ANSI Standards
PLASA is an ANSI-accredited standards writing organization that brings the industry together under its Technical Standards Program (TSP) to write consensus standards, recommended practices, and guidance documents. The TSP currently has Working Groups addressing safety issues in the following areas:
- Camera Cranes
- Electrical Power
- Fog and Smoke
- Followspot Positions
- Performance Floors
- Rigging
- Stage Lifts
For a complete list or to purchase documents published by these Working Groups visit www.estafoundation.org/pubs.htm.
This document describes the design, manufacture and use of aluminum trusses, towers and associated aluminum structural components such as head blocks, sleeve blocks, bases, and corner blocks in the entertainment industry. It does not cover individual, separate rigging hardware such as half-couplers and shackles. This standard presents a coordinated set of rules that may serve as a guide to government and other regulatory bodies and municipal authorities responsible for the guarding and inspection of the equipment falling within its scope. The suggestions leading to accident prevention are given both as mandatory and advisory provisions; compliance with both types may be required by employers of their employees.
This document establishes minimum design and performance parameters for the design, manufacturing, use, and maintenance of temporary outdoor stage roofs. Roofs are useful for supporting audio and lighting equipment and for keeping sun and rain off performers and equipment at summer music festivals, but strong storms can turn them into missiles or rubble. E1.21 is designed to ensure that only violent storms are a problem and that appropriate safety measures are in place to prevent or limit damage when these storms arise. This standard presents a coordinated set of rules that may serve as a guide to government and other regulatory bodies and municipal authorities responsible for the guarding and inspection of the equipment falling within its scope. The suggestions leading to accident prevention are given both as mandatory and advisory provisions; compliance with both types may be required by employers of their employees.
ANSI E1.5 - 2009—This standard describes the composition of theatrical fogs or artificial mists that are not likely to be harmful to otherwise healthy performers, technicians, or audience members of normal working age, which is 18 to 64 years of age, inclusive.
ANSI E1.1 describes the construction and use of wire rope ladders in the entertainment industry. Wire rope ladders are distinguished from other ladders by having flexible rails, and are used in applications where ladders with rigid rails are impractical to use, or where a rigid ladder would pose a greater danger to the user or other workers in the area.
ANSI E1.19 – 2009 Recommended Practice for the Use of Class A Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) Intended for Personnel Protection in the Entertainment Industry offers guidance on the use of GFCI's in the entertainment industry. They are now used on film and video sound stages with water tanks and on location shoots, and also on some live shows that feature water, but they aren't as used perhaps as widely as would good for safety because using them can sometimes be difficult. ANSI E1.19 was written to facilitate the successful use of GFCI devices.
ANSI E1.21-2006, Temporary Ground-Supported Overhead Structures Used To Cover Stage Areas and Support Equipment in the Production of Outdoor Entertainment Events, establishes minimum design and performance parameters for the design, manufacturing, use, and maintenance of temporary outdoor stage roofs. Roofs are useful for supporting audio and lighting equipment and for keeping sun and rain off performers and equipment at summer music festivals, but strong storms can turn them into missiles or rubble. E1.21 is designed to ensure that only violent storms are a problem and that appropriate safety measures are in place to prevent or limit damage when these storms arise.
ANSI E1.22 - 2009, Entertainment Technology - Fire Safety Curtain Systems, describes the materials, fabrication, installation, operation, testing, and maintenance of fire safety curtains and fire safety curtain systems used for theatre proscenium opening protection. The requirements avoid cook-book descriptions of a fire safety curtain system; they specify how a fire curtain shall perform. The download document is in PDF 1.6 format, and can be opened with Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader version 7 and later.
ANSI E1.26-2006, Entertainment Technology - Recommended Testing Methods and Values for Shock Absorption of Floors Used in Live Performance Venues, describes a method for measuring how stiff a performance floor is. It also suggests some ranges that have been found to be acceptable--neither too stiff nor too springy.
ANSI E1.34 describes a very simple drag-sled for measuring the slipperiness of a performance floor, and two procedures to use with the sled. One uses standardized stainless steel feet on the sled to give a coefficent of friction number that can be used to describe the floor in a general way. The second procedure measures the slipperiness with a performer's shoe sole materials. The document is in PDF 1.5 format, and can be opened with Acrobat or Acrobat Reader version 6.x and later.
The Camera Crane Operator's Handbook is an illustrated booklet that outlines safe practices and good advice for a variety of camera cranes in a variety of situations. The recommendations, coupled with common sense, good judgment, and proper evaluation of each situation, greatly reduce the risk of accidents with camera cranes.
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