Affixing screen to truss

fredthe

Active Member
So I've got a temporary install that needs a 7.5'x10' FastFold screen, rigidly attached to a horizontal truss (see picture.) Everything I've seen on screens and trusses generally involved hanging, but to get everything at the correct height the screen needs to be centered on the truss. Any suggestions for how to attach it? It's only about 32 lbs, so not very heavy, but I need something the PSAV riggers will find acceptable.
 

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I would be inclined to clip it (clamps) to the truss and then a off set "ring" at top that aligns with a lift line, truss to keep the crenn from rolling the truss at all. I would probably not be comfortable truss only attachment though if enough other weight on bottom of truss - several hundred pounds of lighting - it might be OK simply to brace it to upstage chords of truss.
 
I would be inclined to clip it (clamps) to the truss and then a off set "ring" at top that aligns with a lift line, truss to keep the crenn from rolling the truss at all.
I was already considering something from the screen to the hoist chain to keep it from rolling the truss, though there will be close to 200 lbs of lights and speakers hanging form the bottom (I'd have more, but the venue only has 500 lb hang points). I guess to clarify my question, what specific clamps might you suggest for affixing the screen to the truss? I know some screen manufacturers design clips for this purpose, but DaLite isn't one of them. My LD suggested tie-wraps and, um, no.
 
I'm not a rigger but I think you need a high attachment point. 2 side pipes clampec to the truss, if needed a top cross pipe to reach the clamps.
 
The lightsource clamps @egilson1 suggested will work if you can get away with a potential bulge where you are clamping the frame. Alternatively, assuming this is a fast-fold screen that is designed to have legs at times as well, I might look at fabricating a bracket that has holes to line up to the holes on the frame for the legs, and putting a few half couplers on this. Add a wire rope safety depending on the specifics of your usecase if necessary.

Alternatively, in an indoor application I wouldn't feel too bad about zipties for positioning if you picked the screen from the bottom with cables for support and then held it in location with zipties or tieline. I think you might want a safety cable or too to prevent the screen from flopping over in the event that all plastic/rope attachments failed, but i think it could hold fairly well.
 
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Are there going to be movers of any kind on the truss? If so, you may have issues with the screen swinging around.
 
The light source has square clamps that should fit the screen frame. Those you can connect to a standard half coupler...
Thanks, that's what I was thinking, but I couldn't find an appropriate clamp. I'll look at those, though as danTd points out there might be a bulge issue.

Alternatively, assuming this is a fast-fold screen that is designed to have legs at times as well, I might look at fabricating a bracket that has holes to line up to the holes on the frame for the legs, and putting a few half couplers on this.
I was hoping to find something off-the-shelf, mostly because I won't have access to the screen frames to check alignment until the event (without extra effort, as I'm in Maryland and the screen and event are in Boston.)

Add a wire rope safety depending on the specifics of your usecase if necessary.
I was already planning on one safety on each side, around frame and truss. It's rigged high enough that even if the safeties slip to the top of the frame, it'll still be above head height if anyone's under it.

Alternatively, in an indoor application I wouldn't feel too bad about zipties for positioning if you picked the screen from the bottom with cables for support and then held it in location with zipties ...
Now that's an interesting idea! It would be simple to pre-fab the pick lines to the correct, matched, length. And yes, still safeties as backup.

Are there going to be movers of any kind on the truss? If so, you may have issues with the screen swinging around.
No movers. There were plans initially for moving mirror type, but then we found out about the 500 lb limits (which was not indicated on the venue drawing.)
 
Now that's an interesting idea! It would be simple to pre-fab the pick lines to the correct, matched, length. And yes, still safeties as backup.

Load rated zip ties.

This is very clean - some 1/8" wire rope from bottom of screen to truss and zip tie around mid point of screen to top of truss. It might rotate truss ever so slightly. Don't know if that would be a problem for your content.
 
So I've got a temporary install that needs a 7.5'x10' FastFold screen, rigidly attached to a horizontal truss (see picture.) Everything I've seen on screens and trusses generally involved hanging, but to get everything at the correct height the screen needs to be centered on the truss. Any suggestions for how to attach it? It's only about 32 lbs, so not very heavy, but I need something the PSAV riggers will find acceptable.
Da Lite makes fly clamps check fullcompass
Da-Lite 29641
Fast-Fold NXT Fly Bracket Kit

The fast fold has about 1 1/4 " square stock frame. You could use small rated chain or Blue water rope to wrap around it. Always check the rating first for your application. Use two 2 points about 6" in from each side. Run 1/4" shackle, thimble, 1/8 black wire rope up to truss.


Fast fold weighs under 60 lbs.
 
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The fast fold has about 1 1/4 " square stock frame. You could use electric mini clamp (home depot) they should fit around the sqare stock on the top frame. Use two 2 points about 6" in from each side. Run 1/4" shackle, thimble, 1/8 black wire rope up to truss.

