Difference between grades of chain

[gafftaper]

Just a note that a formal rigging inspection takes several days as the person inspects EVERY inch of your fly system. When they are done they will give you a big written report giving detailed information on what needs to be fixed immediately, what is showing signs of wear and should be watched, what is dangerous what is not. If you haven't seen one, such a report is fascinating to read.

Having someone who knows about rigging (like mstaylor) stop in and just give you some initial impressions would be very helpful. No you won't get a full report of what you need to do, but you will get a good sense of how good or bad things generally are. Which should be helpful in pushing your administration to pay for a full inspection and repairs. To others who may be reading this, I am convinced there is a qualified person at just about every university in this country who wouldn't mind stopping by for a few minutes to give your system a quick look. Don't by shy, give them a call.

[Charc]

Looks like I need to explicitly state something that Derek and Gaff have touched upon.

You are a stone's throw from Philly. Uncle Bill's warehouse is in NW Philly (I live there... NW Philly... not the warehouse!).

Sapsis Rigging Inc is the place you want to contact for your inspection, they are the local guys, and they are in the top tier.

A full inspection might not take days... (Gaff, I've seen Sapsis get in and out in under a day, in a venue probably much larger with many more linesets than the OP probably has.)

Sapsis not only specializes in design and installation, but also inspections. You can trust them, 100%.

Out of curiosity, who DID you use? With Sapsis so close, there really isn't a reason to use anyone else.

mjw56, you now know who to contact. Given how many things you've already found out to be not safe. You've already found out enough to warrant a full system inspection. Tell the principal that you've found X number of critically dangerous and out-of-code things with your system. Site the eyebolts, quicklinks, and thimble-less aircraft cable. Explain in detail how each one can lead to a catastrophic failure (it's theatre, use some dramatic words! ) and how it is wrong, and explain what is right. Convince him that the system is broken.

I would like to steal Gaff's common idea, and create a piece of theatre. Have your meeting with the principal in the theater. When you walk onstage, put on a hardhat... give one to him too. Fly something. Point out the quicklinks, explaining that they could open, and everything could fall. Point out the thimble-less aircraft cable, explaining that it no longer can carry its rated load. Point to one of the eyebolts, and take a prop out of your pocket (a cheap corner store eyebolt, already bent open). This should go a long way to making your case.

[mjw56]

Hamming it up for safety is a great idea.
i didnt want to name names but the company is called ****. myself and the LD have both agreed that were never letting them in the theater again. but we are still buying lighting fixtures from them (they had a 20% off sale)
ill check out sapsis and talk to mstaylor about coming to visit.

an inspecion should go rather quickly as there are only 2 uncounterweighted linesets and evetything else is only 25' off the ground.

i really want to thank everyone for their help here because there is so much more going on than just what ive mentioed. jack chain, s hooks, i even found zip ties (which i fixed already).
an inspecion should go rather quickly as there are only 2 uncounterweited linesets and evetything else is only 25' off the ground.
Again Thank you.

[mstaylor]

Bill Sapsis is definitely the go to guy in Philly, it's what he does, I took a rigging class from him, so I wouldn't have a problem recomending him. Remember the offending company's name, they can be excluded from future bids because of shoddy or dangerous workmanship.

[mjw56]

bids....i wish i could bid a project, most things get done on the "hey, i know an alumni..." basis. but i have no control over that

[mstaylor]

I wish I could do that in my home building but it is a county building so we have to take low bid even if it isn't where we want to get it. I have enough resources that I can make a call and order what I want but if it is over a certain dollar amount I have to bid it.

[mjw56]

my lighting install got half a##ed by an alumni electrician. he didn't communicate any more than he had to. didn't do any research into the equipment being connected and therefore the neutral on our 400 amp service is not sized for 150% of the load from the hots as the install manual suggests and states is theoretically possible. i managed to find that bit of data on my own... on 10 min.....as a senior in high school