The following rules MUST be followed by all exhibitors at the Regional Science Fair, regardless of the rules used at the student's local fair.
If a student must use prohibited materials in carrying out the project, then the student should consider photographs, drawings, or other means of describing the project in the display.
Any exhibit which violates these safety rules will be disqualified.
Anything which could be hazardous to the public is prohibited from display. The PROHIBITED items include:
Containers filled with liquids INCLUDING WATER.
Live disease-causing organisms which are pathogenic to man or other live vertebrates
Microbial cultures (including plants) and fungi, live or dead, including unknown specimens
Soil and waste samples and materials
Food (either human or animal)
Any flames, open or concealed
Highly flammable materials
Syringes, pipettes and similar devices
Liquified or solidified gases (e.g. "dry ice")
Class III or IV lasers
Firearms or projectile launchers of any kind
Tanks which contain, or have contained, combustible gases (e.g. propane)
Taxidermy specimens or parts
Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals
Human or animal parts
(Exceptions: teeth, hair, nails, bones, histological sections, and wet-mount tissue slides)
Poisions, drugs, or controlled substances
Synthetic Chemicals
Again, please note that students are encouraged to use photographs and drawings to illustrate their research.
(For use of photographs of human subjects, written consent of the subject is required.)
All operating exhibits must meet the following requirements:
Any exhibit producing temperatures exceeding 212 deg. F (100 deg. C) must be adequately insulated from its surroundings.
Any moving belts or pulleys must be covered.
Batteries with open-top cells are not permitted. (Other types of batteries may be used.)
High-voltage equipment must be shielded with a grounded metal box or cage to prevent accidental contact.
High-voltage wiring, switches, and metal parts must be located out of reach of observers and designed with an adequate overload safety factor.
Electric circuits requiring 110-volt AC must have a UL-approved cord of proper load- carrying capacity, and that cord must be at least nine feet long.
All electrical wiring must be properly insulated.
Nails, tacks, or uninsulated staples must not be used to fasten electrical wiring.
Where electrical switches are required in a display, standard enclosed switches must be used on circuits operating with more than 12 volts.
Electrical connections in 110-volt circuits must be soldered or fixed under approved connectors and connecting wires must be properly insulated.
Each student is responsible for the removal of ALL of his/her display materials
at the conclusion of the Science Fair.
