GLOSSARY OF RIGGING TERMS

Act Curtain – A curtain (sometimes designed for a specific show) that is opened to signal the beginning of a performance. The Front Curtain is often used for this purpose.

Arbor – A carriage or rack that contains weights, usually flame cut steel or cast iron, in sufficient quantity to balance a load.

Audience – The area of the theatre where visitors sit to view a performance.

Auditorium – A hall or seating area within the hall where the audience views a performance.

Batten – A bar, usually made of steel pipe, from which scenery, lights and curtains are hung.

Beam Clamp – A device from which a load is hung , attached to the flange of a steel beam without altering the beam in any way.

Belaying Pin – A wood or steel rod, inserted into a hole in a pin rail, that secures ropes attached to the load.

Border Curtain – A curtain used to define the top limit of the stage and to mask or hide lights and unused scenery and curtains.

Brail Curtain – A curtain that is raised (opened) with Brail type lift lines and is sewn flat or has horizontal fullness.

Brail Lines – Lifting lines that pass through a row of rings sewn to the back of the curtain and attached at the curtain bottom. The curtain folds up when the lines are pulled.

Cable Roller – A roller assembly designed to prevent moving cables from contacting any part of a building or adjacent rigging. Not intended to change cable direction or carry loads.

Just an Example of some possible definitions Tech Terms and Product Safety Information

A quick reference of some of the information you might need about our products and safe practices. Any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone number 1300 793 712

WORKING LOAD LIMITS

Working load limits are based upon static or moderately dynamic lifting/pulling operations. It is impossible to make blanket recommendations about working loads for fibrous or wire rope, given the wide range of use and the degree of risk to life and the property involved. However, to provide guidelines, working loads are tabulated for rope in good condition with appropriate splice, in non-critical applications and under normal service conditions.

ROPE, WIRE ROPE AND CHAIN

All chain, cable, fibrous and wire rope are sold subject to the following warnings and cautions, and with the express understanding that the purchaser and/or user is thoroughly familiar with their proper use. Specialised Stage Engineering assumes no responsibility for the abuse, misuse or misapplication of these products.

Normal Working Load and Breaking Strength:

The Working Load Limit is the maximum load which should ever be applied to the product under any condition. The working load limit is based on static or moderately dynamic lifting/pulling operations where a load is being applied uniformly in a straight-line pull. Specialised Stage Engineering {SSE} uses a 7 to 1 ratio to develop working loads in all critical applications.

The Breaking Strength is an average figure arrived at by testing samples under laboratory conditions in straight-line pulls with consistently increasing loads to see at what point they would break. DO NOT use breaking strength for design or rating purposes; use work load limit instead.

Dynamic Loading Voids Working Load Limits:

Sudden changes in load, up or down, in excess of 10% of the line’s rated working limit load, constitutes a hazardous shock load, and would void normal working recommendations. Whenever a load is picked up, stopped, or swang, there is an increased force due to dynamic loading.

The more rapidly or suddenly such actions occur, the greater the increase in force. In extreme cases, the force-out on the rope may be several times the normal load involved. Therefore, in all such applications such as towing lines, lifelines, safety lines, climbing rope, etc,. working loads as published do not apply.

Proof Test Load (Proof Coil Chain)

“Proof Test” refers to a quality control test applied to the chain to check for material or manufacturing defects. A Proof Test Load is a load which the products withstood without deformation. This Proof Test Load is normally twice the Working Load Limit of the chain. The test is conducted under lab conditions where an increasing force is applied to the chain in a direct line and at a uniform rate of speed.

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