National Campaign for Firework Safety
Our aim is to promote the safe use of  fireworks

Noise has been defined as 'unwanted sound'. The sounds of celebration on a Saturday night is noise to those not involved.

Environmental noise is increasing. Many of the sounds are of thriving communities; lorries bringing goods to our shops; workplaces providing employment for many; building construction noises.

Many of these sounds can be isolated and each will be dealt with in accordance to its need in the community at large. Such as an ambulance, police or fire engine siren needs to be loud to be heard by other road users, in order to give way and allow the emergency vehicles to pass.

Sleep Disturbance
The 24 hour society is not yet, total in the UK. The traditional 9 to 5 work period and typical school day, is still the main. So are the sleeping patterns of the vast majority of us. Young babies and toddlers are beginning to establish a bed-time from seven o'clock onwards. Children as young as four or five and upwards to teenagers, their bed-times are from eight o'clock onwards.

It is very important that the sleeping patterns of the children, as well as adults, are well developed, and more importantly noise free.

It has been established that any noise above 45 dB(A) will disturb those asleep or about to sleep. The "Future Noise Policy, European Commission Green Paper, Brussels 1996" reported broken sleep patterns increase the annoyance factor.
In 'Guidelines for Community Noise' the World Health Organisation states, "At night, more than 30% are exposed to equivalent sound pressure levels exceeding 55 dB(A), which are disturbing to sleep".

It continues

"Sleep disturbance is a major effect of environment noise. It may cause primary effects during sleep, and secondary effects that can be assessed the day after night time exposure. Uninterrupted sleep is a prerequisite for good physiological and mental functioning."
"For a good night's sleep, the equivalent sound level should not exceed 30 dB(A) for continuous background noise, and individual noise events exceeding 45 dB(A) should be avoided."

In 2002, Noel Tobin, Director of National Campaign for Firework Safety became aware of the increase in complaints about the amount of noise fireworks make. He commissioned the groundbreaking survey 'Noisy Fireworks'.

This survey destroyed the facade the Firework Industry has maintained over firework noise. Fireworks and the amount of loudness they make are a very strong selling feature. The Firework Industry ruthlessly exploits the noise factor. 'Could be heard five miles away' an advertising tag is perhaps one of the worst.
These fireworks are sold to be discharged at night, when their loudness is most noticeable due to the absence of other sounds.

Noise Annoyance
Noise can produce a number of social and behavioural effects as well as annoyance.

Noise above 80 dB(A) may also reduce helping behaviour and increase aggressive behaviour. There is particular concern that high-level continuous noise exposures may increase the susceptibility of schoolchildren to feeling of helplessness.

Stronger reactions have been observed when noise is accompanied by vibrations and contains low-frequency components, or when the noise contains impulses, such as shooting noise.

The capacity of a noise to induce annoyance depends upon its physical characteristics, including the sound pressure level, spectral characteristics and variations of these properties with time. During daytime, few people are annoyed at LAeq levels below 55 dB(A), and few are moderately annoyed at LAeq levels below 50 dB(A). Sound levels during the evening and night should be 5 - 10 dB lower than during the day.
'Guidelines for Community Noise'

The firework industry has agreed to the maximum noise a firework can make. The maximum is 120 dB(A). This figure is well above those recommended. No wonder people are annoyed at the noise fireworks make.

In Dwellings
The effects of noise in dwellings, typically, are asleep disturbance, annoyance and speech interference. For bedrooms the critical effect is sleep disturbance. Indoor guideline values for bedrooms are 30 dB LAeq for continuous noise and 45 dB LAmax for single sound events. Lower noise levels may be disturbing depending on the nature of he noise source. At night-time, outside sound levels about 1 metre from facades of living spaces should not exceed 45 dB LAeq, so that people may sleep with bedrooms windows open.
'Guidelines for Community Noise'

Hearing Impairment
To avoid hearing loss from impulse noise exposure, peak sound pressures should never exceed 140dB(A) for adults, and 120 dB(A) for children.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), this is hearing loss due to exposure to either a sudden, loud noise or exposure to loud noises for a period of time. A dangerous sound is anything that is 85 dB (sound pressure level - SPL) or higher. With extended exposure, noises that reach a decibel level of 85 can cause permanent damage to the hair cells in the inner ear, leading to hearing loss.
'Dangerous Decibels'

The National Campaign for Firework Safety released in 2002 a survey entitled 'Fireworks 2001'. This survey chronicled the almost daily events of people being subjected to firework noise. Today we have released 'Fireworks 2002', which again highlights the almost daily abuse we suffer from fireworks.
The NCFS has campaigned for a lowering of the noise levels of fireworks.

Fireworks in the UK must conform to BS7114. But this British Standard does not state a maximum sound level. So the Firework Industry have had no bar to the amount of noise a firework can make. For years many organisations, including many animal welfare groups concerned about the level of firework noise on animals, have called for a maximum noise level to be set.

With the coming of new European Standards on Fireworks pressure was put on to bring in such a maximum. A compromise of 120 dB(A)I has been agreed for all fireworks, apart from rockets. These fireworks can, and will, be made to cater for those who want their fireworks to be heard five miles away.
Whilst this compromise is for the European Standard, the United Kingdom can impose an 'A-deviation' on an individual firework if they deem the firework is too loud.

"The World Health Organisation have stated their preference for a maximum sound
Canadian recommendations suggest the maximum daily exposure to any sound measuring 115 decibels is 15 minutes, says Josee Lagace, an audiologist and adviser with the Canadian Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other organizations say even 15 minutes of exposure to sounds that loud put people at risk of permanent hearing loss. Personal stereos with headphones have been measured at up to 112 decibels, rock concerts at between 110 and 120 decibels, while the movie Armageddon at times reaches 118 decibels.
Canadian guidelines say there is no risk of permanent hearing loss for sounds under 70 decibels, which includes normal conversation (55-65), dishwashers (63-66) and background music (50). But anyone exposed to sounds of 85 decibels or higher for eight hours a day "faces significant risk of permanent hearing loss," Mrs. Lagace says. In general, the louder the noise the less time required before hearing loss occurs."
(Bev Wake, The Ottawa Citizen, 22 July 2001)

In today's world where the steadily increasing environmental sound pushes the daily level closer to the damaging 85 decibel level. We should not be exposed to products making noises over and above that level.

Particularly a noise that can be easily controlled in the design process of the product. This should apply to all products not just fireworks. Fireworks should not be excluded on the grounds of entertainment, because unwanted noise does more damage than sound.

Some fireworks sound pressure levels of 120 dB(A) will be as loud as, or louder than a high speed train 105-110 dB(A), a jet aeroplane taking off at 100 metres away 110-115 dB(A), and Military low-level flights 105 - 120 dB(A).

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in their 'Quiet Please' survey recommends a maximum sound level for fireworks at 95 dB(A). This they deem to be a compromise between causing anxiety to animals and the pleasure fireworks bring.

With hearing damage possible even for short-term noise exposure at 120 dB(A) it seems ludicrous that we allow someone else's fireworks to do damage to our own hearing.