I’m confused. A pipe dating from the 1950's might be of a slightly different composition than the standard sch. 40 water pipe of today or better yet
batten pipe, but metal to metal it’s not all that different and certainly nothing that needs replacement every ten years. Heck, I was working in a 1926 theater that was still using it’s original pipe. Pipe is pipe. Given if overloaded and stressed in showing something beyond bending as something to condemn the fly
system because of it, it needs replacement. But a new pipe when stressed in showing some form of un-safeness is no different than any old pipe simply because of it’s age. As a note, water pipe in general is not rated for use in fly systems - that’s what
batten pipe is for in being lighter and stronger. Different carbon or in the case of water pipe, garbage in the mix with the metal mixture. If it were the pipe, I suspect that it’s more for the couplers between them. Officially a water pipe
coupler is not load rated and not to be used on a
batten pipe. There are other couplers and sleeves on the market.
I’m thinking the fly
system was condemned not because of the pipe that was dropped, instead it was the fly
system itself. At lest the inspector had the guts to condemn the place, and it will be fixed in any case. I could only wish more theaters could have similar inspections when they need them, and the inspector had the guts to
close down the place. Not many have the training to say more than boo about rigging systems, much less would give more than paper warnings. Been to another similar aged theater where they had not worked at all on their fly
system probably in the last 20 years. We are talking about more than just rust and bronze
sash cord in this hemp
house. Instead of doing something about it, they left their fly
system up to the renters in the option of using it, but no liability for it’s use. Most renters work around the fly
system in using their own either free standing or
hoist system. Those that don’t obviously don’t know about rigging when using it. For that the inspector plays a key
role beyond the six inches of water in the 1926 also
dimmer room. I was seriously not impressed with this classic theater where you could not even get to some of the dressing rooms due to the flooding in them, yet they were still doing shows. Much less as ME for the rental production I worked at it. I made the production rent a generator because I would not be the one doing the tie into
house power while standing on a
pallet to keep dry. It’s been a long time but I believe it was Dave Matthews band in being a band that sucked but at the time a second string touring band. Such a shame this classic old theater suffering the life of a mash pit type rock touring
house. Much less in lack of care for it, in this place that has antiques and classic design, it had received so little care even in a minimum way. Where the
orchestra pit might have been, your feet stuck to the floor with all the movie theater like soda on it, and the place stunk like a beer
hall. This theater’s ghosts must have been really ashamed and it’s a wonder the place had never been closed down. Must have been some large payoffs to the local inspector in just keeping the doors open for such that they are trained to inspect. Such a shame.
On the rental, you will probably be able to hire someone to rig chain hoists to the
grid in keeping the contract without too much a loss in profit to you or especially the company doing the rental.