DISPLAY AND SAFETY REGULATIONS

> Commercial Equipment > Not Allowed > Allowed..sort of > Electrical Regulations > Display Size For questions regarding display rules, contact: Mr. Jim Greenwood, 203-270-0690, greenwood@ctsciencefair.org

Commercial Equipment
No equipment (computers, oscilloscopes, video display terminals, playback devices, spectrographs, etc.) other than what is an integral part of home-built apparatus will be allowed in the display during preliminary judging. No electric power will be available during preliminary judging

Not Allowed At Project

1. Living organisms including plants, animals, and microbes
   
   
2. Taxidermy specimens or parts
   
   
3. Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals
   
   
4. Human or animal food
   
   
5. Human/animal parts or body fluids (for example, blood, urine)
   
   
6. Plant materials (living, dead, or preserved) which are in their raw, unprocessed, or non-manufactured state
   
   
7. Laboratory/household chemicals including water (Exceptions: water integral to an enclosed apparatus; crystals grown by you, displayed in a case, and removed after final judging)
   
   
8. Poisons, drugs, controlled substances, hazardous substances or devices (for example, firearms, weapons, ammunition, reloading devices)
   
   
9. Dry ice or other sublimating solids
   
   
10. Sharp items (for example, syringes, needles, pipettes, or knives)
    
    
11. Flames or highly flammable materials
    
    
12. Batteries with open-top cells
    
    
13. Awards, medals, business cards, flags, endorsements, and/or acknowledgements (graphic or written) unless the item(s) are an integral part of the project
    
    
14. Photographs or other visual presentations depicting vertebrate animals in surgical techniques, dissections, necropsies, or other lab procedures
    
    
15. Active Internet or e-mail connections as part of displaying or operating the project at the CSF
    
    
16. Overlapping sheets of data, graphs on backboard are not permitted. Supporting data and graphs should be contained in a data book or as part of the research report. (New in 2007)
    
17. Glass or glass objects unless deemed by the Display and Safety Committee to be an integral and necessary part of the project
    
    
18. Any apparatus deemed unsafe by the Display and Safety Committee (for example, large vacuum tubes or dangerous ray-generating devices, empty tanks that previously contained combustible liquids or gases, pressurized tanks, etc.)
    
    
19. The participant's name, address, town, phone number, e-mail, web address, and school name should not appear on the project, with the exception of the abstract and cover page of the research paper. The participant's name may be on the back of the backboard.

Allowed at Project BUT with the Restrictions Indicated

1. Soil or waste samples if permanently encased in a slab of acrylic.
   
   
2. Photographs and/or visual depictions if sources are credited.  For example: “Photographs taken by finalist.”  Photographs of participants are allowed, provided participants are not identified by name.
   
   
3. Any apparatus with unshielded belts, pulleys, chains, or moving parts with tension or pinch points may not be operated
   
   
4. Class II lasers:
   
   1. May be operated only by the fair participant.
   2. May be operated only during finalist judging.
   3. Posted sign must read “Laser Radiation: Do Not Stare Into Beam.”
   4. Must have protective housing that prevents physical and visual access to beam.
   5. Must be disconnected when not operating.
      
      
5. Class III and IV lasers may not be operated.
   
   
6. Any apparatus producing temperatures that will cause physical burns must be adequately insulated.

Electrical Regulations

1. Bare wire and exposed knife switches may be used only in circuits of 12 volts or less.
   
   
2. All electrical connectors, wiring, switches, extension cords, fuses, etc. in high voltage circuits (over 12 volts) must be UL-listed and must be appropriate for the load and equipment. Connections must be soldered or made with UL-listed connectors. Wiring, switches, and metal parts must have adequate insulation and overcurrent safety devices (such as fuses) and must be inaccessible to anyone but the fair participant. Exposed electrical equipment or metal that is liable to be energized must be grounded or shielded with a grounded metal box or cage to prevent accidental contact. There must be an accessible, clearly visible on/off switch or other means of disconnect from the power source. Maximums are 500 watts @ 130 volts AC / 60 Hertz.
   
   
3. Finalists requiring 120 volt AC electrical power must provide a UL-listed 3-wire extension cord which is appropriate for the load and equipment.

Maximum Size of Display

For questions regarding display rules, contact:
Mr. Jim Greenwood, 203-270-0690
greenwood@ctsciencefair.org