Secondary Fixings

[jayselway]

Hi guys, newbie here, but not to the industry. Recently I was doing some work in a nightclub - involving the removal and servicing of their MiniMAC units. When I looked at them, they had a safety wire on them, which comprised of steel cable, which passed through something called a "Gripper". Just wondering where I could find some information on these fixings for secondary mountings.

 

Is it still allowable to use steel wire with wire catches on them - the ones where the wire passes through to make a loop, then you bolt up the catches on them, and the wire is held together? Been quite a while since I have worked on a rig where a chain could not be used, cause the tracking doesn't allow for it! :)

 

 

Many Thanks

Jay :)

[Andrew C]

Could that be "Gripple"? Not at all sure about shock loading these!

[jayselway]

cheers Andrew - that's the thing I was thinking about, cause when I cut one of them off, and fiddled with it somewhat, I jerked the wire, and it came out - hence why I was slightly concerned about using the same when I put the MiniMAC's back in.

 

As I mentioned, I used to use wire rope, which passed through, or over the rig, and then through an eye bolt, or mounting point on the fixture. Then it would be secured with 3 or 4 wire clamps, all bolted to tool-tight, with a little drop of loctite on the threads. Maybe overkill, but if a Mac is gonna go swinging, I'd rather have 4 clamps it has to get through before it falls!.

 

Having said all this, I've just looked at the Gripple Website, and there is no mention of these things being suitable for shock loads, such as a Mac falling off it's Omega Bracket. Back to the wire clamps then!

 

Cheers and Regards

[gnomatron]

aren't chains going to be illegal soon, too? (in the uk, anyway). It's all gotta be wire safety bonds sometime soon.

[jayselway]

Haven't heard about chains - I know wire fixings are coming in though. Is it therefore permissible to use the wire with the clamps, to secure the rope to itself in a hoop?

 

Still don't trust those Gripples though!!

[PoppaDom]

Still don't trust those Gripples though!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It is my understanding that gripples are not suitable for vertical suspension and are for use in the horizontal plane when tensioning steels.

 

Seems to remember that on the safety information accompanying them when we used them to secure the mast for Tristan and Yseult summer before last?

 

Poppadom

[Andrew C]

Have a look at the link I posted. It implies that they are fine for suspension, but not lifting.

[Jivemaster]

Wire bonds chosen to suit the load.

[jayselway]

Looking closely at the rig, the safety wires USED to be done with gripples, but they went into the tracking of the rig, which is screwed to the ceiling joists. Now - in my mind, this presents another issue, cause it's all well and good the lanterns and movers being safetied to the tracking, but if the tracking comes down, it's not a lot of good if there's no secondary for the mountings.

 

New plan: affix proper secondary into joists for the lanterns and wire hoop them to them. Nice

 

Cheers all - any tips greatly appreciated :D:)

[Just Some Bloke]

aren't chains going to be illegal soon, too? (in the uk, anyway). It's all gotta be wire safety bonds sometime soon.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Have a read of this thread.

[jayselway]

Just an update really to finish off the thread....

 

After consulting my builder/joiner, we have done some more looking around on the rigs. The tracking is fixed up well, and the issue was definately the gripples - especially as the Number 2 ones have been used, with a max load of 45kg - not a lot of region for a falling MiniMAC!

 

So - the plan is, I'm taking a back seat on it, and the builder is installing stud fixings (not sure on the builder lingo), and then wire hoops to suit the lanterns. Whether this is on individual fixings per unit, or a larger one per rig - 3 rigs in the room = client happier, and still good job..

 

Cheers for help all

 

Jay