Flatten it for the square stock. Either side up. Option for eye bolt.
Fast fold weighs under 60 lbs.

How about we not recommend using non-rated hardware for suspending something overhead? Even if it’s only 60 pounds. The need to use properly rated hardware when ever you are suspending anything overhead cannot be understated.
 
Happy New Year!

We fly screens on a regular basis during corporate season. We have fly kits that attach to our larger screens, but with our smaller screens, 9’x16’ and smaller, we rig right to the screen frame.

We have these black ~3’ long webbing straight slings. I forget what they’re rated for off the top of my head, but their rating is plenty for screens. The sling has an eye in either end, so we choke it through itself around the top of the screen frame (or around the fly bar of our bigger screens), pass it around the chord of the Truss, and finish with a shackle. For a 7.5x10, we’d use 3 slings: centre, then one each a foot or so in from each edge. Then add a couple of safeties between the frame and truss.

We also have some rated screw eye/trigger clamp assemblies that we normally use for our video wall. Sometimes we will clamp those to the Truss and shackle the sling to the eye. This then gives us some levelling options as the assembly can work similar to a turnbuckle.
 
Happy New Year!

We fly screens on a regular basis during corporate season. We have fly kits that attach to our larger screens, but with our smaller screens, 9’x16’ and smaller, we rig right to the screen frame.

We have these black ~3’ long webbing straight slings. I forget what they’re rated for off the top of my head, but their rating is plenty for screens. The sling has an eye in either end, so we choke it through itself around the top of the screen frame (or around the fly bar of our bigger screens), pass it around the chord of the Truss, and finish with a shackle. For a 7.5x10, we’d use 3 slings: centre, then one each a foot or so in from each edge. Then add a couple of safeties between the frame and truss.

We also have some rated screw eye/trigger clamp assemblies that we normally use for our video wall. Sometimes we will clamp those to the Truss and shackle the sling to the eye. This then gives us some levelling options as the assembly can work similar to a turnbuckle.

Sorry, I just reread your original post and saw that the screen is not hanging underneath the Truss.

Rig the screen similar to a flat that is supported by bottom hangers: Build three points. Each point has a sling choked around the bottom piece of frame, a second sling choked around the Truss, and a piece of wire rope and shackles to get between the two. This will support the weight of the screen. Then make a lashing with slings or rope to secure the middle of the screen to the Truss so it doesn’t rotate forward.
 
So I've got a temporary install that needs a 7.5'x10' FastFold screen, rigidly attached to a horizontal truss (see picture.) Everything I've seen on screens and trusses generally involved hanging, but to get everything at the correct height the screen needs to be centered on the truss. Any suggestions for how to attach it? It's only about 32 lbs, so not very heavy, but I need something the PSAV riggers will find acceptable.

Cable Gliders. They attach to aircraft cable and allow for adjustment. Use them all the time.

A unique, self-locking, completely adjustable suspension device.

  • Instant and precise height adjustment along the length of aircraft cable
  • Gliders attach to steel cables using a unique 3 or 6 ball mechanism
  • Glider slides up and down the length of cable when depressing plunger
  • Locks solid when the plunger is released
https://www.stageriggingwarehouse.c...tStraightCategory=Rigging Hardware&SBCatPage=
 
Cable Gliders. They attach to aircraft cable and allow for adjustment. Use them all the time.

A unique, self-locking, completely adjustable suspension device.

  • Instant and precise height adjustment along the length of aircraft cable
  • Gliders attach to steel cables using a unique 3 or 6 ball mechanism
  • Glider slides up and down the length of cable when depressing plunger
  • Locks solid when the plunger is released
https://www.stageriggingwarehouse.com/advancedwebpage.aspx?cg=1505&cd=3&LastStraightCategory=Rigging Hardware&SBCatPage=
The various versions of these are pretty neat, however it's really hard to find any that a) have any rating and b) are rated for overhead lifting. I've seen these fail in in impressive ways before if they are used improperly as well. Also, they will not work very well in this circumstance because the screen needs to hang above the truss, which even with completely adjustable picks is pretty hard to do with cable alone.
 
I've shied away from rigging with nylon webbing because it won't stand up to fire or high heat. Too bad, because it's very convenient. But we've go to aircraft cable or chain.
Just curious if you know of any incidents if these being an issue in an actual fire in an occupied building.
 
I don't. Just something I've heard from riggers time to time. In fact PSAV in-house crews (hotel ballrooms) have made me change nylon to steel rigging for this reason. (Not consistently.) So, it's one of those abundance of caution things.
 
Just curious if you know of any incidents with these being an issue in an actual fire in an occupied building.
@BillConnerFASTC Are you asking about fires involving equipment suspended by nylon slings in an occupied facility?? If so, "Lettice and Lovage" featuring Dame Maggie Smith and Maggie Tyzack in Broadway's Music Box theatre in 1990 leaps to mind.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard
 

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