Guy Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Does anybody regularly use a orchestra pit net? Who designs and manufactures them? Anything safety concerns in using them?ThanksGuy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tour monkey Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I've never come across such things, am I right in thinking they are nets across the top of the pit to stop people/objects falling in? Munky ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzler Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Hello, We use one all the time. The one we have at our home venue is brand new. It consists of a steel tension wire across the span. This has a bottle screw either end to allow the net to be kept taught. The rest of the net is held to the front of the stage by about 15 small ratchet straps that fit around the edge of the stage. I'm told the net will support the weight of a person, but I haven't seen anyone try it out yet. (that has something to do with all the instruments under it). One of the problems we had with ours was that the holes in the net were too big, so we have fitted a black Gauze over the top of it. We use a variety of other nets when we're on tour, to stop stuff falling into the pit. I'm not sure who supplied it, but I can find out if you would like me too? Dazzler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 If you are looking for something permanent try Cable Net. I've only seen it used up high around lighting positions etc, but no reason why it wouldn't work over a pit I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahame Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Lots of venues use pit nets; many ballet and opera orchestras won't play without one these days. Most nets are home made using a tension wire across the front (top pocket) of a tennis net, tensioned with bottle screws to the sides of the pit. The fixing to the stage edge varies according to the venue and how easy it is to fix things under the front edge of the stage. The net doesn't usually extend over the whole pit.They're really intended just to catch small props that might roll off the front of the stage, especially if it's raked; but I have seen someone falling off the front of a stage and being saved by a net!Cable net tension-wire grid system wouldn't be suitable as such nets usually have to be rigged and struck quickly if the pit has to be raised or lowered. Also wouldn't cable net need fixing points on four sides? That could be tricky.... ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 If you are intending your pit net to be part of a safety system, can you really countenance using a tennis net? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjammy83 Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 This is an old thread. However it has been brought to my attention recently about orchestra pit netting. Should we have one? do H&S insist we have one? where do we purchase such a thing? Are there any regulations to be looked into? Our pit is over 10foot deep and more often than not covered over with boarding when not used Any advise would be fantastic thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boswell Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 As far as I know, there is no legal req for a pit net, it depends on YOUR risk assessment. We have an 7ft drop into our pit but have installed a removable row of 5mm LEDs into the stage edge so that the edge is clearly seen at all times. Written our RA around that.HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 No need for net as Boswell states but covering with boards needs an RA as well. See showtopic=1137 If you allow anyone to walk on the covers they need to be structurally sound. If they are simply lightweight covers then your RA needs to reflect this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
librarian28 Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Does anybody regularly use a orchestra pit net? Who designs and manufactures them? Anything safety concerns in using them?ThanksGuy Why can't the orchestra just wear hard hats? Problem solved. (:-) That was a smiley with a hard hat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkPAman Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 (:-) That was a smiley with a hard hat. No this is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
librarian28 Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 No. They both are. It's just that yours is better. Grrrrrr. (:-(That was a rueful smiley with a hard hat. And, although you can't see it, mine has a massive tool belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelgrian Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 As far as I know, there is no legal req for a pit net, it depends on YOUR risk assessment. We have an 7ft drop into our pit but have installed a removable row of 5mm LEDs into the stage edge so that the edge is clearly seen at all times. Written our RA around that.HTH I think the pit nets started to appear after a couple of incidents of directors walking backwards off stages and landing in the timpani, I can't immediately dig them out however. I've never heard about a legal requirement but clearly the presence of a large hole at the front of the stage should be in the risk assessment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erroneousblack Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 I think it all goes back to this!Oops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solitaire Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 They certainly needed the net over the pit at the Lowry (Lyric) Theatre last August. During the last matinee performance of the 25th Anniversary tour of Les Miserables. Madame Thenardier drops some silver ware (Beggars at the Feast) one of the plates rolled off the stage and into the pit. At first it appeared to bounce off someone’s head ;) , but it hit the net. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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