Jevans Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Well to some extent I agree - in that if there is to be a barrier it ought to be up to the job, a tokenistic barrier increases the perception of safety but does not increase the actual real safety by the same margin. Oh, of course. Ease of use is also a factor - something that's a total pain to integrate into working practices will quickly fall out of use unless very heavily enforced. I would debate slightly that a stretchy barrier has no affect at all on safety: if it's dayglow orange with a luminescent stipe that makes it very visible in low light conditions (such as focusing) then it increases visibility/awareness of the drop by bringing it up into eyeline rather than being on the floor. I agree it'll do very little if you fall through it (or drive a MEWP through it...) but in theory you'd be more aware of keeping clear of it. If you wanted a barrier that was actually up to stopping a MEWP it would have to be very solid indeed, and probably difficult enough to put in that it would get skipped when in a rush. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GridGirl Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 We have a three-storey drop when the rear stage lift at the Sydney Opera House is down (yes, our stage is on the third floor. Don't ask). There is a simple yet highly effective system in place to prevent falls, which is duplicated downstairs so you can't get squashed by the lift coming down either. The mechanism is an upright net made out of seatbelt webbing, but in bright yellow, which is fixed at one end and has a pole which runs through the other end. The pole slots into a flange on the floor, then is hooked into an arm at the top then the arm is pulled up and locked into place to pull the net tight. There's a sensor in each locking mechanism so the lift can't be moved unless the arm on each net is locked into place. At the bottom level, there is exactly the same arrangement on both sides of the lift so you can't get caught underneath it. It wouldn't be difficult to create a smaller version of this for stage fronts, I wouldn't think - no use in show conditions, but fine for bump-ins and outs. We also have a pit net in place at all times, unless the pit is raised. Some pics, in case my description is no good: One of the downstairs nets - you can see the lift equalisers are down waiting for the stage lift to come down (they lift up to creat flat floor when the lift is up); the gates you can see also have to be locked in place to move the lift: http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e26/kiwitechgirl/5dbcce7564c008e67de6860fe419d1ba.jpg Net about to be locked into place: http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e26/kiwitechgirl/155343D1-A80D-4E3F-9159-B9DD7EB863A3-14562-00000CDE9777887A.jpg The locking mechanism - you can see the sensor about halfway up: http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e26/kiwitechgirl/D3B8AED0-D802-41B6-B62F-C7A48762FCB8-14562-00000CDE9CB8FFDF.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 That looks a good system, that would easily fit into most prosc arch areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shez Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 When implementing systems such as this, it's perhaps worth ensuring that they can, under carefully controlled conditions, be overridden. I recall one get in for Blood Brothers where we built the ground floor of the houses on the pit lift, dropped it so its top edge was level with the stage and could then easily move the 1st floor sections on top. May not be a regular occurrence but from time to time, being able to use lifts in ways that may not have originally been envisioned is very useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianl Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 All interesting stuff, but back at my very small stage, where I will never have a mewp ( and I can almost touch the roof) no one knows of a simple extrusion, like light up stair edge extrusion, but with the light angled the other way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 There are lots of extrusions made for led tape, some of those may be suitable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ontoprigger Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 have a look at this site its 13.60 for a 2m length, can be used with clear cover or frosted diffuser, or no cover at all http://taylorlighting.co.uk/led-aluminium-profile-16620/led-aluminium-profile-2902.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsharp7th Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 I got deep into a world of led extrusions for a home project. Rather than being a complete lighting unit, the extrusion comes on its own, with a choice of diffusor, and you buy the tape/transformer/control separately and stick it inside. Have a look here for a great selection, though you may find compatible tape cheaper elsewhere : http://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/led-extrusions-profiles Using dimmable LED tape you could have good control of stage visibility/audience invisibility. On a general note, Star Events now have a standard edge system for build/derig of their outdoor stages (see p10 here : http://www.stareventsltd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Star-Events-CDM-in-Events-Guidance-April-15-v1.pdf ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleah Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 like light up stair edge extrusion, but with the light angled the other way? Could you not use stair edge extrustion as you've described, but fitted upside down? :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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