Safety

1 General Rules

1.1 Safety -
Safety is the concern of all members. Members causing serious damage / injury to third parties, livestock, vehicles or property whilst involved in Rocketry of any kind must report the incident in full to the Safety Committee, even if the UKRA codes of practice were not in force at the time of the incident.

1.2 Payloads
No UKRA member's rocket will ever carry live animals or any payload that is intended to be flammable, explosive, or harmful.

2 Equipment

2.1 The Rocket
All rockets flown under this safety code shall be made of lightweight materials such as paper, wood, rubber or plastic. The range safety officer must be satisfied that the rocket is flight worthy and sufficiently robust to survive launch, aerodynamic, and recovery system loads. All rockets must use a recovery system that will return it safely to the ground so it may be flown again.

2.2 Motors
The motor must only be used in the manner recommended by the manufacturer. It is not permissible to alter the rocket motor, its parts or its ingredients in any.

2.3 Igniters
The Safety Officer must be satisfied with the igniter system that is connected to the rocket motor.

2.4 Weight & Power
Any rocket must not have a mass greater than the manufacturer's recommended maximum lift-off mass for the motors used.

2.5 Launch Controller
The launch controller must include a safety key to immobilise the system when removed. This key should only be in place at the time of the launch and is to be removed immediately after an ignition attempt, especially in the event of a misfire.

3 The Launch Site

3.1 Safety Officer -
The Safety Officer has authority over and above all other persons present at the Launch Site and has the power to delay or cancel any launch until satisfied that it can proceed safely.

3.2 Personnel
Only UKRA members may approach nearer the rocket than the minimum Safe Distance during or after an igniter is being / has been installed into the Rocket Motor(s). Members may only approach nearer than the Safe Distance with the approval of the Safety Officer.

3.2.1 Spectators
All spectators / onlookers / press at a UKRA launch must be kept at least the minimum Safe Distance away from the launch area as determined by the total impulse of the Rocket Motor(s) according to the Safe Distance Table.

3.2.2 Minders
Any persons at the launch site who cannot watch the rocket, e.g. due to their monitoring of equipment must be protected; either by a physical safety barrier or by persons beside them who can watch the rocket and issue a warning or take protective action.

3.2.3 Visual Rule
All persons at the launch site should be aware that for their own safety they must keep their eyes on the rocket from at least two seconds before launch until either the rocket lands or until visual contact is lost.

3.2.4 Safe Distance Table
All persons, except those required for the launch of a rocket should kept at least the given minimum distance from the Rocket Motor during / after igniter installation.

4 Flying

4.1 Launch Permission
Before launching, a UKRA member must obtain the permission to launch from the range Safety Officer.

4.2 Launching
A clearly audible countdown of at least five seconds must be given, either by the launch person, the Safety Officer or any person recognised by all present as responsible for the countdown and authorised by the Safety Officer.

4.3 Misfires
If a Rocket suffers a misfire, no one may approach the Launch Pad until waiting for, one minute after this time the Safety Officer should give permission for one person to approach the Rocket.