Teqniqal Systems
TeqNote Auditorium Safety Checklist Verify inspection requirements – may vary according to Authority Having Jurisdiction. All Fire & Smoke Control Systems and Emergency Lighting Systems must be fully functional before any use of the auditorium – adjust inspection schedules as required to ensure safe use of the facility. This list is general in nature – your venue is very unique – make a list that matches your facility! Entry to Building Lighting Steps, Ramps, Handrails
All Lights working, including areas around Fire Exits Clear of debris, broken edges, trip hazards, step edges are marked with clearly contrasting color
Lobbies Floors Dry, floor mats down if raining Lighting All functional Restrooms Floors Dry Waste Receptacles Emptied and close to towel dispensers Paper goods Toilet paper, towels, soap, etc. Emergency Egress Routes (including Lobby) Lighting All Lights working, Emergency Lighting Checked Emergency Lighting Emergency Lighting functional EXIT Signs Visible and Emergency Power functional Passageways Clear of obstructions Doors Crash-bars working, nothing blocking egress route Audience Chamber Seating Secure and stable (seat bottoms, backs, armrests) Folding Seat Bottoms all rise without assistance Aisles Nothing in aisles (No chairs, desks, tables, etc.) Floor Clear of debris, broken edges, trip hazards, no cables (unless in cable cover), no loose carpet or exposed seams, step edges clearly contrasting Lighting House lights all work, control stations all work, Houselights do not darken below 1/5 foot candle (fc) at floor level Emergency Lighting Emergency Lighting functional EXIT Signs Visible and Emergency Power functional Control Booth Housekeeping Clear of loose stored goods, nothing stored overhead Lighting Work lights all work, control stations all work Railings Secure and with kick-plates (toe boards) Steps / Ladders Clearly illuminated even when lights are off
www.teqniqal.com
www.TheatreSafetyBlog.blogspot.com
817.249.4024
Co ns ul t ant s Spe ci ali z i n g in Pe r f or mi ng Ar t s Te c hn ol ogy a nd Saf e t y
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TeqNote Spotlight Decks Housekeeping Lighting Railings Operable windows / open decks Access Ladders
Auditorium Checklist Clear of loose stored goods, nothing stored overhead Work lights all work, control stations all work 42” tall, secure, and with 4” kick-plates (toe boards) Fall protection for operator if railing below 42” Meets OSHA/ANSI standards, self-closing safety gate at top. Fall protection equipped above six feet.
Storage Rooms Housekeeping
Clear of loose stored goods, nothing stored overhead, Heavy items stored at ground level. Lighting Work lights all work, control stations all work Railings 42” tall, secure, and with 4” kick-plates (toe boards) EXIT Sign Visible and Emergency Power functional Access ladders Meet OSHA/ANSI standards, Spring / Gravity safety gate at top Shelves & Racks Structurally sound, no plastic or homemade construction Electrical Rooms (Dimmer Racks, Sound Racks, Circuit Breaker Panels Dimmer Racks Filters Cleaned, 36” clear space in front Sound Racks Filters Cleaned, 36” clear space in front Circuit Breaker Panelboards Directories Correct and Legible, 36” clear space in front Housekeeping No flammable goods stored in same room Scene Shop Housekeeping No debris in walkways, minimal flammable materials EXIT Doors Clearly marked and clear of blockage. Fire doors closed. Non-Exit Doors Clearly marked (NO EXIT) Utility Outlets GFCI Protected, cover plates intact, circuit breakers marked Tools All appropriate safety guards in-place, cables and plugs in proper working order, Emergency Power Shut-off nearby for Table Saws, Drill Presses, Planners, etc. Extension Cords Grounded connectors secured to cables, no nicks, cuts, or exposed conductors Chemical Storage Metal Cabinets for flammable paints, solvents, cleaners, etc. MSDS Readily available. Exhaust Fans Properly working, filters cleaned Dust Collection and Fume Hoods Properly working, filters cleaned Lighting Lamps protected from breakage with guards Stored Goods (Props & Scenery) Treated with Fire Retardant
www.teqniqal.com
www.TheatreSafetyBlog.blogspot.com
817.249.4024
Co n s ul t ant s Spe ci ali z i n g in Pe r f or mi ng Ar t s Te c hnol ogy a nd Saf e t y Page 2 of 6
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TeqNote
Auditorium Checklist
Costume Shop Housekeeping EXIT Doors Utility Outlets Extension Cords Fume Hoods / Exhaust Fans for Dye Vats Stored goods (Costumes, Fabrics) Stage Stage Floor (onstage)
Housekeeping EXIT Doors Non-Exit Doors Utility Outlets Stage Floor (onstage)
Stage Floor (offstage)
Fire Curtain Smoke Pocket Fire Curtain Path (floor area immediately under curtain) Fire Curtain Releases Stage Lighting Work Lighting Run of Show Safety Lighting Emergency Lighting EXIT Signs Props, Scenery, Platforms, Carpets
www.teqniqal.com
