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JR Clancy Rigging Report – Powered Fire Curtains

JR Clancy Rigging Report

JR Clancy just released their latest Rigging Report and it has to do with some big changes made to Powered Fire Curtains standards. There are two new fire curtain standards in force, and both of them require powered operation for many more curtains than in the past.

NFPA 80 Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, 2007 Edition

  • The standard requires that all framed fire curtains be power operated, as well as brail and straight lift curtains in proscenium openings greater than 850 sq. ft.
  • The standard also specifies that “the fire safety curtain assembly shall be closed at all times except when there is an event, rehearsal, or similar activity.

American National Standard E1.22 – 2009 Entertainment Technology Fire Safety Curtain Systems

  • This standard specifies that “non-emergency opening and closing shall be powered except straight lift unframed fire safety curtain systems for proscenium openings less than 925 sq. ft. shall be permitted to be unpowered.”  Note that all framed and all brail curtains must be powered.
  • It also specifies that “all fire safety curtains shall be in the closed position except during events with an audience, rehearsals, technical production activity, or activities on stage that necessitate the curtain be open.”

What Does It Mean?

  1. Fewer fire safety curtains are being mandated in theaters because of advancements in sprinkler systems.
  2. When fire safety curtains are required, there is an increased mandate that they actually perform correctly.  This means an increased requirement for design, installation, testing, and routine inspection by “qualified” professionals.
  3. The requirement for closing curtains during unoccupied times provides additional protection to the theater and does so faster in case of a fire.  It also provides another way of checking the operation of fire curtains routinely.
  4. Powered curtains are easy to raise and lower, making it more likely users will close the fire curtain when the theatre is not in use.

What About The Future?

  1. You’ll need to see if the local building code, project specifications, or architect require conformance to either of these standards.
  2. Expect building codes and insurance companies to require the requirement to keep safety curtains closed.
  3. A 925 square foot opening (850 sq. ft. under NFPA 80) is not very large (46 ft. x 21 ft. for example) so expect to see the majority of all fire curtains being powered in the future.

JR Clancy Rigging Report: The Ghost Light

This image is Copyright 2009 Paul Butzi - www.butzi.net

Copyright 2009 Paul Butzi - www.butzi.net

This weeks JR Clancy Rigging Report brings us yet another Superstition that we theatre people take to heart, the Ghost Light. While the Ghost Light has a practical use while the stage is dark, there is a deeper meaning behind it.

Most theatres have a ghost. This fact is known from high schools in Iowa to The Majestic Theatre in New York City. Fortunately for those uneasy about being greeted by a supernatural cohabitant, there is a method of keeping these ghosts at bay that has been around for many years: the Ghost Light. Typically the Ghost Light is turned on before the theatre is closed for the night and left on center stage. This illumination has the power to keep the ghosts in hiding and the theatre safe for the living who may dare to enter.

The Ghost Light has a practical use as well. Backstage can be a dangerous place in the dark. There can be scenery, platforms, chairs, and many other items left on stage to be tripped over. There is also the danger of someone falling off the stage and into the seating or the orchestra pit. The Ghost Light provides enough light for a person to find the lighting control switch and navigate safely around the stage.

As technology has advanced, and energy efficiency takes hold, some theatres have replaced the ghost light with computer-programmed lighting or occupancy sensors. While this new technology may save energy, the question remains, will the ghosts again have free reign on our performance spaces?

Want to sign up for the JR Clancy Rigging Report, visit the registration site here.

JR Clancy Rigging Report: Theatrical Superstitions & Missing Catalogs

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This months JR Clancy Rigging Report mentions something that almost every person in theatre knows about, but talks very little about it, Theatrical Superstitions.  Why do we do such things?  Why does a pitcher on a winning streak on wash hit uniform?  It’s all about doing what ever it takes to keep winning or to put on a great show.

We have all heard about the common theatrical superstitions, such as never saying the name Macbeth in a theatre and never wishing a performer “Good Luck.”  Here’s the lore behind one superstition with a rigging background.

Whistle While You Work…

Not in this business! Several years ago I was working at a theatre company in New Haven, Connecticut. It was about an hour before the show on opening night, and I was whistling along with a song on the radio while testing the motorized turntable when I was approached by the lead actor of the show and told to stop immediately or he would not go on!

When theatrical rigging was in its infancy, sailors who were familiar with pin rails, knots, and pulleys, were hired to fly the scenery and drapery. These sailors took what they knew about raising and lowering sails and applied it to the theatre. One tradition of sailing that made its migration to the theatre was whistling. The sailors/riggers would whistle across the stage to cue the movement of scenery. The superstition of never whistling on stage supposedly started when an actor was casually whistling on stage. One of the sailors thought that it was his cue, and lowered a piece of scenery onto the musical actors head.

