[SML] FOH hang and focus safety improvement needed

[illuminati500]

You might want to consider a fixed focus standard rig with a few specials for each production and some hard patching? Some loss of flexibility in design, and you need a few more fixtures,  but a lot quicker and safer, especially if you are doing two or more shows in one day.

Dorian Kelly


> On 19 Nov 2017, at 07:48, Bill Nelson via Stagecraft <stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
> 
> Our local community theatre (160 seats) has fixed seating. The lights are hung
> from pipes that are fastened by floor flanges through the ceiling into the
> structural wooden beams. The heights of the pipes varies from about 16 feet to
> 21 feet above the floor. There are 3 or 4 pipes that are of concern. The pipes
> are roughly 24 feet in length.
> 
> Hanging and focusing lights is not safe. A standard step ladders will not fit
> in between the rows of seats, so we have an extension ladder with hooks on the
> upper end to hang over the light pipe to secure it in place. Besides it being
> rather difficult to set in place, often the latch between the two sections
> cannot be fastened as the bottom must fit between the seat rows.
> 
> Since it is a strictly volunteer theatre, the lighting designer is usually
> also the person hanging and focusing lights and usually can only do so when no
> one else is in the building to call for help in an emergency.
> 
> I don't see us installing really heavy moving fixtures, but we might someday
> be able to afford a couple.
> 
> I can think of two options to improve the safety.
> 
> The first option is to use get a Genie Super Straddle plus a Genie DWP series
> lift of minimal height (20 feet?). This would be slower to set up and use than
> the second option and I am not sure that the aisles are wide enough. It is
> probably also less expensive - always a concern.
> 
> The second option is to replace the fixed pipes with truss and fly them with
> either cable or chain winches. We would then bounce focus them - or at least
> lower them far enough that a shorter step ladder would reach them. The
> structural engineer that examined the attic area stated that the ceiling beams
> were strong enough if we mounted the rigging to span two of them. I would
> prefer the hoists to be in the attic - since if they are below the ceiling, we
> would lose quite a bit of trim height - which is already marginal.
> 
> What I would like is advice on the best way to handle this. A rough idea of
> costs would be nice. For the truss option, what kind of truss - ladder,
> triangular or rectangular?
> 
> I have no idea what the second option would cost. I also have no idea who to
> approach in the Pacific Northwest to get quotes. So I am looking for
> recommendations for reliable rigging companies or contractors doing that sort
> of work.
> 
> I am also wondering if we should get a structural engineer experienced in
> theatrical rigging to verify the comments by the SE we had look at the
> building, as well as possibly design the rigging and oversee the installation.
> If so, how much would that be likely to cost?
> 
> Thanks in advance for any wisdom that can be provided.
> 
> Bill
> 
> 
> 
> 
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