News and Notes from · Sapsis Rigging Inc. · January 19, 2010
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Sapsis Rigging Rings in the New Year with New Fall Arrest Installations
As
part of Sapsis Rigging's ongoing commitment to safety in the
workplace, the SRI crew has installed Fall Arrest systems in three
separate venues since the start of the New Year.
West Chester
University, in West Chester, PA. had two horizontal lifelines installed
on their loading bridges as well as four self retracting lifelines at
their front of house lighting positions. Progress Energy Center
for the Performing Arts is now the proud owner of three horizontal
lifelines on their theatre loading bridges. At Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theatre SRI installed six horizontal lifelines at their front of house lighting positions.
The equipment provided for these installations are all part of the Sapsis Rigging ProPlus Fall Arrest System™ line of personal protective equipment designed for use by entertainment technicians working at height.
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Tête-à-Tête
Burning Question of the Month:
I recently had a conversation with a group of experienced industry professionals. I had always been taught that when using Nylon spansets one should use steel cable as a safety in the event of fire. The prevailing opinion was that by the time the spansets reach their melting point the fire would have reached the point that every one was clear of the disaster and it wouldn't matter if the Truss came crashing to the Ground. Being a paranoid person, I stand on the side of 'you can never be too safe'. I am wondering what your opinion is on the subject and if there is an industry standard or regulation.
Uncle Bill's Sage Advice:
You've touched on a subject that has been discussed a lot over the past few years. I'm afraid the answer may be a bit long so you might want to get a cup of coffee and put your feet up.
A couple of observations first.
Synthetic roundslings is the proper name for these items. SpanSet is a brand name. The material used in making roundslings, especially for the entertainment industry, is almost always Dacron, not nylon. A small and subtle point, granted, but to a fire marshal it may make all the difference in the world.
As to the use of safety cables...about 10 years ago various venues around the country began requiring the use of a back-up steel sling when a roundsling was used as the primary support device. The reason for this was, as you noted, the low melting point of the slings. (approximately 180°) The concern, and a very real concern it is, is that the slings would fail while the fire department was inside the building thereby sending the truss crashing down on top of the firefighters. This is not a good thing. The venues that started requesting back up steel slings were doing so on orders from the fire marshal. Before long most other venues pickled up on the concept of the back up sling and it became common practice to use the steel slings as a back up to the roundsling.
 There was a problem, however. In many instances the steel back up sling was installed in such a haphazard manner that the likelihood of their holding the truss in the event of a roundsling failure was extremely doubtful. In most cases there was entirely too much slack in the back up sling and the momentum of the falling truss would create a severe shock load on the back up sling, causing it to fail. One of the major manufacturers of synthetic roundslings recognized the problem and developed a product to solve the problem. That product is a steel roundsling called a SteelFlex sling. The outer shell of the sling is Dacron, just like a synthetic sling, but the core is made up of two lengths of 1/16" X 7 X 19 galvanized aircraft cable. Each length creates 25 loops inside the Dacron shell. The result is a sling that has the same working load limit as a synthetic roundsling and a considerably higher melting point.
I can't tell you that you no longer need to use a steel back up sling because you are using a SteelFlex sling. That decision is made by the venue and the local authorities. But, from a heat damage point of view, by using a SteelFlex sling the back up is no longer needed.
So there's a long answer to a short question. I do not know who your "group of experienced industry professionals" are (you could tell me if you wanted to.) but if they are telling you that it's OK to use a standard synthetic roundsling without a back up, they're dead wrong.
Hope that helps. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
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What do you know - SRI just happens to carry a complete line of slings in our online store.
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The  Long Reach Long Riders announce their seventh annual charity motorcycle ride. The ride, which benefits the ESTA Foundation's Behind The Scenes program and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, begins in San Francisco on July 24, 2010.
The ride, which began as one time event back in 2004 has raised more than $200,000.00 over the past six years. "We were just a bunch of technicians looking for a fun way to attend a conference", commented Bill Sapsis, one of the original ride organizers. "Who knew it would turn out like this." Greg Wiliams, another founding member added, "The group was so much fun to ride with we just had to do it again. We've seen a lot of really beautiful country in the past six years and this years ride should offer a lot more along with some of the best riding roads in the west."
This year the riders will assemble at the Presidio in San Francisco on the morning of July 24th and then head north into the Napa Valley. Over the next seven days the group will head through Eureka and then west to Truckee and lake Tahoe. They'll ride through Yosemite and down to Hollister, CA, the birthplace of the biker legend in the US. Then it's over to the coast and back up to San Francisco via the legendary Pacific Coast Highway, arriving on July 31st.
As in previous years, anyone who rides is welcome to join the ride, either as a 'day tripper' or for the entire ride. For more information on the route, joining the ride or making a donation, please visit www.LRLR.org .
For more information please contact:
Loren Schreiber lschreib@mail.sdsu.edu
Greg Williams gwilliams@appstate.edu
Bill Sapsis bill@sapsis-rigging.com
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This Month's "What Were They Thinking?" Award
We're not naming names (you know who you are).
An inventive and terrifying chain connection solution.
All we have to say is "Don't Do That".
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