Definition
The fallout zone is the area onto which the debris of a display lands: shell casings, mortar caps, cake cardboard, unburnt stars and, in the event of an incident, an entire firework. It extends beyond the firing site, mostly downwind, and its size depends on calibre, burst height and wind strength at the time of firing. It must be free of audience, vehicles, fragile roofs and dry vegetation; it is the reason a display is never fired over the spectators. In France the layout drawing attached to CERFA 14098 shows it and the organiser closes it off. After the show a sweep of the zone checks for duds before it is reopened to the public.
In practice, for the display company
The fallout zone is what the mayor understands least and what the wind changes most. PyroDesk orients the zone on the site plan from the prevailing wind recorded during the survey, reminds you of the wind limit chosen for the job and keeps a record of the end-of-show sweep, useful if a claim comes in.