PYROTEX is a professional production company handling all the details of your firework display.  Our primary concern is for the safety of our clients and our employees.  We are a highly regulated industry, so we take every precaution and ask our clients to respect and obey the rules under which we must work.

PERMITS - Display permits are required from the State and from the locality where we fire.  Pyrotex obtains these permits and the permit fees are included in the cost of your display.  Some cities also require a stand-by fire watch, which may include a fire engine, and this fee is also included.  Permits usually take two weeks to process.

INSURANCE - Pyrotex carries a $5,000,000.00 liability insurance for our displays, written by an A+:XII rated company located in the U.S.  The coverage is “per occurrence” and we list the client, landowner, sponsor and city as additional insureds.  We also carry $5,000,000.00 in auto liability for our fleet of vehicles and show trailers.  All employees are covered under the Texas Worker’s Compensation Fund.

LICENSES - Pyrotex is licensed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.  Each pyrotechnician possesses one or more State Pyrotechnic Operator’s licenses.  Drivers are DOT certified and carry a hazardous materials transportation endorsement.  All employees attend annual recertification and training classes and are regularly drug tested.  We do not subcontract shows to third parties.

AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION - Pyrotex shoots every display under the direct control of the local authority having jurisdiction, meaning the Fire Marshal, Sheriff, or other responsible party. Their word is law. They have the power to stop a display if it has the potential of harming people or property.  Pyrotex will never break or bend any law to fire a display.

CONTRACTS – Pyrotex always enters into a contractual agreement with our Clients when we stage a pyrotechnic display.  The contract spells out the parties involved; the location and date of the event; what Pyrotex will provide; what the Client will provide; and, what and when the Client will pay Pyrotex.  Depending on whether the display is indoors or out, there will be a specific cancellation policy detailed (see section below).  There will also be a section on firing site concerns and needs, plus the issue of safety distances and security are addressed.

PAYMENTS – A non-refundable deposit equal to 50% of the display budget is due with the signed contract.  We must receive your deposit to hold the show date.  The balance is due on the date of the event, plus any additional costs that you have approved.  Payment is requested by check or secured funds.

CANCELLATION POLICY – A display may be cancelled due to inclement weather or a local burn ban.  Pyrotex offers a “rain-out date” which allows the client to select an alternate date for their display in the case of rain or high winds, however, the decision to cancel must be made 12 hours prior to show-time.  Displays may not be fired when winds exceed 20 MPH sustained.  If the alternate date is also unusable, Pyrotex will negotiate a new firing date and price.

REFUND POLICY – Should you decide to cancel your display at any time up to 72 hours prior to show time, you will forfeit the deposit of 50%.  At that point, you will be responsible for the deposit plus any additional expenses incurred by Pyrotex on your behalf – we will provide a list of those expenses.  Payment will be due immediately with a written notice of the cancellation.

PYROTEX shoots display indoors and out.  Each situation requires a secured firing site, ample security personnel to maintain the site and consideration of flammable materials within the site.  Pyrotex provides you with a site plan detailing the space needed.  Our clients are responsible for the costs of providing the firing site, preparing it for our show, providing security and post-display cleanup.

INDOOR DISPLAYS – The fire code requires a minimum of 15 feet between the audience and any pyrotechnic effect; cast members and crew are allowed to be closer.  All staging materials, including drapes, must be flame-retardant.  There must be adequate ceiling height and ventilation in and around the effects.  It is not uncommon for effects designed for indoor use to be used outdoors.

OUTDOOR DISPLAYS – Both ground effects and aerial displays have a designated firing site with a corresponding circular fallout area.  It is the perimeter of this fallout area which must be secured at all times.  Many of our displays have multiple firing sites with over-lapping fallout areas.

MUSIC CHOREOGRAPHY – Most Pyrotex displays are choreographed to music.  Pyrotex will create an appropriate soundtrack and design the fireworks to match.  Typically, Pyrotex provides the music CD and the client provides the PA system for playback.  We can provide the PA system at an additional cost.

FIRING TECHNOLOGY – All Pyrotex displays are fired electrically using equipment designed specifically for pyrotechnics and music choreography.  All materials are loaded prior to show time and wired with electric matches.  Analog or computer driven controllers provide accurate ignition of the effects.  This method also insures the safety of our crew.

FIRING PLATFORMS – To simplify movement and loading of our displays, the mortar racks and sand boxes are mounted on 16’ utility and 48’ semi trailers.  The modular construction allows us to redesign and build a custom trailer in a matter of hours.  Along with electronic firing, this is the safest method available for shooting your display.

FIRING SITE – The firing site is the location where the show trailer and/or ground effects boxes will be placed.  This must be a fairly level area, fifty feet in diameter, with a solid surface.  Grass must be mowed less than 4 inches high; mown grass must be raked and cleared from the site.  The site must be accessible in all types of weather to a truck/trailer combination.  There may not be trees, undergrowth or power lines in this area.

FALLOUT AREA – The fallout area is required for the normal, burning debris associated with firework displays.  This area must also be mowed to a minimum of 4 inches, clear of any occupied buildings or gas powered vehicles.  The radius of the fallout area is determined by a simple formula:  70’ times the diameter of the largest effect; i.e.: a display with 5” diameter shells requires a fallout area with a 350 foot radius.  No matter the size of the display, we must be 600 feet from any school, church, hospital or other multiple occupancy building.

SECURITY PERIMETER – The circumference of the fallout area is known as the safety perimeter.  From the time we arrive until we give the all clear, this border must be maintained to prevent any civilians from entering the firing site.  This perimeter may be a tape line, fence or other natural barricade; it must be staffed by security personnel.

SECURITY – Due to the explosive nature of our business and the requirements of Homeland Security, we must have uniformed security or police officers on site to protect our firing site at all times during loading, firing and cleanup.  The client is typically responsible for hiring and paying for this service.  We will give you specific arrival and departure times to aid in scheduling.  There is no refund if the display is cancelled due to a breach in security.