2000 NAR Model Rocketry Safety Code
2000
NAR Model Rocketry Safety Code
- Materials. My model rocket will be made
of lightweight materials such as paper, wood, rubber, and plastic
suitable for the power used and the performance of my model rocket.
I will not use any metal for the nose cone, body, or fins of a model
rocket.
- Motors. I will use only commercially-made, NAR-certified model
rocket motors in the manner recommended by the manufacturer. I will not
alter the model rocket motor, its parts, or its ingredients in any way.
- Recovery. I will always use a recovery system in my model
rocket that will return it safely to the ground so it may be flown
again. I will use only flame-resistant recovery wadding if wadding is
required by the design of my model rocket.
- Weight and Power Limits. My model rocket will weigh no more
than 1,500 grams (53 ounces) at lift-off and its rocket motors will
produce no more than 320 Newton-seconds (71.9 pound-seconds) of total
impulse. My model rocket will weigh no more than the motor manufacturer's
recommended maximum lift-off weight for the motors used, or I will use
motors recommended by the manufacturer for my model rocket.
- Stability. I will check the stability of my model rocket before
its first flight, except when launching a model rocket of already proven
stability.
- Payloads. My model rocket will never carry live animals (except
insects) or a payload that is intended to be flammable, explosive, or
harmful.
- Launch Site. I will launch my model rocket outdoors in a
cleared area, free of tall trees, power lines, buildings, and dry brush
and grass. My launch area will be at least as large as that recommended
in the accompanying table.
- Launcher. I will launch my model rocket from a stable launch
device that provides rigid guidance until the model rocket has reached a
speed adequate to ensure a safe flight path. To prevent accidental eye
injury, I will always place the launcher so the end of the rod is above
eye level or I will cap the end of the rod when approaching it. I will
cap or disassemble my launch rod when not in use and I will never store
it in an upright position. My launcher will have a jet deflector device
to prevent the motor exhaust from hitting the ground directly. I will
always clear the area around my launch device of brown grass, dry weeds,
or other easy-to-burn materials.
- Ignition System. The system I use to launch my model rocket
will be remotely controlled and electrically operated. It will contain a
launching switch that will return to "off" when released. The
system will contain a removable safety interlock in series with the
launch switch. All persons will remain at least 15 feet from the model
rocket when I am igniting model rocket motors totalling 30
Newton-seconds or less of total impulse and at least 30 feet from the
model rocket when I am igniting model rocket motors totalling more than
30 Newton-seconds of total impulse. I will use only electrical igniters
recommended by the motor manufacturer that will ignite model rocket
motors within one second of actuation of the launching switch.
- Launch Safety. I will ensure that people in the launch area are
aware of the pending model rocket launch and can see the model rocket's
lift-off before I begin my audible five-second countdown. I will not
launch my model rocket so its flight path will carry it against a
target. If my model rocket suffers a misfire, I will not allow anyone to
approach it or the launcher until I have made certain that the safety
interlock has been removed or that the battery has been disconnected
from the ignition system. I will wait one minute after a misfire before
allowing anyone to approach the launcher.
- Flying Conditions. I will launch my model rocket only when the
wind is less than 20 miles per hour. I will not launch my model rocket
so it flies into clouds, near aircraft in flight, or in a manner that is
hazardous to people or property.
- Pre-Launch Test. When conducting research activities with
unproven model rocket designs or methods I will, when possible,
determine the reliability of my model rocket by pre-launch tests. I will
conduct the launching of an unproven design in complete isolation from
persons not participating in the actual launching.
- Launch Angle. My launch device will be pointed within 30
degrees of vertical. I will never use model rocket motors to propel any
device horizontally.
- Recovery Hazards. If a model rocket becomes entangled in a
power line or other dangerous place, I will not attempt to retrieve it.
LAUNCH SITE DIMENSIONS
Installed Total
Impulse (N-sec) |
Equivalent
Motor Type |
Minimum Site
Dimensions (ft.) |
| 0.00--1.25 |
1/4A, 1/2A |
50 |
| 1.26--2.50 |
A |
100 |
| 2.51--5.00 |
B |
200 |
| 5.01--10.00 |
C |
400 |
| 10.01--20.00 |
D |
500 |
| 20.01--40.00 |
E |
1,000 |
| 40.01--80.00 |
F |
1,000 |
| 80.01--160.00 |
G |
1,000 |
| 160.01--320.00 |
Two G's |
1,500 |
|
2000 NAR High Power Rocketry Safety Code
2000 NAR
High Power Rocketry Safety
Code
- Certification. I will fly high power rockets only when
certified to do so by the National Association of Rocketry.