No debris in walkways, minimal flammable materials Clearly marked and clear of blockage. Fire doors closed. GFCI Protected, cover plates intact, circuit breakers marked Grounded connectors secured to cables, no nicks, cuts, or exposed conductors Properly working, filters cleaned Treated with fire retardant Clear of discontinuities, trip hazards, downstage (front) edge clearly marked (for performers, not audience) to reduce the likelihood of falls. Ghost Light deployed when stage not in use. No debris in walkways, no flammable materials Clearly marked and clear of blockage. Fire doors closed. Clearly marked (NO EXIT) GFCI Protected, cover plates intact, circuit breakers marked Clear of discontinuities, trip hazards, downstage (front) edge clearly marked (for performers, not audience) to reduce the likelihood of falls. Clear of discontinuities, trip hazards, areas in front of Fire Extinguishers, Electrical Panels, Fire Alarm Pull Stations, Fire Alarm Strobes, etc. clearly marked to be kept clear of all equipment. Clear of obstructions Clear of obstructions (Risers, scenery, tables, chairs, platforms, podiums, etc.) Clear of obstructions, visible, marked with signage. Lamps protected from breakage with guards Work lights all work, control stations all work, lamps protected from breakage with guards Lights all work, control stations all work, lamps protected from breakage with guards Emergency Lighting functional, lamps protected from breakage with guards Visible and Emergency Power functional Treated with fire retardant
www.TheatreSafetyBlog.blogspot.com
817.249.4024
Co n s ul t ant s Spe ci ali z i n g in Pe r f or mi ng Ar t s Te c hnol ogy a nd Saf e t y Page 3 of 6
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TeqNote
Auditorium Checklist
Fly Galleries (General) Stage Rigging System & Fire Curtain Motor Control Key Lock Fire Curtain Smoke Vents Draperies Stage Lighting Outlets Stage Lighting Instruments Other suspended elements Locking Gallery Rope Locks Counterweight Arbors Loading Gallery(s) Weights Railings Lighting Ladder Gridiron Housekeeping Railings Lighting Ladder Loft Wells Catwalks Housekeeping Railings Lighting Ladder
www.teqniqal.com
Annual Inspection per NFPA & OSHA Who has key(s)? Fire Curtain and Smoke vents should NOT require key to operate Tested every 90 days, or more frequently Tested every year, or more frequently Annual Inspection & Records of Fire Retardant Tight connections, cable restraints, clean-out floor pockets, cover plates installed, no sharp edges Electrical connections and cords secure, safety cables Rigging inspection for speakers, projection screens, projectors, auxiliary battens, fog machines, etc. Adjusted, locked, and safety ring in-place. If cast iron construction: checked for cracks. Properly balanced, Spreader Plates spaced at ~18” intervals, Weight Locks in-place and tight. Stored along on-stage side of catwalk, not stacked higher than kick plate or guard fence, distributed evenly 42” high with mesh fence at on-stage side to prevent weights from falling to stage below. Worklights operational Meets OSHA/ANSI standards, self-closing safety gate at top NOTHING loose ANYWHERE 42” high with 4” kick plate (toe board) at base Worklights operational and guards in-place Meets OSHA/ANSI standards, self-closig safety gate at top Edges marked, openings wider than 12” covered NOTHING loose ANYWHERE 42” high with 4” kick plate (toe board) at base Worklights operational Meets OSHA/ANSI standards, self-closing safety gate at top
www.TheatreSafetyBlog.blogspot.com
817.249.4024
Co n s ul t ant s Spe ci ali z i n g in Pe r f or mi ng Ar t s Te c hnol ogy a nd Saf e t y Page 4 of 6
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TeqNote
Auditorium Checklist
Fire & Smoke Control Systems Fire Alarm System Fire Curtain Interface Pull Stations Strobes & Bells Smoke Vents
Door Releases
HVAC / Fire Damper Rate of Rise Heat & Smoke Detectors Emergency Lighting Interface Sprinkler System Sound System Interface Fire Extinguishers Document ALL Locations Inspection Tag Fire Hose Cabinets Document ALL Locations
Annual Inspection & Testing Trip Sensor and FACP controlled release Clear space in front, Annual Testing Clear space in front, Annual Testing Trip Sensor and FACP controlled release. Annual Testing & Inspection, manual operation more frequently, if possible. Trip Sensor (overhead doors) and FACP controlled release. No doors propped open, No latches defeated, No automatic closers defeated. In Duct Smoke Detectors, FACP controlled damper releases Annual Testing Annual Testing Annual Testing, clear access to standpipe riser, nothing attached to sprinkler piping or covering sprinkler heads Annual Testing Verify presence of equipment, not blocked or covered Verify
Inspection Tag Sound & Video Systems Fire Alarm System Interface Emergency Announcement Microphone Emergency Announcement Scripts
Emergency Announcement Graphics Numbered EXITS Emergency Plans for all crew & staff
Verify presence of equipment, nozzles, fittings, clear access in front Verify Forces override to Alarm Announcements Dedicated Microphone that overrides all signals except Fire Alarm Pre-approved announcements posted for each emergency scenario: Fire, Weather, Earthquake,. Lock-down, Evacuation Pr-composed text / images for video displays that override other programming Muster Point Plans and Signage for Staff, Students, Crew, Performers. What to do, where to go, who to call.
