[SML] Question about codes

[Bill Conner]

Good points and thank you.

On other than high schools, I am more likely to make the rail movable. Its
a significant additional cost especially when the catwalks are targeted by
superintendents for cutting as superfluous. Also worry about safety
vigilance in a high school. Will it be put back correctly? Will it be
secured when removed?  Heard on one if my community college projects with
removable rails, a section fell through an empty seat during an
intermission gel change.

Not seeing the obstructing plug strip - 6' above deck. This was prior to
LED with probably 30 circuits plus non-dims on this catwalk.  Now, with
LED, usually 3 or 4 upright plug boxes per position and lots of powercon
jumpers.

What did I miss?  Somehow I feel like you're seeing something I didn't.


On Wed, Feb 10, 2021, 10:53 PM Sean McCarthy via Stagecraft <
stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:

> Bill,
>
> That catwalk looks very spacious (which is great), but as an end user (no,
> not of your project) I have some thoughts.  Having the lower pipe be
> removable is incredibly valuable for things like specialized rigging, or
> installation of larger moving lights.
>
> Also, I know continuous raceways are popular with a lot of people, but
> placing it that low above the hanging position makes it difficult to
> tophang equipment when needed, or to lean out/reach over to get to odd
> rigging solutions.  For a school I can see the value in how you've designed
> this, but breaking the raceway up into 3 or 4 boxes along the catwalk is
> much more flexible than a continuous obstacle across the whole catwalk.
>
> I'm curious as to your experience on the other side of the consulting
> equation.  It's something that's bothered me for years in more modern
> catwalk design.
>
> --Sean
>
> SEAN R. McCARTHY
> Master Electrician
> SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY
> Washington, DC
>
> On Wed, Feb 10, 2021 at 3:18 PM Bill Conner via Stagecraft <
> stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
>
>> My typical catwalk - in one of a very few where structure etc. was
>> painted white rather than black - better photo![image: evv catwalk.jpg]
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 10, 2021 at 3:09 PM Bill Conner <billconnerastc at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> The IBC and LSC which are most widely used in the US permit non-standard
>>> rail spacing on lighting catwalks (and a few other places for entertainment
>>> technology).  My standard is for 22" clear between top of toe board and
>>> bottom of lower rail, and 22" between top of lower rail and bottom of upper
>>> rail.  (I used to do 30" when 8" ERSs were more common.)  This may not be
>>> enough to satisfy OSHA requirements for fall protection.
>>>
>>> I believe it's very important to not require people to lean out to focus
>>> and service the gear.  It's much safer if both feet are flat and your body
>>> balanced over the catwalk deck.
>>>
>>> I attach a page from a presentation I did at TEAC 2010 that shows a
>>> design that does provide fall protection, and sounds like what someone had
>>> in mind but didn't really know what they were doing would not work well.
>>>
>>> On Wed, Feb 10, 2021 at 1:58 PM Ross via Stagecraft <
>>> stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Here is a question for those of you who have renovated or built new
>>>> theatre spaces.  The local school district has just built a new high school
>>>> with a state of the art theatre space.  In touring the space I see that
>>>> somewhere along the lines someone put chain link fence along the catwalk
>>>> railing.  Is that a safety feature that being included in new construction
>>>> or just some random bright idea?  I would try to look up the building codes
>>>> but I am not sure where to look, (that and trying to read them make my eyes
>>>> glaze over).
>>>>
>>>> The reason I am asking because when adjusting light on Cat #2 you have
>>>> to lay on the floor & stick one are under the fence to adjust said light,
>>>> OR one person grabs the belt of a second person as they lean over the
>>>> railing, (& pray they say in their pants).
>>>>
>>>> I should point out that at this time I do not have a formal contract
>>>> with the school for anything. I just help out on productions as asked.
>>>> That is the reason I do not ask any of the construction guys finishing up
>>>> the project.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Clay Ross
>>>> Pro Dreamer
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Bill Conner Fellow of the ASTC
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Bill Conner Fellow of the ASTC
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