BSR E1.26, Entertainment Technology - Recommended Testing Methods and Values for Shock Absorption of Floors Used in Live Performance Venues, is available for public review until December 7, 2005.
At this time, there is no recognized standard for measuring the energy absorption of theatre stage and rehearsal room floors, which can lead to disagreements about whether floors are too stiff or too flexible and difficulties in resolving these disagreements. Floors that are either can lead to performer injuries or excessive effort in performing dance or gymnastic movements. This draft standard is intended to ameliorate this lack of a recognized standard.
The public is invited to comment on the draft document, which is available at www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php. Besides commenting on whether the document is clearly written and adequately addresses the problem, the public is also asked to look for and to report any protected intellectual property. ESTA intends to publish no standard that contains protected intellectual property, unless that property is required in the standard for technical reasons and can be licensed by anyone on a non-discriminitory basis for a reasonable fee.
The BSR E1.26 project is a undertaking of the Floors Working Group. The Floors Working Group is seeking new voting members who could be classified as being in the dealer/rental company interest category. Employees or owners of companies that sell or rent floors to others are invited to join the Floors Working Group. Information about joining this working group and all the other working groups in the Technical Standards Program is available at www.esta.org/tsp/working_groups/index.html.
For more information, contact Karl G. Ruling, technical standards manager, at kruling@esta.org.