Safety Information
Is Sport Rocketry A Safe Activity? Absolutely!!
In 1957, the first professionally-manufactured rocket motor was designed and produced for general consumer use. Made from safe materials and propellants, it freed the rocket enthusiast from the dangerous business of engine construction and allowed him to concentrate on mastering general disciplines such as aerodynamics, stability, construction, and payload operation. Coupled with a Safety Code containing basic rules for range operations and flight procedures, a safe, educational and fun hobby was born.
Since those early days of 1957, over 400 million model rockets have been safely flown in the US alone.
The NAR Promotes Rocketry Safety Codes
The hobby's excellent safety record is solidly rooted in a successful Safety Code program. The NAR Safety Codes are made up of about a dozen simple, common-sense rules and guidelines, and are included with every kit, engine, and catalog sold in the US. General sport rocketry is distinct from "amateur rocketry," which is generally recognized as anything involving design and manufacture of non-commercial motors and propellants, or rockets whose construction is not in conformance with the NAR Safety Codes. Amateur activity is coordinated by the Rocket Research Institute, an unaffiliated organization.
The NAR created and maintains three Rocket Safety Codes:
The Model Rocket Safety Code
The High Power Rocket Safety Code
The Radio Control Rocket Glider Safety Code
Each code was developed with input from sport rocket flyers, industry experts, professional engineers, scientists and public safety officials. In many cases, extensive experimental testing and analysis was done to enhance previous code versions. The NAR constantly reviews its Safety Codes for adjustment due to changes in technology and public policy.
The NAR Works With Safety Officials
The NAR maintains active voting representation on the Committee on Pyrotechnics of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The NFPA's 65,000 members include public safety officials, government regulators and industry specialists. Together, they work to provide federal, state and local officials with model codes for insuring public safety. The NAR is a proud member of this organization.
The NAR Conducts Rocket Motor Testing
The NAR has over 35 years of experience testing and certifying rocket motors to performance standards developed and promoted with the NFPA. We can provide you a complete list of NAR Certified Rocket Motors, tested by NAR to those exacting NFPA standards.After initial certification is complete, motors are periodically re-tested to insure continued conformity with specifications. The NAR also maintains a system to report a malfunctioning rocket motor.
The NAR Provides Liability Insurance Coverage
Today, that perfect local launch field is likely to belong to a school system, park department, or private landowner who insists on being covered by insurance before allowing you to fly. While we're proud of our safety record, it helps to know that NAR members are covered by $1-million worth of personal liability insurance to give that site owner added peace of mind! In addition, NAR Sections can purchase separate insurance to cover the site owner separately!
The NAR Trains Safety Officers
NAR Trained Safety Officer education is a self-paced program intended
to educate high-power-certified (Levels 1, 2, and 3) NAR members by
exposing them, with guidelines and mentors, to "real world"
situations. Participants in this program will be required to complete
rocket check-in and range safety officer tasks on an operating high
power range. To participate in this training program, you can download the
Safety Officer Training Program
Manual (64K, PDF
format).
Join Today!
You can support the NAR's safety work...
...as soon
as you become a member of the National Association of Rocketry!
NOTE:
If you do not have a copy of Adobe Reader software, you can
download it for FREE by clicking on the icon below.
