Firearms, Explosives, Rockets, and Projectile Safety

On this page
  1. Why Are These Rules Necessary?
  2. Does a Student’s Project Involve These Hazards?
  3. Before Beginning a Project, Students Must:
  4. General Safety Rules
  5. State Safety Review Committee (SRC) Review and Approval
  6. Firearm Safety Rules
  7. Safety Rules for Explosives and Energetic Materials
  8. Safety Rules for Rockets and Projectile-Launching Devices
  9. Model Rocketry

Why Are These Rules Necessary?

Projects involving firearms, explosives, rockets, projectile-launching devices, or other energetic systems present some of the highest risks encountered in student research. These activities can result in serious injury or death from ballistic impact, blast pressure, fragmentation, fire, burns, or unintended launches.

Because of these risks, projects involving these hazards require enhanced supervision, appropriate facilities, and, when specified below, approval by the Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Safety Review Committee (SRC) before experimentation begins.

Does a Student’s Project Involve These Hazards?

These rules apply if a project involves:

  • firearms or ammunition or ballistic testing;
  • explosives or energetic materials;
  • pyrotechnics or propellants;
  • rockets or rocket motors;
  • compressed-gas launchers;
  • projectile-launching devices;or
  • any device designed to launch an object at high speed.

Before Beginning a Project, Students Must:

  1. Read these IJAS Firearms, Explosives, Rockets, and Projectile Safety Rules with the sponsor or teacher.
  2. High school students must also read and follow all applicable ISEF Safety Rules.
  3. All sponsors must discuss proper use of AI in research with all of their students.
  4. Write the procedure for the experiment following all IJAS and ISEF (high school) safety rules. High School Students will use this in their ISEF Research Plan form 1A.
  5. Complete a background research paper. High School Students will use this in their ISEF Research Plan form 1A.
  6. Determine whether the proposed project requires review and approval by the Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Safety Review Committee (SRC).
  7. When State SRC approval is required, submit the complete proposed research procedure and all required safety documentation before beginning experimentation.
  8. Do not begin any experimentation, testing, demonstration, or data collection requiring State SRC approval until written approval has been granted.
  9. Conduct the project only according to the procedures approved by the State SRC.
  10. Keep all completed approval forms and safety documentation with the project records and have it on the table with the project display at the science exposition.

General Safety Rules

All projects involving firearms, explosives, rockets, projectile-launching devices, or other energetic systems must:

  • be conducted under the supervision of an appropriate responsible adult;
  • use appropriate eye protection and all other required personal protective equipment (PPE);
  • be conducted only in locations appropriate for the activity being performed;
  • maintain appropriate distances between the experiment, operators, observers, and other persons;
  • comply with all applicable local, municipal, state, and federal laws and regulations;
  • follow all applicable manufacturer instructions and recognized safety practices; and
  • immediately stop any activity if unsafe conditions develop.

State Safety Review Committee (SRC) Review and Approval

Projects involving firearms, explosives, certain energetic materials, or other activities identified in these rules as requiring additional safety review must be approved by the Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Safety Review Committee (SRC) before experimentation begins. The State SRC reviews proposed procedures to determine whether the project includes appropriate safeguards, qualified supervision, suitable facilities, and compliance with applicable IJAS safety requirements.

Before beginning experimentation, the student must submit the complete proposed research procedure and all required safety documentation to the State SRC.

Firearm Safety Rules

Students May NOT:

  • possess, handle, or utilize any firearm at any time while conducting a science fair demonstration or experiment;
  • hand-load or reload ammunition;
  • utilize black powder or muzzle-loading firearms;
  • modify or alter any firearm for experimental purposes; or
  • bring firearms or ammunition to any school, Regional, State, IJAS, ISAS, or ISEF Science Exposition.

Any demonstration or experiment involving a firearm requires prior approval from the Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Safety Review Committee (SRC).

When a firearm-related project is approved:

  1. At all times, the firearm shall be handled and the demonstration or experiment shall be conducted by a person over 21 years of age who is certified as a police officer by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board or by a person licensed as a Private Detective or Private Security Contractor who possesses a currently valid Firearms Control Card issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). A Concealed Carry License issued by the Illinois State Police or a Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC) issued by IDFPR does not satisfy this requirement.
  2. The student and all bystanders shall remain behind a ballistic shield and wear appropriate eye and hearing protection.
  3. The supervising police officer or IDFPR-licensed professional shall provide a signed statement:
    • describing the demonstration or experiment;
    • certifying that it is safe;
    • explaining why it is safe; and
    • providing copies of all required credentials.
  4. The supervising police officer or IDFPR-licensed professional shall provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance in the amount of not less than $1,000,000, naming the Illinois Junior Academy of Science, Inc., as Additional Insured.
  5. The facility where the demonstration or experiment is conducted shall provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance in the amount of $1,000,000, naming the Illinois Junior Academy of Science, Inc., as Additional Insured.
  6. The student, parent or guardian, supervising professional, and all persons present during the demonstration or experiment shall execute any liability releases required by the Illinois Junior Academy of Science.
  7. Only commercially manufactured firearms less than 50 years old may be used.
  8. Only commercially manufactured fixed-cartridge ammunition manufactured in accordance with SAAMI standards may be used.

Safety Rules for Explosives and Energetic Materials

Students may not independently manufacture, modify, or test:

  • explosives;
  • explosive mixtures;
  • improvised energetic materials; or
  • other materials intended to produce an uncontrolled or hazardous energetic reaction.

Projects involving explosives, explosive mixtures, or other hazardous energetic materials require prior approval from the Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Safety Review Committee (SRC) before experimentation begins.

Approved work involving these materials must:

  • be conducted under appropriate professional supervision;
  • be conducted only at a facility appropriate for the proposed activity;
  • use appropriate barriers, shielding, distance, and personal protective equipment;
  • follow all applicable professional safety procedures; and
  • comply with all applicable local, municipal, state, and federal laws and regulations.

Safety Rules for Rockets and Projectile-Launching Devices

Projects involving rockets, rocket motors, projectile-launching devices, compressed-gas launchers, or other energetic launching systems must:

  • operate only under appropriate adult supervision;
  • be conducted only in locations appropriate for safe operation;
  • maintain safe distances between operators, observers, and launch areas;
  • inspect all equipment before each launch or test;
  • secure launchers or other equipment appropriately before operation;
  • use appropriate barriers, shields, restraints, or other protective measures when necessary;
  • ensure that projectiles are directed toward an appropriate and controlled target or recovery area;
  • follow all manufacturer instructions and applicable safety codes; and
  • comply with all applicable local, municipal, state, and federal laws and regulations.

Projects involving unusually powerful, modified, improvised, or potentially hazardous launching systems may require review by the State SRC before experimentation begins.

Model Rocketry

Model rocketry projects using commercially manufactured motors are exempt from the firearm provisions of this section.

These projects must:

  • be conducted under the supervision of a parent, guardian, or teacher who is at least 21 years of age;
  • use commercially manufactured rocket motors;
  • use rockets and launch systems appropriate for the commercially manufactured motor being used;
  • be conducted in a location appropriate for safe launch and recovery;
  • maintain appropriate distances between the launch area, participants, observers, buildings, roads, and other hazards;
  • comply with all applicable laws and regulations; and
  • follow recognized model rocket safety practices.

Back to General Safety Rules