[SML] Question about codes

Sat Feb 13 18:01:48 UTC 2021

What is the engineering consideration for 3'-6" vs. 5' wide?  There's
certainly a lot more weight an end user could cram into a 5' catwalk ;)

As for the raceway:  You can't know everything that will be attempted in a
venue when designing it.  Putting a large obstruction all the way across a
catwalk vs 3 or 4 small boxes with the circuits clustered together seems
like a better option (in terms of usability in the future, etc).  I can't
tell you how many times I've had to lean out around/under/on top of a
raceway to hang a light, focus a light, or rig something.

My favorite design in a FOH catwalk is 3 boxes per catwalk with 10 circuits
each; each pigtail can reach more than halfway to the next box (so there's
rarely a need for jumpers).  The boxes are 12"x12" and are almost entirely
out of the way of everything other than top-hanging a light directly below
them.

--Sean

On Fri, Feb 12, 2021 at 11:39 AM Bill Conner via Stagecraft <
stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:

> 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
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Bill Conner Fellow of the ASTC
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Bill Conner Fellow of the ASTC
>>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>>> For list information see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
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>>
>
> --
> Bill Conner Fellow of the ASTC
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