Technical Articles & Papers

Structural Design Requirements for Entertainment Venues (pdf)

(Shawn Nolan, PE – Structure Magazine – March 2008)
Rigging systems impose unusual loads on building system frames. A clear set of design criteria is best established during the schematic design of the entertainment facility.

Winch Basics (pdf)

Tom Young – PROTOCOL, the Journal of the Entertainment Services & Technology Association – Fall 2001
J.R. Clancy’s vice president of marketing - who is an accomplished electrical engineer with 20 years of experience working with powered rigging systems for opera houses and theatres – offers a primer to dealers on what to look for in winches, the central element to any motorized rigging system.

Electrical Winch Controls (pdf)

Tom Young – PROTOCOL, the Journal of the Entertainment Services & Technology Association – Fall 2003
J.R. Clancy’s vice president of marketing - who is an accomplished electrical engineer with 20 years of experience working with powered rigging systems for opera houses and theatres – addresses the basic electrical requirements of the motors and user interface issues to consider before specifying, building or buying winch controls.

Rigging Control System Safety (pdf)

Tom Young – PROTOCOL, the Journal of the Entertainment Services & Technology Association – Winter 2008
J.R. Clancy’s vice president of marketing - who is an accomplished electrical engineer with 30 years of experience designing control systems for theatres - reviews the advantages of automated rigging. Safety and reliability are the focus of this technically focused article.

Stage Rigging 101

Lawrence Graham – Sound & Video Contractor – October 2002
Larry Graham, a principal the theatre consulting firm Graham, Swift & Company provides an overview of rigging systems.

New Loads for Old Structures (pdf)

Shawn Nolan, PE – PROTOCOL, the Journal of the Entertainment Services & Technology Association – Winter 2002
Shawn Nolan, a Licensed Engineer specializing in theatres, answers the question, “Is the building strong enough and how do I know for sure?” When converting or refitting an older building with modern lighting, rigging, sound equipment and more, one of the biggest unknowns is the load-carrying capacity of the structure. This article explores how to proceed with a structural evaluation.

How to Communicate With Your Structural Engineer, Pt I (pdf)

Entertainment Structures Group – The ESG Report – Spring 2007
In Part 1 of this multi-part article - probably better entitled, Engineer-Speak 101 – the author reviews basic concepts and terms you should know when communicating with your structural engineer.

How to Communicate With Your Structural Engineer, Pt II (pdf)

Entertainment Structures Group, The ESG Report, Summer 2007
In Part II of a multi-part article on communicating with your structural engineer, the author discusses the importance of providing quality information to your engineer as it will directly impact the final deliverable.

About Our Blocks (pdf)

Find out more about our nylon and cast iron sheaves – including the bearings they are equipped with and the shafts that support them - and their applications.

Brakes for Theatrical Hoists (pdf)

The relevance of brakes as applied to theatre hoists; writing specification for hoist brakes; and recommended design practices are discussed. Terms to define brakes on hoists are first standardized to eliminate misinterpretation.

Trim Chains (pdf)

Entertainment Structures Group, The ESG Report, Fall 2008
An evaluation of what types of chain are appropriate for use as theatrical trim chains. ESG is a division of Steven Schaefer Associates, Inc. a professional engineering firm.

Chain for Theatrical Use (pdf)

An overview of chain options and safety features as well as a look at our Turner & Seymour 30 Proof chain and its use for both dead hanging and trim chains.

Fire Curtains (pdf)

Fire Curtains at a glance – includes their use, motorized v. manual curtains, speed regulations and diagrams of Straight Life and Brail fire curtains.

Zetex® Plus Fabric (pdf)

A closer look at the strength and flame-, abrasion-, and spark-resistance of ZetexPlus fabric with its zero-generated smoke rating.

Line Shaft Hoist FAQ’s (pdf)

Theatrical hoists hold and move loads above people. Yet, how much do we know about hoists, how to keep their components aligned and the types of coupling and shafting that should be used. Simple explanations are offered in this Q & A.

Nicopress (pdf)

A technical description of how to use the Nicopress documentation and gauges to inspect newly installed swages in the field.

Drawing & Information Requirements (pdf)

Here’s what we need from our Dealers so we can provide system drawings for submittal and installation.

Rigging Systems For Small Venues

How to deal with the design and operation challenges of small theatre spaces.