How to Use Ice Fountains at Your Venue: Tips and Safety
Embellishing your desserts, drinks, and bottles with ice fountains is a surefire way to get a smile from your customers, clients, and guests. We get it, you want to get the most out of each ice fountain reveal by stepping up the drama and performance.
But let’s not forget what ice fountains are: fireworks, and they come with many of the fire risks that other fireworks do. Although ice fountain fireworks are designed to be used indoors, you should keep your guard up. Crowded spaces, drunk people, children, dogs, and poor preparation all present potentially hazardous situations when using ice fountains indoors.
Unlike traditional sparklers, ice fountains produce "cold fallout" that cools quickly after use, making them safer for food presentation and indoor environments. When used correctly, ice fountains create dramatic visual effects that are increasingly popular on social media, helping venues create shareable moments that attract new customers.
Ice fountains contain combustible materials, including metal powders (often titanium) that create the sparking effect and chemical compounds to control burn rate and temperature. While designed for indoor use, all pyrotechnic products require proper handling and safety protocols to prevent accidents, especially in busy hospitality environments.
Training your team on what ice fountains are, how they work, and how to use them safely is a highly important step to getting the most out of these neat little pyrotechnics. Staff training should include proper identification, handling, lighting techniques, and emergency procedures to ensure consistent safety standards. Read on to find out everything you need to know.
How to Prepare an Ice Fountain
These first steps are important to ensure your ice fountain is going to stay where you want it to and know that your staff are safe.
Before starting:
Before handling any ice fountains, ensure your venue has adequate ventilation as recommended by manufacturers to prevent smoke buildup. Consider using a metal tray as a base when preparing ice fountains, especially for dessert presentations, to catch any potential fallout. Designate specific staff members who are trained and responsible for handling and lighting ice fountains to maintain consistent safety standards.
1. Move to a safe, open space in your venue, a minimal distance from where the ice fountain will be carried to. Ensure everything is ready before you light the firework and that the server is ready to go.
2. Remove the ice fountain from its packaging. Identify the top end. You can tell the top end of the ice fountain as it will be filled right to the top with pyrotechnic contents which are usually lighter in colour than the cardboard tube casing. The bottom of the firework will be hollow.
3. Fix the ice fountain either to a cake using the mounting pin (see below: Using an Ice Fountain on a Cake) or to a bottle using a bottle holder (see below: Using an Ice Fountain on a Bottle).
4. Use a long kitchen match or a long reach lighter to light the top of the firework and withdraw your hand immediately. If you have one, a chef’s torch is a much more efficient way of lighting an ice fountain.
Never hold the ice fountain directly in your hand while lighting it, this is one of the most common safety mistakes in hospitality settings. After lighting, immediately step back at least 1 metre (the minimum safe viewing distance for Category 1 fireworks). If an ice fountain fails to light properly on the first attempt, do not attempt to relight it. Instead, submerge it in water for several hours before disposal.
Using an Ice Fountain on a Cake
Lots of hospitality venues use ice fountains for cakes as a more exciting alternative to candles. Here’s how to use an ice fountain on a cake.
1. Always place cakes with ice fountains on heat-resistant surfaces or metal trays before lighting to prevent any damage to tablecloths or surfaces. For maximum safety, consider preparing the cake in a designated area away from guests before bringing it out for presentation.
2. Attach the mounting pin to the bottom of the firework firmly. Check the cardboard tube is well fixed to the mounting pin and doesn’t wobble.
Note: some ice fountains come with the mounting pin attached to the top end, covering up the contents. The mounting pin will need to be removed and attached to the bottom of the firework.
3. Stake the mounting pin into the top, centre of the cake, pushing down until the entire pin is in the cake.
4. Check the ice fountain is secure, then light as normal.
5. When carrying a cake with a lit ice fountain, maintain a safe distance from guests and always hold the cake with the fountain pointing away from yourself and others. The cardboard tube of the ice fountain will become hot during use, so warn guests not to touch it even after the effect has finished.
Cakes aren’t the only desserts you can add an ice fountain to. Here are some more ideas:
- A central ice fountain in a cupcake display.
- Fix to the top of a cheesecake slice or pastry (try to avoid softer desserts as your ice fountain could fall out)
- Add an ice fountain to a wheel of cheese in your wedding cheese board.
Using an Ice Fountain on a Bottle
The other most popular use for ice fountains is on bottles in clubs and bars. We stock an ice fountain bottle holder made especially for this end, and sell packs of different sizes depending on how often you use ice fountains:
Our ice fountain holders come with space for three ice fountains making them highly versatile. These are generally re-usable but the clips can get loose with repeated use so it’s important not to overuse them as you could be dealing with a fire risk.
Professional bottle clips are essential for safety, never attempt to attach ice fountains to bottles using tape or other makeshift methods as this creates a serious fire hazard. For VIP service and maximum visual impact, train staff on synchronized lighting techniques when using multiple ice fountains on a single bottle. Bottles can be pre-prepared with ice fountains before service to streamline presentation during busy periods.
Mounting an ice fountain to a bottle is easy with one of our clips, here’s how:
1. Attach the ice fountain holder to the bottleneck first using the largest, central clip.
2. Identify the top end of your ice fountain, then attach it to one of the smaller clips towards the base.
3. Check the ice fountain and bottle are fully secured in the clips. Light as normal.
For nightclub settings, consider using LED-lit bottles as bases for ice fountains to create an enhanced visual effect that continues after the fountain has burned out. Staff should be trained to identify potential hazards in crowded areas and maintain appropriate clearance when moving through the venue with lit ice fountains.
