HEMP

[Big Jay]

Hi, just a quick question when using a hemp bar for LX, what would your max weight be on the bar, if it was a 4 line hemp bar

[AndyJones]

a) Shouldn't this be in staging and rigging?

b) The theatre should have specified a max working load. One thing to consider is how you are going to fly out 150 or so kg of lights! You would need lots of bodys or a close motor bar to assist it out.

 

HTH

 

AndyJones

 

Edit: Added my name and sorted my spelling.

[Big Jay]

Yes I must say sorry for putting this in the wrong section, please could a MOD move it if required

Moderation: Done

[david.elsbury]

What Would I DO?

 

Ask the theatre, every venue is different, only they can advise you the SWL

[Oovis]

On our latest fit-up the Production Manager was working on a 30kg max lift per person for hemp flying.

[Mattlx]

Dont know If its much to go by

 

But an expression ive heard a few times is:

 

If 3 people cant fly it, then it too heavy! (this being around 125-175kg on a hemp bar)

 

But as mentioned it all depends on the venue and the grid SWL etc.

[LeeStoddart]

As already mentioned ask the venue for the SWL. For our hemp bars (which are flown on sets of three lines) the SWL is 200Kg.

 

"Your mileage may vary"

[obsoperator]

I'd point out that you didn't mention whether the load was evenly distributed, or what the spacing of the lines is; In my experience, hemp sets often have lower-technology battens, for example Schedule 40 water pipe with simple screw couplings, rather than trusses or at least sleeved-splices.

 

While it doesn't make reckless behaviour right, for 50 to 75 years or longer, in the U.S., hemp sets were used for electric battens that had much more than 200kg, and bundles of cables (I mean, not modern multicables) that made one end much heavier, even with a pickup line. It was standard to chain these off to the grid after they were pulled up and trimmed. That was as much because they would not stay trimmed (i.e. the pipe "straight") as for sensible safety reasons. I recall mostly 5/8" diameter hemp, and I was lucky enough never to see much rope that needed to be retired immediately. In the 1980s, I visited a few smaller road houses in the U.S. that were 100% hemp sets.