BSR E1.20 - 200x, Entertainment Technology -- Remote Device Management over USITT DMX512
The existing E1.20 – 2006 standard is being revised to correct errors in the published document. The goal of the BSR E1.20 - 200x project is to correct errors, not to add new functionality or to change existing functionality. The review documents consist of an errata list and the changes proposed for the existing standard to correct the errors. ANSI E1.20 is an extension to USITT DMX512 and ANSI E1.11 that allows for bi-directional communication on the primary data link for lighting control.
Review Begins: September 24, 2008 , Review Ends: November 25, 2008
BSR E1.27-2, Entertainment Technology - Recommended Practice for Permanently Installed Control Cables for Use with ANSI E1.11 (DMX512-A) and USITT DMX512/1990 Products
This document is a recommended practice for permanent data cabling installations for interconnecting lighting equipment that comply with ANSI E1.11 (DMX512-A) or with USITT DMX512/1990. The recommendations include definitions of acceptable cable and connector types and the ways in which they may be used.
Review Begins: September 24, 2008 , Review Ends: November 25, 2008
All documents, instructions and comments forms are available from the Public Review Documents page:
www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
Proposals for DMX over Ethernet, Luminaire Inspection and Floor Sliperiness standards, now in public review
BSR E1.31 – 200x, Lightweight streaming protocol for transport of DMX512 using ACN
E1.31 is a simple protocol that offers functionality comparable to existing DMX over Ethernet protocols while being compatible with ANSI E1.17-2006. Device Management Protocol over Session Data Transport provides a mechanism for streaming DMX-type data intermixed with random access data and high speed feedback in a flexible and scalable way. A different title was used during the last public review, but the scope of the project and stakeholders have not changed..
Review Begins: July 25, 2008, Review Ends: September 23, 2008
BSR E1.32 - 200x, Recommended Practice for the Inspection of Entertainment Industry Luminaires
This document provides guidance in the inspection of stage and studio luminaires used in the entertainment industry to evaluate their safety and any needed maintenance. The information contained in this document is intended to supplement the information contained in manufacturers’ maintenance instructions. .
Review Begins: July 24, 2008, Review Ends: September 23, 2008
BSR E1.34 - 200x, Measuring and Specifying the Slipperiness of Floors Used in Live Performance Venues
The draft standard describes a means of measuring and specifying the slipperiness of floor surfaces used by performers in live entertainment venues. The standard is not intended to be applied to normal walking and working surfaces, but only to those floor surfaces used by actors, dancers, and other similar artists, when performing before an audience. .
Review Begins: July 25, 2008, Review Ends: September 23, 2008
All documents, instructions and comments forms are available from the Public Review Documents page:
www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
ACN Interoperability profiles now in public review
Proposals for 10 of the components of the one-day-to-be control protocol ACN are now available for public comment.
Chances are that these will only be of real interest to those directly involved in designing and developing show control systems.
BSR E1.30-1-200x, EPI 23, Device Identification Subdevice
This document is part of BSR E1.30-200x, Application level equipment interoperability for control of commonly encountered entertainment technology devices using ANSI E1.17. It specifies a templated device for device identification as typically used for remote hardware and software devices.
Review Begins: June 27, 2008, Review Ends: August 26, 2008
BSR E1.30-2-200x, EPI 24, Internet Protocol Properties Subdevice
This document is part of BSR E1.30-200x, Application level equipment interoperability for control of commonly encountered entertainment technology devices using ANSI E1.17. It specifies two template devices, each describing a block of properties used for supplying information on and configuring the Internet Protocol (IP) configuration of a device, using DMP. These devices may typically be used for remote hardware or software devices to allow configuration over the network.
