107th Anniversary of the Iroquois Theatre Fire

As we start the new year let's take a moment to look around our facilities with a fresh set of eye's.  It never ceases to amaze me at the number of obvious fire hazards I see when visiting theatres, gymatoriums, cafetoriums, and other assembly spaces.

It sometimes seems like we haven't learned anything since that fateful day in Chicago where over 600 people lost their lives.  These are the common fire code violations I frequently see that also fueled the Iroquois Theatre tragedy:

• Scenery (costumes, props, flats, platforms, etc.) not constructed with fire retardant / incombustable materials.
• Fire Curtain not fully functional (Tied-off, stuck, snagged, blocked, etc.)
• Smoke Vent systems not functional.
• Fire Doors propped-open.
• Emergency egress lighting system inoperative.
• Egress Routes blocked with tables, chairs, pianos, platforms, road cases, scenery, and/or camera tripods.
• Exit Doors blocked, locked, or obscured.

Learn not to burn.  Keep your Fire and Smoke Protective Systems working properly and accessible.

Here is a blog entry from Lori Green at Ingersol-Rand Security Technologies, the manufacturers of Von-Duprin Door hardware.  They make one of the few crash-bar exit systems that don't make a lot of noise - Great for Theatres!  http://idighardware.com/2010/12/iroquois-theater-fire/

National Fire Prevention Week - Reducing the Fuel Load

So, what is this you are looking at? It's costumes (some neatly bagged in plastic) hanging from a batten over the stage. This type of storage should be discouraged for a variety of reasons:

• It contributes to the fuel load on the stage should a fire break-out.
• If the bags and synthetic materials catch fire, or even are exposed to fire, they will melt and drip molten plastic droplets onto anyone / anything that is below them.

For more information about fire retardants in the theatre, visit the Chicago Artists Resource web site: http://www.chicagoartistsresource.org/node/9532

For more information about fire retardants for use on paper and cardboard download: http://texcoatpaper.com/standards.pdf

Intumescent paint is another good tool for the scene and prop shops. This paint 'chars' on the surface and prevents fire from getting to the combustible material behind it. Here are some resources for this:

• “NoBurn” (http://www.noburn.com/)
• “FlameStop” (http://www.flamestop.com/)
• “FireFree88” (http://www.firefree.com/ff88.php)
• “PaintToProtect” (http://www.painttoprotect.com/)
• PPG "SpeedHide” (http://www.corporateportal.ppg.com/NA/PAF/PMC/Brands/FPC/400_Intumescent/)
• Contego “Fire Barrier” (http://www.contegointernational.com/)

The "NoBurn" web site has a great selection of videos showing the effectiveness of intumescent paints, too. Take a look at the 2003 American National Insurance Company Demonstration.

Burning Stones

This was a truly excellent design for a stone wall. From the audience seating it really did look like rocks in a great wall. Up close, I was able to see how it was made: Each 'stone' was made from a brown paper lunch sack with wadded-up newspaper inside. They were glued to a piece of corrugated cardboard, and lightly accented with Krylon enamel spray paint (I saw the empty cans). There were many of these wall panels. Guess what? Not a single part was treated with any fire retardant. One spark and the whole wall would have gone up in flames! Location: Elementary school stage.

NFPA Life Safety Code 101, paragraphs 12.4.5.11 & 13.4.5.11 specifically requires scenery and stage properties ('props') to be constructed of noncombustible materials.