ALTOONA, Wisconsin USA — The National Association of Rocketry Board of Trustees approved a new NAR Model Rocket Safety Code on February 10, 2001. The Board also authorized manufacturers of model rocket products to distribute a simplified, shortened version of this Code with products intended for beginning, first-time model rocketeers.

The full-length new Code is the authoritative document for governing model rocket activities conducted in the United States. Out thanks to all of those who contributed to the development of this new Code. We believe that it is significantly clearer and easier to understand than the previous Code, as well as being quite a bit shorter.

The revised code is now available at the NAR website, and Pat Miller, the NAR's representative to the NFPA Committee on Pyrotecnics will introduce this version as a replacement for the old Code in Appendix B of NFPA 1122, Code for Model Rockets.

We urge manufacturers to use the appropriate version of the new Code as their products containing printed versions of the Code come up for reprint. Nothing in the new Code contradicts or changes any specific requirements of the old Code, so those who fly under the old one are still following all the provisions of the new one.