Plan for Safety and Play Safe
www.teqniqal.com
www.TheatreSafetyBlog.blogspot.com
817.249.4024
Co n s ul t ant s Spe ci ali z i n g in Pe r f or mi ng Ar t s Te c hnol ogy a nd Saf e t y Page 5 of 6
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TeqNote
Auditorium Checklist
A Safety Imperative: These observations are provided as a courtesy so that the design team can contemplate improvements to this and future projects. As with most elements of a theatre building, there are ripple effects that should be considered to all of the design disciplines, and consideration should always be made as to how the owner’s staff and students will use, abuse, and work-around the facilities we design for them. Everything the design team puts into the project has implications for the aesthetic experience of the audience, the learning experience for the students, and the work load of the staff. Many of these same implications affect safety and maintenance as well as cost and sustainability. They are all inherently intertwined. Theatre workers are driven to ‘make the show go on’, and as a result, they will circumvent the best laid intentions for safety, use, and productivity. As design professionals we must constantly strive to understand how they will attempt to perform tasks, and provide them with the best tools to do so in the hope that we can lead them toward the safe and legal operations of their facility while not disrupting their production goals. Unlike us, theatre workers typically have little or no training regarding Building Codes, Fire Codes, and Internationally agreed upon Safety initiatives. They move blindly forward towards the completion of show they are mounting, and then onward toward the strike of the show after the final curtain closes. Unfortunately, some of them don’t get to go home at the end of the day because they have elected to take risks, make grievous errors in judgment, or are the victim of someone else’s lax safety attitudes or lack of knowledge. To that end, we must always try to provide systems and facilities that do not invite “workaround’s” and “make-do’s” for them to deal with. Although many school districts may not adopt the most current Building Codes, they may not be subject to OSHA or other international safety mandates, and they may not be liable for student’s injuries under State exclusionary laws, we should always design to the most current standards and assume that these elements are enforceable. Millions of man-hours and dollars have been expended to develop these standards – why should we ignore them? It is the moral obligation we hold to prevent foreseeable injuries and allow us to sleep at night. As your consultant in many of these matters, we ask you to be attentive and consider the implications of what we are requesting when it comes to theatrical issues. We have the practical production experience, and we have seen many more theatres than you have, each sometimes more terrifying than the next in their inner workings. We are constantly learning and evolving in our understanding of how potential users might apply the systems and buildings to produce shows and teach the many crafts involved in theatre production. We are always amazed at the safety issues we uncover in both new and existing facilities, too. We try to communicate the hazards we identify to those that can effect change. You are one of those that can have an impact on the outcome. As the prime contact with the Building Owners, we implore the Architect to have an open a frank conversation with the Owner about these issues. We can provide the support and explanations to justify our recommendations. We understand that every building project has cost constraints that must be addressed, however, we cannot allow projects to be constructed where we can reasonably foresee the end user might injure themselves or others due to “work-around’s” and “make-do’s” that they might attempt to resolve an impediment we have designed into the building or systems. Please involve us early in design decisions, allow us time to review and respond, and consider the safety of the staff, students, and attending public in the facilities you create.
www.teqniqal.com
www.TheatreSafetyBlog.blogspot.com
817.249.4024
Co n s ul t ant s Spe ci ali z i n g in Pe r f or mi ng Ar t s Te c hnol ogy a nd Saf e t y Page 6 of 6