:clap::clap::clap: Your hard work is very much appreciated. I wonder if it would be possible to explain exactly what this means for those of us here in California? Like a before and after.....
I had typed a reply and then my browser locked up and all the good info was gone.
Before (current):
California Health and Safety Code Section 12519
"Model rocket" means any toy or educational device which weighs not more than 500 grams, including the engine and any payload, that is propelled by model rocket engines.
California Health and Safety Code Section 12520
"Model rocket engine" means a commercially manufactured, nonreusable rocket propulsion device which is constructed of a nonmetallic casing and solid propellant, wherein all of the ingredients are self-contained so as not to require mixing or handling by the user and which have design and construction characteristics determined by the State Fire Marshal to provide a reasonable degree of safety to the user.
The problem with section 12519 is the “500 grams” weight limit - the Model Rocket weight limit has been 1500 grams for well over a decade.
The problems with section 12520 are the words “nonreusable”, “nonmetallic” and “wherein all of the ingredients are self-contained so as not to require mixing or handling by the user”. Reloadable Model Rocket Motors have been part of the NFPA code since 1994. There is no “mixing” of propellant, but the premanufactured propellant modules are assembled into a re-usable ductile aluminum casing by the user. Also, there are single-use “loadable motors” where the premanufactured propellant modules are installed into the one-time-use plastic or ductile aluminum casing by the user.
After (Jan 1, 2016):
https://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/15-16/bill/asm/ab_0451-0500/ab_467_bill_20150715_chaptered.html
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 467, Chang. Pyrotechnic devices: model rockets.
Existing law authorizes the State Fire Marshal to issue and renew
licenses for the manufacture, import, export, sale, and use of all
fireworks and pyrotechnic devices. Existing law provides that a
license shall not be required for the retail sale, use, or discharge
of model rocket engines. Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal
to classify all fireworks and pyrotechnic devices and prohibits the
importation, sale, or offering for sale prior to the classification.
Existing law requires all fireworks or toy propellant devices
containing pyrotechnic compositions that the State Fire Marshal finds
come within the definition of a "model rocket" or "model rocket
engine" to be classified as model rocket engines. Existing law
prohibits a person from launching a model rocket from a site without
first securing authorization from the authority having jurisdiction.
Existing law defines a model rocket as a toy or educational device
that weighs not more than 500 grams, including the engine and any
payload, that is propelled by a model rocket engine. Existing law
defines a model rocket engine as a commercially manufactured,
nonreusable rocket propulsion device that is constructed of
nonmetallic casing and solid propellant, as provided.
This bill would add to the definition of "model rocket" a
requirement that it conform to the definition of "model rocket" as
used in the 2013 edition of the "NFPA 1122: Code for Model Rocketry,"
or a more recent edition as adopted by the State Fire Marshal, and
would increase the maximum weight of a model rocket to not more than
1500 grams. This bill would change all references in statute to model
rocket engines to instead refer to model rocket motors. The bill
would revise the definition of "model rocket motor" to mean a rocket
propulsion device using commercially manufactured solid propellant
that does not require mixing by the user and that conforms to the
definition of "model rocket motor" as used in the 2012 edition of the
"NFPA 1125: Code for the Manufacture of Model Rocket and High Power
Rocket Motors," or a more recent edition as adopted by the State Fire
Marshal.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 12519 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
12519. "Model rocket" means a toy or educational device that
weighs not more than 1500 grams, including the engine and any
payload, that is propelled by a model rocket motor, and that conforms
to the definition of "model rocket" in the 2013 edition of the "NFPA
1122: Code for Model Rocketry," or a more recent edition as adopted
by the State Fire Marshal.
SEC. 2. Section 12520 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
12520. "Model rocket motor" means a rocket propulsion device
using commercially manufactured solid propellant, that does not
require mixing by the user, and that conforms to the definition of
"model rocket motor" in the 2012 edition of the "NFPA 1125: Code for
the Manufacture of Model Rocket and High Power Rocket Motors," or a
more recent edition as adopted by the State Fire Marshal.
It also changes "engine" to "Motor" all over the rest of the Law.
After Jan 1, we can launch normal Model Rockets up to 1500 grams just like the NFPA/NAR Safety Code says, following all of the Safety Code field size requirements. CA still requires a permit for Model Rocket launching. Some locations have fire authorities that have blanket permits for smaller Model Rockets, such as OCFA:
https://ocfa.org/Uploads/CommunityRiskReduction/OCFA Guide-G01-Model Rocket Safety.pdf
Model Rocket Motor manufacturers who make LMS and RMS type motors will be able to have the Model Rocket (as defined by NFPA) motors Classified by the CA State Fire Marshal as Model Rocket Motors instead of High Power Rocket Motors.
This would apply to the newer Aerotech LMS and RMS Model Rocket (per NFPA) motors introduced since the Oct 2010 strict enforcement period began and also to all CTI Model Rocket (per NFPA) Motors.
The law change invokes the current version of NFPA 1122 and 1125 AND it also allows for any later versions, which eliminates the need to change the Law every time the NFPA code is changed! That is the ultimate version of the wording that I proposed.
