[SML] Question about codes

Fri Feb 12 15:28:23 UTC 2021

I should have added this one is wide - 5' - because it's for the follow
spots.  With Robert Juliat follow spots - both loved and detested - they
are quiet enough to not require an enclosed room, plus I like the steeper
angle with no "moon" on back drop.  Other catwalks are usually 3'-6" -
under 4'-0" so sprinklers are not required under them (though a cloud
partially under the catwalk might require sprinklers).  Most of the cost of
catwalks is in the hangers and railings - not the deck - so wider is not
significant cost.  Same with loading bridges - two beams, two rails - why
force riggers to walk on counterweight?  I cringe when I see a loading
bridge just 3'-0" with weights stacked to top of toe boards and having to
walk on it.

On Thu, Feb 11, 2021 at 7:06 AM Bill Conner <billconnerastc at gmail.com>
wrote:

> 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
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient&utm_term=icon> Virus-free.
>>>>> www.avast.com
>>>>> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient&utm_term=link>
>>>>> <#m_4768168896699917699_m_-5582410970791806235_m_-2532465167087315525_m_-8987724884172272537_m_4699569942714567791_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
>>>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>>>> For list information see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
>>>>> Stagecraft mailing list
>>>>> Stagecraft at theatrical.net
>>>>> http://theatrical.net/mailman/listinfo/stagecraft_theatrical.net
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Bill Conner Fellow of the ASTC
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Bill Conner Fellow of the ASTC
>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>> For list information see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
>>> Stagecraft mailing list
>>> Stagecraft at theatrical.net
>>> http://theatrical.net/mailman/listinfo/stagecraft_theatrical.net
>>>
>> ____________________________________________________________
>> For list information see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
>> Stagecraft mailing list
>> Stagecraft at theatrical.net
>> http://theatrical.net/mailman/listinfo/stagecraft_theatrical.net
>>
>

-- 
Bill Conner Fellow of the ASTC
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://theatrical.net/pipermail/stagecraft_theatrical.net/attachments/20210212/4f5c06ea/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: evv catwalk.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 110276 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://theatrical.net/pipermail/stagecraft_theatrical.net/attachments/20210212/4f5c06ea/attachment-0001.jpg>