Inspectors from Chicago Flyhouse complete a thorough checklist of every rigging and fall safety component in your venue, examining each one for suitability and wear. Then we deliver a fully illustrated report that explains the condition of your equipment with appendixes noting clear steps to achieve safety, estimated labor time, and repair costs.
If you are not completely certain that every rope, chain, batten, point, and shackle in your venue is 100% safe, fill out Flyhouse's Rigging Inspection Form and we will get the process started.
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Safer Venue™ Maintenance Inspection Program
Without reliable assistance, venues have no way of knowing whether or not their rigging system is safe and secure. Our experts complete a thorough analysis of every rigging component in your venue. That’s why the Safer Venue™ program begins with an initial rigging inspection and analysis performed by our trained and qualified staff followed by training and maintenance. It is crucial to stay up-to-date on the state of your current rigging system in order to avoid safety issues caused by wear and tear, misuse, or equipment malfunctions. Our Safer Venue program mantra is, "Inspect, Train, Maintain."
By examining rigging element issues improper design, faulty equipment, potentially dangerous situations are discovered before they can become serious or catastrophic. A thorough analysis of the rigging systems along with our experts’ recommendations is a great way to improve safety and reduce liability. The Safer Venue™ program is thorough, conscientious, and able to review all types of equipment. Every component that is suspended in your venue involves some type of rigging. That’s why our experts are skilled at assessing the full spectrum of rigging equipment including:
- Manual Counterweight Rigging
- Hemp Systems
- Automated Rigging
- Line Shaft Hoists
- Drum Hoists
- Roll Drops
- Fire Curtains
- Pipe Grids
- Stage Lifts
- Turntables
- Tension Grids
- Curtain Tracks
- Stage Curtains
- Orchestra Shells
- Pit Fillers
- Fall Hazards/Protection
- Chain Hoists
- & More
INSPECT
Once the physical inspection is completed, our independent experts compile a detailed, fully illustrated report to explain your rigging’s existing condition along with recommendations on how to achieve improved levels of safety. The report includes user-friendly language and descriptions allowing even those with little knowledge of theatrical rigging a clear and concise understanding of any existing and potential problems. The report comes complete with an appendix outlining the clear steps to achieve a safer venue.
TRAIN
Training consists of ensuring that your team is continuously receiving the proper coaching on how to use every piece of equipment and rigging properly and safely. Our qualified and experienced crew will be on-site to demonstrate the correct usage, best practices, and protocols to keep everyone protected and your equipment running smoothly.
MAINTAIN
By conducting annual maintenance calls, Safer Venue's™ specialized technicians are able to address equipment concerns. The inspection classifies the level of repair – from basic to urgent – allowing facility managers to budget appropriately and eliminate the financial burden of overhauling an entire rigging system within one year.
Planned, systematic maintenance benefits your venue by:
- Protecting your equipment from prematurely wearing
- Avoiding unforeseen repair costs
- Preventing unanticipated show delays
- Increasing venue integrity
- Documenting scheduled upkeep required for compliance with many equipment manufacturer warranties
By enrolling in the comprehensive Safer Venue™ program, users receive a special discount on any work to be performed by Flyhouse after the inspection.
WARRANTY
The Safer Venue™ system is designed as a turn-key service covering all of your venue’s needs from facility inspection and hands-on training, to providing a means that will keep your facility maintained for years to come. That’s why the comprehensive Safer Venue™ system provides a (1) year warranty.
Featured Safer Venue™ Clients:
ASK ABOUT OUR MOBILE INSPECTION APP SYSTEM
As an add-on feature to SAFER VENUE, we offer a daily and weekly inspection app customized to your needs. Using criteria determined during the inspection, our team will create a custom Safer Venue Inspection form for each area, department, or piece of equipment you want to track. These can include machinery, fall protection, safety systems, or anything you may need.
At a minimum, App-compatible forms will include:
- Inspector/Personnel Name
- Time and Date Input or automatic Time and Date Stamping
- Item condition and Repair level status (Good/Bad, Urgent/Necessary/Basic, etc.)
- Detailed (sub-form) issue description field
- Numeric Identifier (for cataloging and tracking equipment or repairs)
- Image Input: A photo of the equipment can be taken live, or selected from a file
- Audio Input: Send a voice message describing the issue, or record sounds from faulty equipment
- Signature capture to identify and verify Personnel
- Automated syncing of updated forms to the cloud server
Forms may be revised to your specifications by our team at any time, and will automatically upgrade to all App users’ devices.
The Safer Venue App provides continual review and assessment of your facility.
FAQs
Rigging inspections ensure that overhead rigging equipment is in good, working condition and is performing as intended. An inspection decreases the risk of accidents and helps extend the life of the equipment by identifying correctable issues before they become major repairs or potential accidents.
Per the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) E1.4 and newly defined ANSI E1.47 industry standards, as well as all major manufacturer’s user guides, entertainment rigging equipment must be inspected annually at a minimum.
Typical inspections consist of a visual, aural, and tactile testing of each rigging system component. Depending on the type of inspection being performed, rigging sub-systems may be exercised briefly, or a more thorough evaluation may be undertaken as required by the type of inspection. Line sets will be moved through their full travel while the inspector looks, listens, and feels for problems. Curtains will be inspected for dry rot and flame retardancy. Fire curtains will be tested and timed to ensure that they are code-compliant. Even non-moving equipment like catwalks and box boom lighting positions may be inspected for tight hardware and cracked welds. We follow an inspection checklist to make sure the most efficient inspection has been completed.
To have Flyhouse come out to complete an inspection of your equipment, the process is simple. Fill out our online inspection form, answer some basic questions about your system, and we will follow up with you to provide a quote for the inspection. If you accept our proposed quote, we will then schedule an inspection at your facility.
All Flyhouse technicians are Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) certified and have years of experience inspecting a wide-range of rigging systems.
Flyhouse follows the guidance provided by ANSI E1.4 and E1.47, as well as manufacturer guidelines for inspection of rigging components and sub-systems. Flyhouse technicians follow an inspection checklist containing criteria developed as part of our inspection process. For most inspections, Flyhouse provides two qualified inspectors for the same price as many of our competitors that only provide one.
There is a cost involved when a rigging inspection is completed and will vary based on the size of the facility. Costs may include potential lift rental, travel costs, and additional time for larger facilities. Inspections do not cover the cost of potential repairs. To receive a quote on the cost of an inspection, fill out a Flyhouse Rigging Inspection Form.
When an inspection has been completed, Flyhouse will provide a written report on the findings. The detailed report will include photographic examples of any issues encountered during the inspection. The report will inform a repair technician on what the issues are and what should be done to correct them.
