The BSR E1.6 project to develop an American National Standard for powered theatrical rigging systems has a new project and part to the standard: E1.6-4, Control of Serially Manufactured Electric Chain Hoists Used in the Entertainment Industry. The E1.6 document has been broken into parts to facilitate its development and to better match the expertise of the people writing it. This newest part is an offshoot of the BSR E1.6-3 project, Selection and Use of Serially Manufactured Electric Chain Hoists in the Entertainment Industry. That project is to specify how chain hoists can be used safely in entertainment applications, which are very different from the applications for chain hoists in factories and materials handling situations. It has became clear that chain hoist control system safety is a complex topic, so the Rigging Working Group, at its meeting on July 13, 2007, voted to give control systems their own E1.6 part and development project.

A task group was formed at the working group meeting to develop a first draft of BSR E1.6-4. Peter Herrmann and Vincent Cannavalle of Motion Laboratories, Noga Eilon-Bahar of Eilon Engineering Industrial Weighing Systems, Jon Lenard of Applied Electronics, Dana Bartholomew of Fisher Technical Services, and Eddie Kramer of IATSE Local 1, were appointed as task group members, with Peter Herrmann the group leader. The task group was charged with writing the first draft of the standard for the Rigging Working Group to consider. The Rigging Working Group is the consensus body for this standard, and may modify or reject the draft from the task group.

The BSR E1.6-4 project is being announced so that people who might be affected can comment or become involved if they wish. Therefore, any parties who would be materially affected by the revision of this standard are invited to join the Rigging Working Group to work on developing the standard. Information about joining working groups and a link to the working group membership application form are available online. Of course, all members of the affected public (not only Rigging Working Group members) may become involved by commenting on the standard when it is made available for public review.

Anybody who wishes to comment on the start of this BSR E1.6-4 project or to object to its initiation is invited to send his or her comments or objections in writing to the technical standards manager.

Reasons for objecting might be that it is felt to be unnecessary or in conflict with another American National Standard. Comments and objections should be filed by September 23, 2007.

For more information, please contact:

Karl G. Ruling, technical standards manager, ESTA
875 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1005
New York, NY 10001
USA
1-212-244-1505
Fax 1-212-244-1502
standards@esta.org.