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  • 1.  Theatre Maintenance Schedule

    Posted 10-20-2017 10:05

    Hello All,


    I've been asked by my dean at DSU to write or find a yearly theater maintenance schedule for our mainstage and black box theatre.  I'm looking for a yearly schedule of inspections and maintenance for: rigging, lighting, sound, soft goods, and shop tools, paint area, etc.  Do you have or know of any documentation like this?  Thank you for your response and assistance.  


    Best, Russ


    Russ Saxton
    Dixie State University
    225 South 700 East
    Saint George, UT 84770
    cell 435-632-9241


  • 2.  RE: Theatre Maintenance Schedule

    Posted 10-22-2017 04:38
    Many maintenance items are required under provisions of the building and fire codes, so this will vary from school to school.  Your local Fire Marshal and Building Inspector may be able to help you define the items in your facility that are affected and what the inspection / maintenance intervals are (daily, monthly, quarterly, annual, semi-annual, etc.).

    Entering all of these items into a maintenance scheduling system like SchoolDude (or even Outlook calendar) can help as a recurring reminder when these tests / inspections are due.

    Fire Protection:
    • Sprinkler Systems
    • Portable Fire Extinguishers
    • Fire Hose Cabinets
    • Fire Alarm Detection and Annunciation Systems
    • Fire & Smoke Containment Systems (Fire Curtains, Smoke Vent Systems, Fire Doors, Overhead Rolling Doors, etc. -- Fire Doors are a big item - some localities require a certified Fore Door Inspector to do this, but you should know the rules none-the-less)
    • Make sure none of these items are blocked or covered-up!
    • Treatment of Draperies, Scenery, Platforms, Props, Costumes with fire retardants.
    • Chemical Storage cabinet inspections (and throw-out anything that is flammable / high VOC -- you really don't need it in the theatre!)
    Emergency Egress:
    • Emergency Lighting (lamps, battery packs, generators)
    • Egress Lighting (aisles, vestibules, corridors, hallways)
    • EXIT Signage (as well as NO EXIT signage)
    • Clear paths to egress (nothing stacked or stored in egress paths)
    Equipment Maintenance involves:
    • Cleaning air filters for the HVAC systems
    • Cleaning air filters on Dimmer Racks
    • Cleaning air filters on Audio Equipment
    • Stage Rigging Inspection
    • Orchestra Lift inspection
    • Portable Platform inspection (loos legs, missing clamps, missing or broken railings)
    • Keeping your shop clean of dust and debris (DAILY!)
    • Cleaning Stage Lighting Instruments (per ANSI standard)
    • Electrical Repairs to EVERYTHING that has a power cord (cable grips intact, no frayed wires, no loose or missing grounds, etc.) or power outlets (missing cover plates, broken receptacles, 'dead' circuits, etc.)
    • Ladder inspections (no broken parts, no paint [you paint it, you throw it away], no missing parts.
    • Fall Protection equipment inspections (harnesses, lanyards, anchor points, etc.)
    • PPE inspections (gloves, eye protection, hard hats, dust masks, knee pads, work shoes, hearing protection, etc.)
    • Tool inspections (guards, safety interlocks, operation manuals, broken tips, etc.)
    • Safety Equipment inspections (eye wash, fire blankets, AED's, first aid kits)
    • UPS's (batteries)
    Building Items:
    • Floors are free of trip hazards, splinters, holes, torn carpet, protruding nail heads, tacks, & staples.
    • Railings are secure.
    • Loading Docks have railings when not in use.
    • Low head clearance items (beams, air ducts, conduits, pipes, etc.) are marked and padded (and signage to wear hard hats when working around them)
    • Floor openings and edges are marked and guarded (particularly ladder well openings! - they should have self-closing safety gates),
    • Stage edge is marked (lights, tape, etc.)
    • Step edges have a contrasting color strip and the nose radius is 1/2" or less.
    • Seats are secured to the floor and the seat pans automatically rise to allow rapid row egress without blockage.
    • Fixed ladders are secure to the wall.
    • TV, Speakers, Sign Boards, and other items attached to the walls or ceiling are secure and cannot fall on patrons (particularly important in earthquake zones).
    • Catwalks, Fly Galleries, Follow Spotlight Decks, elevated storage platforms, and walk-on gridiron service decks are free of any loose debris.
    People:
    • Stage Operations Safety training (warning others about the dangers of the stage edge, keeping people out from under moving rigging, not having a noisy stage during rigging operations or other safety critical movement, blocking action so people and rolling scenery doesn't go off the front of the stage).
    • Certified Crowd Manager training
    • First Aid training
    • AED training
    • Fire Extinguisher training
    • Ladder Training
    • Personnel Lift training
    • Storage training (material handling, lifting, stacking procedures)
    • Know how to properly coil cables so as to not damage them
    • Rigging Operations training (particularly if you have a building with a fly system and no Weight Loading Galleries)
    • Power Tool Safety training
    • Hand Tool Safety training
    • Ghost Light Deployment procedures (No one should ever have to walk onto a dark stage)
    • Simulated accident / incident scenarios (unannounced to the students) like fire on the stage, major injury in the shop, twisted ankle by patron in the audience stairs, shelter-in-place for storm / intruder, evacuation event, etc.


    ------------------------------
    Erich Friend
    Theatre Consultant
    Teqniqal Systems
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Theatre Maintenance Schedule

    Posted 10-24-2017 06:21
    Erich was very thorough and compiled a great deal of info for you,

    If you have some form of rigging it should be inspected yearly.
    Curtains should be shop vacuumed yearly to remove dust.
    Curtains should be verified for type and if flame proofing is needed to be re-preformed
    Dimming and control and sound should be cleaned
    Fixtures should be cleaned, lenses and reflectors
    Stage should be repainted if painted


    These are all generalities, as I do not know what you have in your space, also check with your maintenance department to verify they are testing your emergency lighting and who is responsible for smoke hatches/fire doors in the roof and see if they have been tested and inspected

    ------------------------------
    Jerry Onik
    V.P. Theatrical Supplies and Equipment
    Omaha NE
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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