & 1/2A	15
1.26- 2.50	A	30
2.56- 5.00	B	60
5.01 - 10.00	C	120
I 0.01 - 20.00	D	150
20.01 - 40.00	E	300
40-01 - 80.00	F	300
80-01 - 160.00	G	300

(e) A rocket motor used should be only produced by a commercial manufacturer. Homemade motors or reloaded single use motors are STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

(f) Club members and spectators shall not smoke in areas where dry vegetation may cause a hazard, signs may be posted if necessary.

(g) Permits issued should state that the persons making application follow the launch site approval guidelines.

(h) The area should be clear of tall trees and power lines. However, this does not necessarily mean a mandatory requirement. It is usually quite difficult to find an ideal launch area. School size ovals are ideal.

Further information regarding any safety issues concerning model rocketry you can contact the Hi Flyte Club Inc., President, PO Box 179, Greenacres, SA, 5086. or email the Hi Flyte President Urgent matters will be answered by telephone or facsimile.

National Fire Protection Association CODE 1122 Code for Model Rocketry 1994. (Available from the Australian Fire Protection Association.);
O. Harry Stine, "Handbook of Model Rocketry Sixth Edition" 1994.(Jacaranda Wiley);
"Model Rocket Safety Code".

1/. The purpose of a fireguard is to ensure rocketry activities are conducted so there is not a fire hazard; 2/. The fireguard should have a suitable fire extinguisher in their possession at all times. The fireguards eyes are not permitted to leave the launch pad even after the model rocket has been launched; 3/. Should a conflagration occur, the fireguard can extinguish it immediately; 4/. The fireguard should be a minimum of 18 years old and know how to operate the fire extinguisher; 5/. Persons should follow the Model Rocket Safety Code and any other guidelines set down by authorities having jurisdiction.

QUESTIONS MOST COMMONLY ASKED
Q.: WHERE DO THEY LAND?
A.: This is a common question asked. The rocketeer has quite a bit of control in regard to this. By angling the launcher - not more than 30^o from the vertical - a rocketeer can launch the rocket into the wind. This allows for the drift of a rocket once the recovery device has been activated. There are even competitions where a rocketeer must land their model closest to a certain spot.

Q.: DO HOME OWNERS GET IRRITATED WITH ROCKETS LANDING IN THEIR BACK YARDS?
A.: A rocket accidentally landing in a persons back yard is no worse than a tennis-ball or football landing in there. The rocketeer gets the same reaction as if they was retrieving a ball.

Q.: ARE MODEL ROCKETS FIREWORKS?
A.: The National Fire Protection Association considers a rocket as a technical device used for the purpose of education, recreation and sporting competition. THEY ARE NOT FIREWORKS. This is confirmed in all N.F.P.A. codes relating to the subject. e.g. N.F.P.A. code 1123, 1124, 1126 and 1122 (current code for model rocketry).

Q.: HOW HOT DOES THE MOTOR AND EXHAUST GET?
A.: The rocket motor casing is manufactured so that it does not exceed 200^oC during and after operation. The average thrust/bum time is around only one second! Rocket motor combustion is completed within the motor and only hot gasses are exhausted. There are only gasses expelled, not a flame, and should not ignite paper or grass at a distance of one metre or more.

Q.: CAN MODEL ROCKETS CAUSE GRASS FIRES?
A.: The launching and landing of a model rocket itself will not cause a fire. Very rarely, part of the igniter wire at ignition may be pulled loose from the alligator clip holding it, and causing it to drop on the recommended cleared area around the launch pad negating any fire hazard.

As is available in some States - to reduce the paperwork - verbal permission or written permission (preferred) could be given to use a site, as long as both this "Suggested Code For Launch Approval" and the "Model Rocket Safety Code" guidelines are followed.