Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Stupid ? about wire grid floor above stage

Message

   I just visited the theatre we are renting for our show.  The theatre has no fly space.  However, it does have a wire grid floor above the stage that gives you access to the lights.  

I went up there today and darn-near had a panic attack.  Walking around on wire mesh that is bolted into a frame (which bounces when you walk) was very uncomfortable for me.

My question:  how much weight can those things hold? Are they built to walk on?  Do they ever come loose from their bolts?   

Better safe than sorry.

Author	Message
Kim L. Star Joined: 2/03/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 86	Topic: Stupid ? about wire grid floor above stage Posted: 1/25/11 at 7:48pm
	I just visited the theatre we are renting for our show. The theatre has no fly space. However, it does have a wire grid floor above the stage that gives you access to the lights. I went up there today and darn-near had a panic attack. Walking around on wire mesh that is bolted into a frame (which bounces when you walk) was very uncomfortable for me. My question: how much weight can those things hold? Are they built to walk on? Do they ever come loose from their bolts? Better safe than sorry.
	Kim

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bmiller025 Star Joined: 10/06/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 82	Posted: 1/25/11 at 10:09pm
	Oh, they are designed for such uses. It is worth asking about the weight capacity to reassure yourself, but the last one that I was on could handle way more weight than I expected. The mesh is flexible because the grid is designed more for tensile strength than rigidity. If they made it more rigid, so it didn't bounce when you walked across it, it would likely have less weight capacity. They would then need to make it more dense, and that would interfere with how much light can pass through it. Spend some time up there, and you will get used to it! I am sure you are perfectly safe.
	http://www.brianmiller.biz/BrianDesign.htm
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JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 1/27/11 at 9:27pm
	G'day Kim Is this something similar to your wire grid;- http://www.thecablenet.net/about_cablenet.php with schools they are a great option rather than having students climbing ladders or Telescopes to set & focusing lighting. I'm sure most techies here have experienced that floating feeling just before the sudden stop. Unfortunately this effectively cuts out the use of a fly loft system & only allows limited fly ability. Which for students is not a bad thing as they don't tend to perform 'safe sets' & schools opt for 'idiot proofing' everything, while depriving students of valuable experience. [litigation & insurance is a major factor of course] As posted by Brian you will feel safer the more times you venture out on the wire. However If the odd bolt or nut comes undone because of the type of structure I doubt very much it would be a great problem, however with the grid it offers a myriad of places to safely hold on to!
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
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Set Design and Construction
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