[SML] Question about codes

Sat Feb 13 19:10:03 UTC 2021

@ 40psf for design live load, 140 plf vs 200 plf.  Engineering wise, not
significant.  Cost wise, probably not $10-20 plf for something in the
$250-400 plf range.

I haven't felt the strip above 6' was a problem but listening.  I'd guess
catwalks are in 80' range so wonder about 30 - 15 to 20 ft pigtails. In an
all LED world I have relied on daisy chaining power and dmx, but primarily
HS where they vary the hang very little.

On Sat, Feb 13, 2021, 1:10 PM Sean McCarthy via Stagecraft <
stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:

> 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
>>>>>>> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient&utm_term=link>
>>>>>>> <#m_4738692290892241041_m_-4438318618998607743_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
>> ____________________________________________________________
>> 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
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://theatrical.net/pipermail/stagecraft_theatrical.net/attachments/20210213/44489fc0/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/20210213/44489fc0/attachment-0001.jpg>