How to Store Ice Fountains
Keep ice fountains in a cool, dry place, well out of the way of your normal business operations. Think carefully about where you store your ice fountain fireworks and ensure they aren’t kept near any flames, or anywhere that open flames are used or sparks occur.
Ice fountains should be stored in their original packaging whenever possible to maintain their integrity and safety information. Store away from incompatible materials that might increase fire risk, and avoid conditions of high temperature, shock, static discharge, or vibrations. Implement a stock rotation system to ensure older ice fountains are used first, and regularly check expiration dates as effectiveness can diminish over time.
Keep your ice fountains in a waterproof container to keep them preserved. If they get damp you won’t be able to use them, even if you dry them out. Always carry ice fountains to a safe, open space with minimal distance to the customer before igniting them.
Although ice fountains keep for a long time when stored correctly, it’s important to remember that they still present a combustion risk. We sell mini ice fountain packs all the way up to bulk boxes to suit different businesses and customers meaning you can stock up on a good supply, but won’t need to worry about holding on to too many at once.
- 4-pack of ice fountains (good for very small businesses, small theatrical stunts, and personal use).
- 80-pack of ice fountains (good for pubs, smaller event venues, and smaller bars).
- 240-2pack of ice fountains (good for larger bars with regular ice fountain menu items and larger event venues).
- 360-pack of ice fountains (good for bars and clubs with regular ice fountain menu items and performances).
- 480-pack of ice fountains (good for bars and clubs with regular ice fountain menu items and performances).
- 2,880-pack of ice fountains (good for large-scale performance venues, event venues, and shop stock).
Ice Fountain Safety Tips
Safety first when it comes to all fireworks, even indoor, category 1 fireworks. Make sure your staff are all aware of how to properly use and store ice fountains. Here are some essential safety tips.
- When staking an ice fountain into a cake, point it slightly in one direction so the server can carry it pointing away from them. Ensure they present the ice fountain pointing away from the customer too.
- Never try to reignite an ice fountain if it does not light. Instead, douse it in water.
- Always check the ice fountain is the right way up before lighting.
- Always check ice fountains are properly attached before lighting.
- Ask servers to hold ice fountains away from them when carrying and holding them.
- Always douse ice fountains in water before disposing of them.
- Check the sell-by date of your ice fountains before using them.
- Make sure your servers don’t have to use flights of stairs or open doors when carrying ice fountains.
- Always ensure ice fountains display the CE or UKCA mark on the product or packaging, confirming they meet British & European safety standards.
- Never attempt to modify, cut, or alter ice fountains in any way as this can create unpredictable and dangerous effects.
- After use, fireworks should be collected in a refuse bin and submerged in water for several hours to ensure they are completely extinguished.
- Train staff to recognize that the tube remains hot after use and should not be handled until completely cooled.
- Create a written safety protocol for ice fountain use that all staff must read and sign before being permitted to handle them.
- Conduct regular safety refresher training, especially when onboarding new staff or before busy holiday periods.
Ice Fountain Safe Distances
When using indoor ice fountains you don’t always have the luxury of space. With other customers milling about, children, and even customers' dogs wanting to get involved it’s important that your staff know how much space they’re working with when handling an ice fountain.
- The height of an ice fountain unlit: 4–5 inches.
- The height of an ice fountain effect: up to one foot.
- The safe distance around an ice fountain: approximately over one metre.
In venues with low ceilings, be particularly cautious about the height of the effect to prevent any contact with ceiling materials.
Remind your staff to hold an ice fountain away from their body as they carry or hold it and place it away from all customers if putting it on a table. Aiming for the centre of the table is best.
Troubleshooting Common Issues with Ice Fountains
If an ice fountain won't light:
Check that the top surface is dry and free from any residue.
Use a more intense heat source like a chef's torch rather than matches.
Never attempt to relight a failed ice fountain, dispose of it safely by submerging it in water.
If an ice fountain produces excessive smoke:
Ensure your venue has adequate ventilation before use.
Limit the number of simultaneous ice fountains in smaller spaces.
If ice fountains trigger smoke alarms:
Test a single fountain in advance during quiet periods to assess your venue's sensitivity.
Consult with your fire safety officer about temporarily adjusting detector settings during planned use.
Consider using ice fountains in areas further from smoke detectors.
If bottle clips become loose:
Replace them immediately rather than attempting to repair them.
Never use damaged or loose bottle clips as they create a serious fire hazard.
Store clips properly between uses to prevent damage.
Legal and Insurance Considerations
Ensure your venue's insurance policy specifically covers the use of Category 1 fireworks indoors. Maintain documentation of staff training related to ice fountain safety. Be aware that while ice fountains are legal for indoor use, improper use resulting in injury could still create liability issues. Consider adding a brief note about ice fountain use to your venue's risk assessment documentation. Always purchase ice fountains from licensed, reputable suppliers to ensure they meet all safety regulations.
Now that you’re fully versed in the safe use of ice fountains, it’s time to get creative. Use our Instagrammable ice fountain ideas as a starting point. Do you have other questions we didn't answer here? Check our article Ice Fountain Firework FAQs.
350 Barlow Moor Rd
Chorlton
Manchester, M21 8AZ
07810 222123
info@chorltonfireworks.com