Pennsylvania Code › Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY › Part I - Department of Labor and Industry › Chapter 50 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS-BUILDINGS › MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › Section 50.93 - Special stage regulations

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
Stages used for theatrical, musical and like performances
					 which are equipped with a rigging loft or fly gallery shall comply with the
					 following:
(1)
Stage enclosure
				  walls.
Every stage shall be enclosed on all sides with solid walls of
				  not less than 2-hour fire resistance rating extending continuously from
				  foundation to at least 4 feet above the roof.
(2)
Stage floor construction.
The entire stage, except the portion used for the working of scenery,
				  traps and other mechanical apparatus for the presentation of a scene, and the
				  roof over the stage may not be less than 3-hour fire resistance rated
				  construction. Openings through the stage floor shall be equipped with tight
				  fitting, solid wood trap doors not less than 3 inches in thickness or other
				  materials of equal physical and fire resistance rated properties.
(3)
Stage rigging loft.
The
				  rigging loft, fly galleries and pin rails shall be constructed of
				  noncombustible materials.
(4)
Footlights and stage electrical equipment.
Footlights and
				  border lights shall be installed in troughs constructed of noncombustible
				  materials. The switchboard shall be so located as to be readily accessible at
				  all times, and the storage or placing of stage equipment against it is
				  prohibited.
(5)
Exterior
				  stage doors.
Required exit discharge door openings to the outer air
				  shall be protected with approved self-closing fire doors.
(6)
Proscenium wall.
There
				  may be no openings in the wall separating the stage from the auditorium except
				  the main proscenium opening; two doorways at the stage level, one on each side
				  thereof; and, where necessary, not more than two doorways to the musician's pit
				  from the space below the stage floor. Each doorway may not exceed 21 square
				  feet in area and shall be protected with 1 1/2-hour B label fire door
				  assemblies. The distance between the top of the proscenium opening and the
				  ceiling of the stage shall be not less than 5 feet.
(7)
Proscenium curtain.
The
				  proscenium opening shall be provided with an approved curtain of noncombustible
				  or fire-retardant material so designed and installed that it will protect
				  against passage of flame and smoke for 5 minutes. The curtain shall be operated
				  by an automatic heat activated device to descend instantly and safely and to
				  completely close the proscenium opening at a rate of temperature rise of 15 to
				  20 F per minute (0.14 C to 0.19 C per second); and by an auxiliary operating
				  device to permit immediate manual closing of the proscenium opening.
(8)
Scenery.
Combustible
				  materials used in sets and scenery shall be rendered flame resistant.
(9)
Stage ventilation.
Metal
				  or other approved noncombustible ventilators, equipped with movable shutters or
				  sash shall be provided over the stage, constructed to open automatically and
				  instantly by approved heat activated devices, with an aggregate clear opening
				  of not less than 1/8 the area of the stage.
(10)
Dressing and appurtenant
				  rooms.
(i)
Construction.
Dressing rooms, scene docks, property rooms, work shops and store
				  rooms and compartments appurtenant to the stage shall be fireresistive
				  construction and shall be separated from the stage and other parts of the
				  building by walls of not less than 2-hour fireresistance rating. The rooms
				  shall not be placed immediately over or under the operating stage
				  area.
(ii)
Opening
				  protectives.
Openings other than to trunk rooms and the necessary
				  doorways at stage level shall not connect the rooms with the stage, and the
				  openings shall be protected with 1-hour self-closing B label fire
				  doors.
(iii)
Dressing room
				  and stage exits.
Each tier of dressing rooms shall be provided with at
				  least two means of egress, one of which shall lead directly to an exit
				  corridor, outer court or street. Exit stairways from dressing and storage rooms
				  may be unenclosed in the stage area behind the proscenium wall. At least one
				  approved exit shall be provided from each side of the stage and from each side
				  of the space under the stage, and from each fly gallery and from the gridiron
				  to a street, outer court or passageway to a street. A steel ladder shall be
				  provided from the gridiron to a scuttle in the stage roof.