- Operating Clearances. I will fly high power rockets only in
compliance with Federal
Aviation Regulations Part 101 (Section 307, 72 Statute 749, 49
United States Code 1348, "Airspace Control and Facilities,"
Federal Aviation Act of 1958) and all other federal, state, and local
laws, rules, regulations, statutes, and ordinances.
- Materials. My high power rocket will be made of lightweight
materials such as paper, wood, rubber, and plastic, or the minimum
amount of ductile metal suitable for the power used and the performance
of my rocket.
- Motors. I will use only commercially-made, NAR-certified rocket
motors in the manner recommended by the manufacturer. I will not alter
the rocket motor, its parts, or its ingredients in any way.
- Recovery. I will always use a recovery system in my high power
rocket that will return it safely to the ground so it may be flown
again. I will use only flame-resistant recovery wadding if wadding is
required by the design of my rocket.
- Weight and Power Limits. My rocket will weigh no more than the
motor manufacturer's recommended maximum liftoff weight for the motors
used, or I will use motors recommended by the manufacturer of the rocket
kit. My high power rocket will be propelled by rocket motors that
produce no more than 40,960 Newton-seconds (9,204 pound-seconds) of
total impulse.
- Stability. I will check the stability of my high power rocket
before its first flight, except when launching a rocket of already
proven stability.
- Payloads. My high power rocket will never carry live animals
(except insects) or a payload that is intended to be flammable,
explosive, or harmful.
- Launch Site. I will launch my high power rocket outdoors in a
cleared area, free of tall trees, power lines, buildings, and dry brush
and grass. My launcher will be located at least 1,500 feet from any
occupied building.
My launch site will have minimum dimensions at least as great as those
in the Launch Site Dimension Table. As an alternative, the site's
minimum dimension will be one-half the maximum altitude of any rocket
being flown, or 1,500 feet, whichever is greater. My launcher will be no
closer to the edge of the launch site than one-half of the minimum
required launch site dimension.
- Launcher. I will launch my high power rocket from a stable
launch device that provides rigid guidance until the rocket has reached
a speed adequate to ensure a safe flight path. To prevent accidental eye
injury, I will always place the launcher so the end of the rod is above
eye level or I will cap the end of the rod when approaching it. I will
cap or disassemble my launch rod when not in use and I will never store
it in an upright position. My launcher will have a jet deflector device
to prevent the motor exhaust from hitting the ground directly. I will
always clear the area
for a radius of ten feet around my launch device of brown grass, dry
weeds, or other easy-to-burn materials.
- Ignition System. The system I use to launch my high power
rocket will be remotely controlled and electrically operated. It will
contain a launching switch that will return to "off" when
released. The system will contain a removable safety interlock in series
with the launch switch. All persons will remain at a distance from the
high power rocket and launcher as determined by the total impulse of the
installed rocket motor(s) according to the accompanying Safe Distance
Table.
- Launch Safety. I will ensure that people in the launch area are
aware of the pending high power rocket launch and can see the rocket's
liftoff before I begin my audible five-second countdown. I will use only
electrical igniters recommended by the motor manufacturer that will
ignite rocket motors within one second of actuation of the launching
switch. If my high power rocket suffers a misfire, I will not allow
anyone to approach it or the launcher until I have made certain that the
safety interlock has been removed or that the battery has been
disconnected from the ignition system. I will wait one minute after a
misfire before allowing anyone to approach the launcher.
- Flying Conditions. I will launch my high power rocket only when
the wind is no more than 20 miles per hour and under conditions where
the rocket will not fly into clouds or when a flight might be hazardous
to people, property, or flying aircraft. Prior to launch, I will verify
that no aircraft appear to have flight paths over the launch site.
- Pre-Launch Test. When conducting research activities with
unproven designs or methods I will, when possible, determine the
reliability of my high power rocket by pre-launch tests. I will conduct
the launching of an unproven design in complete isolation from persons
not participating in the actual launching.
