Rope to use for rigging

[Mj617]

Hi all

 

Apologies if this has been covered before.

 

Does anyone know of any regulations that cover what rope to use and not to use for hanging scenery etc. A small society I work with are using the blue nylon rope to hang scenery and some other rope near enough the same but in white (very slippy as well). I have in the back of mind that climbing rope should be used. Any information or the regs that surround this would be greatly appreciated.

 

Many thanks

[ImagineerTom]

The regulations use words like “appropriate” and “suitable” and ultimately whoever writes up the risk assesment (and possibly the design check) for whatever you are rigging needs to justify the rope used and why it’s the right choice.

 

Some things I rig from old school hemp rope, some from climbing rope, some from steel core wire rope, some from fibre core wire rope, some from chain, some from sling. Each is chosen because it’s the appropriate tool for the job (and note “because it’s cheap” isn’t an acceptable criteria) and that’s the only answer to give to your question.

 

As a guide though you should be looking for rope that has a stated rating (beware the difference between breaking weight and safe working weight- very different terms) that has an appropriate safety factor for the job at hand. Also remember that knots have a huge impact on the strength of a rope (certain types of knot on certain types of rope can reduce the weight capacity by 70%!) and even minor freying along the length or at the ends can cause failure.

[Ynot]

I would also ask the question define 'hanging scenery'...

If it's a small stage with no actual flying facility and you're maybe tying off to a fixed grid with scenery that's essentially ground supported and the ropes are a mechanism to keep them from falling, then that's completely different to attaching set pieces to a full fly bar. Not that there's any less importance on the use of the right materials and fixings to keep them safely attached - it's just different.

[Dave m]

https://shop.flints.co.uk/Products/pg_FLAXHEMP

 

I'd buy from somewhere like flints, who are used to supplying rope for theatre.

You need to ensure that they know the loads that you will fly to give sound advice.

Allow a large margin.

 

I would keep a sample of the rope with the documentation somewhere safe so you can check back.

 

You don't say if it's for hanging or flying.

 

if light, then black sash can be used.

 

blue nylon rope is horrible

[Jivemaster]

Chose a rope to be suitable, in terms of safe load (inc when knotted), handling, bend radius. If it's for long term load carrying then check long term stability. Price is only relevant when you have choices of suitable rope.

[kerry davies]

I don't know exactly where you are based but Tom has the basics; "Some things I rig from old school hemp rope, some from climbing rope, some from steel core wire rope, some from fibre core wire rope, some from chain, some from sling....and that’s the only answer to give to your question."

 

I used to do a fair bit of very funky rigging in a wide variety of scenarios and venues so you could take the umpteen types of rope and multiply by umpteen uses which gets to "unmanageable" pretty quickly. I was lucky that we had a base near Gloucester docks and they had a shipping/industrial rope and tackle specialist which became Certex so whenever I had this question I went and asked them. In Bristol it was Bristol Rope and Twine so find your own local equivalent.They love dockside habitats and are often seen flocking together under the name "Chandlery".

 

Dave, I agree that blue nylon quarter inch BT draw rope is horrid but when it comes free on 1,000m coils, what's a poor boy to do, innit Tony? It is also really easy to splice and splice loops into.

[Ynot]

Dave, I agree that blue nylon quarter inch BT draw rope is horrid but when it comes free on 1,000m coils, what's a poor boy to do, innit Tony? It is also really easy to splice and splice loops into.

I'm sayin' nuffink, guv'ner.

(It was orange in my old dad's days on the firm...)

 

Except I can't recall the last time I used any for owt other than tying down onto a roofrack...

(Don't have access any more)

 

 

 

[sunray]

In my experience 'Nylon' rope is usually quite nice to handle, similar to terylene, stable and shard free.

 

I was always under the impression that BT draw rope is something like polypropylene.

 

BT seemed to go through phases of different colours, I guess as different suppliers tendered. Came in handy for different levels of guys on aerial masts. :D

 

And other colour coding :D

[Ken Coker]

Don't use climbing rope - it stretches, or rather it's dynamic. You need static line.

Do speak to Flint's.

Do remember that tying a knot can reduce the effective strength of the rope by up to 50%

 

KC

[ontoprigger]

The easiest to quote standard that would relate to this in the UK is BS7905 lifting equipment for the entertainments industry, (I believe still currently under review), which gives for loads suspended or moved above people a safety factor of at least 8:1, there are many European and USA standards that will use similar safety factors and under LOLER there are a number of other considerations to take into account. So as long as the lifting system components have a safety factor of at least 8 then you are on the right path, it is also important to have the appropriate paperwork in the way of method statements for the install and operation and a risk assessment.

 

As others have said Flints is probably a good place to look, but also consider its use, if its being used to fly with a larger diameter is going to be easier to handle, if its being used to dead hang something a steel wire rope may be better suited.

 

 

 

[paulears]

Ten odd years ago I had an accident with the correct rope. I have a heightened sense of caution with rope now - especially rope rougher than the hemp that caused this! Hands completely healed - shoulder did not.

[Ynot]

Ten odd years ago I had an accident with the correct rope.

Is that REALLY ten years??

Man, how time flies!