turbolight Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Hi all,I was wondering if there is any chance of disabeling fire detectors on stage. This is so I can introduce the use of hazers and smoke machines to my productions. Any advice please Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamchristuffin Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Most places have 'zoned' fire alarms, which allow you to turn off specific parts of the alarm - just the auditorium, for example. There may be different procedures to each venue though, so check before you get there! HTH, Chris PS. There was a topic about this about a month ago, I'll have a quick search now.... This is the one I was thinking of, but reading through it again it may not be very useful. Anyway..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sirch Sound Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Hi, In my old venue we used to have a zoned system so we could turn the alarms off over stage if neccaserry, and we did quite alot with no problems. This was a wile ago mind, things might have changed now. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Most places have 'zoned' fire alarms, which allow you to turn off specific parts of the alarm - just the auditorium, for example.Not necessarily true - MANY venues will be UNABLE to isolate areas, even the stage, due to poorly thought out and implemented alarm systems. SOME venues can, and do, have the facility but I suspect fewer than you might think! However, the best advice is certainly to call ahead and ask the venue(s). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ83 Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 If you really want to use effects such as haze or even pyro's and the stage cannot be isolated then you may want to draft up a risk assessment to present to the venue management. Something along the lines of one designated person to go round all the sensors armed with a box of latex gloves before the show starts and then to remove them as soon as it finishes, meanwhile during the performance it is their job to look out for any signs of fire and trigger the alarm manually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 And how many venues do you think will allow anyone (especially an outsider) to go around locally disabling smoke detectors??? That would be an immediate insurance invalidation should the worst happen!!! NOT something to be recommended at ALL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooftop Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Any isolation (either through the control panel or by rubber glove) MUST be risk assessed in the venue's Fire Risk Assessment. So the first question to ask of the venue is whether it is already included in the FRA, and if not, whether it could be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niclights Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 This question has been asked and answered many times before. Does it all have to be argued about again? I think a search is your friend. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbolight Posted May 29, 2008 Author Share Posted May 29, 2008 cheers for your replies, I will do a search. But one thing.. I went to one venue where they had a switch which turned off the detectors on stage this was a school auditorium and this must have been introduced by the installers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Light Console Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Some schools I know have switches with a time delay, and auto reset. Mine doesn't. But, we can isolate the detectors on the hall ceiling, but not in the air handling or undercroft (which is open to the auditorium as it forms a plenum area). Mind you, with the AHU shifting 5 cubic metres of air/second, any smoke produced soon clears off again. ): Completely OT edit to add...This was something I have just found when looking to see about our AHU, the unit pictured though is identical to ours, but is not our unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRW Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Some schools I know have switches with a time delay, and auto reset. So do some professional venues :) We get two hours on our time-bomb type device (you wind it round to full and it slowly ticks down) and so have to remember to reset it at least before the show and in the interval if we're using smoke or haze. Handily though, someone decided to install it in the Director's box (the other side of sound control to lighting) as opposed to lighting control. Still, I suppose this is better than it being FOH somewhere, especialy if a company decide to set off a pyro mid-show without telling you! Usefully, I think our detectors can be zoned by getting in the fire-alarm company to reprogram the panel, as we found out rather undiscreetly halfway through our panto this year that our auditorium lobbies were not on the same zone as the stage/auditorium! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilsta1000 Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 We had a huge problems with the pyro's and file alarms just not getting along. so we simply put empty supernoodle tubs over the detectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 So what detects a fire now then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Lewis Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 So what detects a fire now then? and I wonder who *on the staff* gets the blame when the forensic fire crew find the remains of said noodle container on the sensor ?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 We had a huge problems with the pyro's and file alarms just not getting along. so we simply put empty supernoodle tubs over the detectors. A quick google finds us...Malicious interference with alarms or fire equipment is a criminal offence currently carrying a maximum penalty of 3 months imprisonment and/or £1000 fine on conviction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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