While cue lights and headsets have replaced whistling as a form of communication, the superstition has lived on. So remember, next time you are working on stage and just dying to whistle along with that new Britney tune, think twice and stay alert!

Did you know that JR Clancy has been in the business for over 125 year?  While doing some cleaning around the office lately, they noticed they were missing some of their older catalogs…

Our filing system is pretty good, but over decades things can go missing.  As we enter our 125th year of doing business, we are trying to fill in some gaps so we are looking for your help in retrieving copies of our missing catalogs.

Please look in your file of Clancy information for a spare copy of the following catalogs:

  • Catalog # 3 – Date: 1887 – 1888
  • Catalog # 4 – Date: 1887 – 1888
  • Catalog #13 – Date: 1896 – 1898
  • Catalog #27 – Date: 1916 – 1918
  • Catalog #29 – Date: 1918 – 1921

If you have any of these catalogs, JR Clancy is willing to pay the first person to send it in $200. Contact Rob Kaiser.

JR Clancy: Cable Management for Lighting Battens

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In JR Clancy’s September Rigging Report email, they cover the topic of Cable Management for Lighting Battens.  They cover the importance of proper cable management not only form a safety stance, but also a cost savings. If you work under light battens for a living, read this rigging report.  It will make you think about what is hanging over your head and how well you want to protect yourself, others and your theatre!

Read more on the JR Clancy Rigging Report (more…)

JR Clancy Rigging Report – November 25, 2008

In this issue of JR Clancy’s Rigging Report, they continue on the subject of Rigging Inspections.  Last week they left off with the question, What Happens After the Rigging Inspection?  Here is a sneak peak…

Once a rigging inspection is completed and any repairs and adjustments are made everyone tends to feel good about the accomplishment.  Far too often complacency sets in. We hear, “It was inspected a couple years ago; we don’t need to worry about it.”   Later this becomes, “It’s been making that funny noise for years, so it must be OK.”

How do we sustain a focus on safety after the inspection?  Here are four steps to encourage backstage safety:
Do it again – make sure you re-inspect every year
Train – keep your crew and staff well trained
Know your system – how often do you check your system?
Communicate – safety signage and manuals are essential

Do it Again

To read the complete riging report in DPF format, click here.

JR Clancy Rigging Report – November 19, 2008

In this issue of JR Clancy’s Rigging Report, they touch on a very important subject in the Entertainment Rigging World, Rigging Inspections – A Yearly Requirement.  Why is a rigging inspection so important to a venue?  Haveing a rigging compontant fall at ANY time is a bad situtation to be in.  Weather you are in a production or dark.  Have a rigging failure can cost huge amounts of money in repair and quite possiably personal injury!  Repairing a simple connection may save thousands and thousands of dollars in the long run.

Here is the full report from JR Clancy.

How many rigging inspections are you doing each year?   I’m sure you could be doing more.

OSHA requires a yearly inspection of overhead lifting systems.  Although we’re seeing a greater awareness by users of the need for inspections, most theatres still don’t do this.   They need to have inspections for safety purposes, and to stay legal.

Here’s what OSHA says:
29 CFR 1926.550 Cranes and derricks
1926.550(a)(6)


“A thorough, annual inspection of the hoisting machinery shall be made by a competent person, or by a government or private agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor. The employer shall maintain a record of the dates and results of inspections for each hoisting machine and piece of equipment.”

There are several reasons for doing inspections:  First, it’s a great idea to help your customers’ theatres be safe and well maintained.  Many theatres are not well maintained.  Schools may not have the knowledge to know what needs to be checked or maintained.  A regular inspection can help identify problems before they happen.

Secondly, it’s also an opportunity to provide a training session to refresh the staff’s skills.  This is a key to backstage safety – a well-trained user is the most important part of any safety program.

Plus, while you are doing an inspection, you have a chance to visit with the user.  This is a great way to show the user new products, point out obsolete items on their stage, and generally find out any needs they may have.   Any visit is an opportunity to learn about the users’ frustrations, problems, and needs, giving you the opportunity to provide solutions.  A friendly chat as part of a service visit is one of the most effective sales calls you can make.

Think about how you can help your clients with their backstage safety, and help them to select the products they’ll need for 2009.

Make sure to look for next weeks Rigging Report.  JR Clancy will be covering What happens after the inspection?

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