Fire Protection and Fire Suppression Skills for Theater Technicians
Theater has a documented and tragic fire history. The Iroquois Theatre fire of 1903 killed 602 people. The Triangle Shirtwaist fire of 1911 killed 146. The Station nightclub fire of 2003 killed 100. Each of these disasters occurred because recognized fire hazards existed in occupied assembly spaces without adequate protection or response. Theater technicians who understand fire protection systems and procedures are the first line of defense between a manageable incident and a catastrophe.
Understanding Fire Hazards in the Theater
The theater building contains a high density of fire hazards concentrated in a space designed to hold many people. The fire triangle: ignition, fuel, and oxygen, is present in abundance:
- Ignition sources: lighting equipment (incandescent fixtures at 500 degrees or more), electrical connections, pyrotechnics, stage fog and haze combustion products, and equipment malfunction.
- Fuel: soft goods (draperies, cycloramas, legs, borders), scenic lumber and plywood, painted canvas, carpeting, audience seating, costumes, and stored scenery.
- Oxygen: assembly occupancies maintain high rates of ventilation to control CO2 from audience respiration, providing abundant oxygen for fire growth.
The Fire Curtain (Safety Curtain)
The fire curtain (also called the safety curtain, iron, or asbestos curtain, though modern curtains use fiberglass or other non-asbestos materials) is a fire-rated barrier that drops to separate the stage from the house in the event of a stage fire. NFPA 80 governs fire door assemblies including stage fire curtains.
NFPA 101 and most state fire codes require that fire curtains be tested weekly to verify they will operate under fire conditions. The test requires lowering the curtain completely and raising it, verifying smooth travel and complete closure at the bottom. Technicians must know how to operate the fire curtain manually, because automatic release systems may be disabled by the weight of props or scenery inadvertently placed in the curtain’s path.
The smoke pocket: the slot in the proscenium wall into which the fire curtain retracts, must be kept clear of all objects. A blocked smoke pocket prevents the curtain from deploying and invalidates the fire separation function of the proscenium wall.
Automatic Sprinkler Systems
NFPA 13 (Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems) governs the design and installation of automatic sprinkler systems. For theaters:
- The stage area must be protected with a deluge or pre-action sprinkler system, not a standard wet system, because the large open volume of the stage requires rapid application of high water volumes. NFPA 13 Section 21.3 covers stages.
- Sprinkler heads must not be painted or otherwise obstructed.
- Items must not be hung from sprinkler piping. A sprinkler pipe is a fire protection device, not a rigging point.
- A damaged or leaking sprinkler head must be reported immediately and the area below it protected. Damaged sprinkler heads must be replaced by a qualified sprinkler contractor.
- Monthly visual inspection of all sprinkler components is required under NFPA 25 (Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems).
Manual Fire Alarm Pull Stations
Every technician must know the location of every manual fire alarm pull station in the venue. In an emergency, activating the nearest pull station is often the fastest way to alert building occupants and summon the fire department. If the fire alarm activates (manually or automatically), the response is evacuation and 911, not investigation of the source. The fire department investigates. The technician evacuates.
Portable Fire Extinguishers
NFPA 10 (Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers) governs the selection, placement, inspection, and maintenance of portable extinguishers. Key requirements:
- Type: most theater areas require ABC dry chemical extinguishers. CO2 extinguishers are appropriate for electrical equipment areas where residue from dry chemical would be damaging.
- Travel distance: extinguishers must be placed so that the maximum travel distance to any extinguisher does not exceed 75 feet for Class A hazards.
- Monthly inspection: visual check that the extinguisher is in the designated location, the seal is intact, the pressure gauge is in the operating range, and there is no physical damage.
- Annual inspection: by a qualified person, including internal examination on the schedule required by the manufacturer and NFPA 10.
- Use: PASS technique (Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep from side to side). Never use an extinguisher on a fire that is larger than a small wastebasket fire. If the fire is spreading, evacuate immediately and call 911.
Flame-Retardant Treatment
NFPA 701 (Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films) provides test methods for flame resistance of textiles used in the theater. NFPA 705 provides a field flame test method that technicians can use to spot-check the flame resistance of treated fabrics. Draperies, soft goods, and scenic fabrics must be treated with an approved flame-retardant treatment and re-treated on a schedule determined by the product manufacturer, typically annually or after washing.
When purchasing theatrical fabric, verify that the manufacturer certifies the material as flame-retardant or that the fabric can be field-treated. Untreated fabric that should be treated is a fire code violation and a life safety hazard.
Emergency Lighting Testing
NFPA 101 and NFPA 70 Article 700 require:
- Monthly test: 30-second test of emergency lighting battery backup units. Verify that all fixtures illuminate. Document the test and results.
- Annual test: 90-minute full-duration test of emergency lighting. Verify that illumination is maintained for the full 90-minute period. Document results. Repair or replace failed units immediately.
- Exit sign testing: monthly visual inspection for illuminated exit signs. Annual 90-minute battery test for exit signs with battery backup.
Key Takeaways
- The fire curtain must be tested weekly and must be operable manually. The smoke pocket must remain clear at all times.
- NFPA 13 requires deluge systems for theater stages. Nothing may be hung from sprinkler piping.
- Every technician must know the location of every pull station, extinguisher, and emergency lighting unit in the venue.
- NFPA 10 requires monthly visual inspection and annual professional inspection of all portable extinguishers.
- Theatrical soft goods must be flame-retardant treated and re-treated on schedule. NFPA 705 provides the field test method.
- Emergency lighting requires monthly 30-second tests and annual 90-minute tests with documentation.
References
National Fire Protection Association. (2021). NFPA 1: Fire code. NFPA.
National Fire Protection Association. (2022). NFPA 10: Standard for portable fire extinguishers. NFPA.
National Fire Protection Association. (2022). NFPA 13: Standard for the installation of sprinkler systems. NFPA.
National Fire Protection Association. (2023). NFPA 70: National electrical code. NFPA. (Article 700)
National Fire Protection Association. (2022). NFPA 80: Standard for fire doors and other opening protectives. NFPA.
National Fire Protection Association. (2024). NFPA 101: Life safety code. NFPA.
National Fire Protection Association. (2019). NFPA 701: Standard methods of fire tests for flame propagation of textiles and films. NFPA.
National Fire Protection Association. (n.d.). NFPA 705: Recommended practice for a field flame test for textiles and films. NFPA.
National Fire Protection Association. (2023). NFPA 25: Standard for the inspection, testing, and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems. NFPA.