- Launch Angle. I will not launch my high power rocket so its
flight path will carry it against a target. My launch device will be
pointed within 20 degrees of vertical. I will never use rocket motors to
propel any device horizontally.
- Recovery Hazards. If a high power rocket becomes entangled in a
power line or other dangerous place, I will not attempt to retrieve it.
I will not attempt to catch my high-power rocket as it approaches the
ground.
LAUNCH SITE DIMENSION TABLE
Total Impulse All
Engines
(Newton-Seconds) |
Equivalent
Motor Type |
Minimum Site
Dimensions (ft.) |
Equivalent
Dimensions |
| 160.01 -- 320.00 |
H |
1,500 |
|
| 320.01 -- 640.00 |
I |
2,500 |
Half mile |
| 640.01 -- 1,280.00 |
J |
5,280 |
One mile |
| 1,280.01 -- 2,560.00 |
K |
5,280 |
One mile |
| 2,560.01 -- 5,120.00 |
L |
10,560 |
Two miles |
| 5,120.01 -- 10,240.00 |
M |
15,840 |
Three miles |
| 10,240.01 -- 20,480.00 |
N |
21,120 |
Four miles |
| 20,480.01 -- 40,960.00 |
O |
26,400 |
Five miles |
SAFE DISTANCE TABLE
Total Impulse All
Engines
(Newton-Seconds) |
Equivalent
Motor Type |
Minimum Distance
From Rocket With
Single Motor (ft.) |
Minimum Distance
From Rocket With
Multiple Motors (ft.) |
| 160.01 -- 320.00 |
H |
100 |
200 |
| 320.01 -- 640.00 |
I |
100 |
200 |
| 640.01 -- 1,280.00 |
J |
100 |
200 |
| 1,280.01 -- 2,560.00 |
K |
200 |
300 |
| 2,560.01 -- 5,120.00 |
L |
300 |
500 |
| 5,120.01 -- 10,240.00 |
M |
500 |
1,000 |
| 10,240.01 -- 20,480.00 |
N |
1,000 |
1,500 |
| 20,480.01 -- 40,960.00 |
O |
1,500 |
2,000 |
|
|
USR safe distance guidelines |
NAR
Letter
Type | Minimum
USR Safe
Distance | NAR
Specified
Distance |
| micro-B | 5 feet | 15 feet |
| C-E | 15 feet | 15 feet |
| F-H | 30 feet | 30 feet |
| I-K | 50 feet | 200 feet |
| L-N | 100 feet | 1000 feet |
| O+ | 300 feet | 1500 feet |
Be safe not silly. Offset distances protect from motor
failures or thrust output only. Excessive distances
prevent owner and spectators from seeing boost and
feeling the power. |
USR safe STATIC TEST
distance guidelines |
NAR
Letter
Type | Minimum
USR Safe
Static Test
Distance | Minimum
Baracaded
Static Test
Distance |
| micro-B | 5 feet | 1 foot |
| C-E | 10 feet | 1 foot |
| F-H | 20 feet | 2 feet |
| I-K | 40 feet | 3 feet |
| L-N | 50 feet | 10 feet |
| O+ | 100 feet | 10 feet |
Offset distances specific to static tests protect from
motor failures or thrust output. Unbarricaded assumes
the motor is in a fixed position stand nozzle up or
nozzle perpindicular to people who are to the side of
the motor and/or behind the nozzle side. The casing is
not steel. Barricaded distances assume there is a
multilayer wood wall or a wall with thick plexiglass
plate inset for viewing or photography. The primary
purpose for this guideline is for educational and
testing programs.
|
|
USR safe launch pad RADIUS guidelines |
| Combustable free for 10 feet radius |
| Very low combustable for 20 feet radius |
Watering the area is not a substitute for removing
combustible materials. For fire supression do not
stomp on fires. Use shovels and blankets. |
|
USR launch site width guidelines |
| 1/4 the expected altitude |
1/8 the expected altitude with
proven dual deployment system |
1/2 the expected altitude if
3 stage or cluster of 8 or more or
unproven aerodynamic design |
1/4 the expected altitude rule has been
proven in over 4 decades of operations.
Including by the legendary Centuri Engineering Company.
From the 1981 Centuri catalog page 36.
|
