Essential Standards for Entertainment Industry Professionals

By Jay O. Glerum, author of "Stage Rigging Handbook, 3rd Edition"

In 1980, at a session on Rigging at the USITT conference in Kansas City, a member of the audience asked, “Where can I find the standards that cover rigging in our industry?” 

The answer was “nowhere.” There were no standards because no one had written any. That question, however, prompted a long series of actions by USITT and ESTA (now PLASA) that resulted in the first rigging standard being approved by the American National Standards Association (ANSI) in 1999. There are now over 40 standards covering a multitude of subjects in the entertainment industry. Due to the generosity of Pro Sight Specialty Insurance, copies of the standards are now available at no charge and can be downloaded from the PLASA Web site, www.plasa.org. (To go straight to the published documents, click here.) 

Now that we have the standards, we need to use them. A number of the standards specify how products are designed, manufactured, and tested. Purchasers and renters of these products should specify on the purchase order that the products they are ordering must comply with the appropriate standards. List the specific standard numbers and names on the order. 

This document is intended as a guide for riggers, flymen, and electricians. Reading all of the relevant standards can be a daunting task. However, there are specific sections that relate to technicians and stagehands that need to be aware of the “user” requirements and responsibilities contained in the standards. Reading and being familiar with the entire standard will help the user have a better understanding of the scope of various User Sections.  As a starting place, refer to the table below. 

The table is intended as a quick guide to help users find the sections relating specifically to their work.

The first column, STANDARD, indicates the specific standard’s number and name.  Some of the titles have been shortened due to space limitations. 

The second column, SECTIONS FOR USERS, lists the specific sections in the standard that are intended for the users of the equipment.

A checkmark in the third column, SPECIFY, reminds users that—when purchasing a product covered by the standard—the product being ordered must comply with the standard. Both the number and title of the standard should be referenced on the purchase order.

RIGGING STANDARDS

STANDARD	SECTIONS FOR USERS	SPECIFY
E1.1 - 2012 Construction and Use of Wire Rope Ladders	Section 7, Ladder Installation Section 8, Ladder Use Section 9, Worker Training Section 10, Inspection	X
E1.2 – 2012 Design, Manufacturer and Use of Aluminum Trusses and Towers	Section 3.2.4 a Repetitive use 85% rule Section 5, Use and Care Section 6, User Inspection	X
E1.4 2009 Manual Counterweight Rigging Systems	Section 6, Design Factors	X
E1.6-1 – 2012 Powered Hoist Systems	A general understanding of the entire standard. Section 11, Inspection and Testing Section 12, Maintenance	X
E1.6-2 – 2013 Design, Inspection & Maintenance of Chain Hoists	A general understanding of the entire standard. Section 4, Inspection and Testing Section 5, Maintenance	X
E1.6-3 - 2012 Selection and Use of Chain Hoists in the Entertainment Industry	Because stage hands select and install chain hoists, they should be familiar with the entire standard.	X
E1.6-4 - 2013 Portable control for Fixed Speed Electric Chain Hoists in the Entertainment Industry	This standard is in the process of being written.  Copies of various drafts are available for public review.   When completed, the entire standard is relevant to the user.	X
E1.8 – 2012 Loudspeaker Enclosures Intended for Overhead Suspension	Section 9, Instructions for the Installer and User	X
E1.21 – 2013 Temporary Ground- Supported Overhead Structures for Outdoor Events	This entire standard should be read by anyone involved with outdoor stages.  Particular attentions should be paid to the Sections 4.7, 5 and 6.	XX
E1.22 – 2009 Fire Curtain Safety Systems	Sections 11 and 12.  There are some variances with this standard and NFPA 80, and Life Safety Code 101.  Authority Having Jurisdiction, (AHJ)	Determine which code is in force by the AHJ.

ELECTRICAL STANDARDS

STANDARD	SECTIONS FOR USERS	SPECIFY
E1.15 – 2006(R2011) Assembly and Use of Boom Base Assemblies	Entire standard.	X
E1.16 – 2002(R2012) Metal-Halide Ballast Cable Configuration	Entire standard
E1.19 – 2009 Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters	Entire Standard
E1.27 – 2009 Permanently installed DMX Cables	Entire standard.	X
E1.32 – 2012	Entire standard.  Guide for the Inspection of Entertainment Incandescent Lamp Luminaries
E1.36 – 2007(R2012) See abbreviated title in  Section for Users	Model Procedure for Permitting the Use of Stage Lighting instruments for Conventions and Trade Shows  If you are doing convention or trade show work, you need to be familiar with this standard.
Recommended Practice for DMX 512.	This is a guide for electricians installing and using DMX protocol for lighting and effects control.
Recommended Practice for Ethernet Cabling Systems	This is a guide to older Ethernet systems and should not be used for new systems.
For Electricians responsible for Fog and Smoke Effects on Stage
E1.23 – 2010  Design and Execution of Theatrical Fog Effects	Entire Standard
E1.29 – 2009 Product Safety Standard for Fog Generators	Entire Standard	X
Introduction to Modern Atmospheric Effects, 4th Edition	A comprehensive guide to all types of fog and smoke effects for the entertainment industry.  Entire Document
CAMERA CRANE OPERATORS
Camera Crane Operators Handbook	Good advice on the use of a variety different camera cranes.