Review Begins: June 27, 2008, Review Ends: August 26, 2008
BSR E1.30-3-200x, EPI 25, Time Reference in ACN Systems Using SNTP and NTP
This document is part of BSR E1.30-200x, Application level equipment interoperability for control of commonly encountered entertainment technology devices using ANSI E1.17. It specifies restrictions and guidelines for establishment of a common time reference across components within an ACN system using SNTP (Simple Network Time Protocol) and optionally NTP (Network Time Protocol). This EPI does not define a control synchronization model.
Review Begins: June 27, 2008, Review Ends: August 26, 2008
BSR E1.30-4-200x, EPI 26, Device Description Language (DDL) Extensions for DMX512 and E1.31 Devices
This document is part of BSR E1.30-200x, Application level equipment interoperability for control of commonly encountered entertainment technology devices using ANSI E1.17. It defines protocol specific extensions to Device Description Language for describing DMX512-type devices.
Review Begins: June 27, 2008, Review Ends: August 26, 2008
BSR E1.30-5-200x, EPI 27, Operation of SDT on Wireless Networks
This document is part of BSR E1.30-200x, Application level equipment interoperability for control of commonly encountered entertainment technology devices using ANSI E1.17. It outlines issues with SDT usage over wireless networks, specifically 802.11g. It proposes changes to EPI 18 constants and speculates on 802.11n.
Review Begins: June 27, 2008, Review Ends: August 26, 2008
BSR E1.30-6-200x, EPI 28, Independent Device Location Properties
This document is part of BSR E1.30-200x, Application level equipment interoperability for control of commonly encountered entertainment technology devices using ANSI E1.17. It specifies a non-templated device for Independent Device Location properties as typically used for remote hardware and software devices.
Review Begins: June 27, 2008, Review Ends: August 26, 2008
BSR E1.30-7-200x, EPI 29, Allocation of Internet Protocol Version 4 Addresses to ACN Hosts
This document is part of BSR E1.30-200x, Application level equipment interoperability for control of commonly encountered entertainment technology devices using ANSI E1.17. It obsoletes ACN EPI 13 (Allocation of Internet Protocol Version 4 Addresses to ACN Hosts). The principle reason for this revision is to allow assignment of static IP addresses and provide guidance for how to manage systems using these methods.
Review Begins: June 27, 2008, Review Ends: August 26, 2008
BSR E1.30-8-200x, EPI 30, Time Code Properties
This document is part of BSR E1.30-200x, Application level equipment interoperability for control of commonly encountered entertainment technology devices using ANSI E1.17. It specifies a non-templated device for Time Code properties as typically used for remote hardware and software devices.
Review Begins: June 27, 2008, Review Ends: August 26, 2008
BSR E1.30-9-200x, EPI 31, MIDI System Exclusive Properties
This document is part of BSR E1.30-200x, Application level equipment interoperability for control of commonly encountered entertainment technology devices using ANSI E1.17. It specifies a non-templated device for MIDI System Exclusive properties as typically used for remote hardware and software devices.
Review Begins: June 27, 2008, Review Ends: August 26, 2008
BSR E1.30-10-200x, EPI 32, Identification of Draft Device Description Language Modules
This document is part of BSR E1.30-200x, Application level equipment interoperability for control of commonly encountered entertainment technology devices using ANSI E1.17. It specifies how draft DDL modules that may be changed frequently during development shall be marked as experimental.
Review Begins: June 27, 2008, Review Ends: August 26, 2008
All documents, instructions and comments forms are available from the Public Review Documents page:
www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
Draft revision to DMX512-A standard available for comment
BSR E1.11 - 200x, Entertainment Technology--USITT DMX512-A, Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories.
This revision of ANSI E1.11 - 2004, describes a protocol for transmitting digital data used to control entertainment lighting equipment and accessories. Entertainment lighting equipment and accessories includes, but is not limited to, dimmers, robotic luminaires, colour changers, robotic mirrors, dousers, colour wheels, motion effects wheels, and pattern rotators. The revision is being done to correct errors and to clarify text, and to add an Alternate START Code for UTF-8 transmission so that languages other English can be used for sending diagnostic text messages.
Comments close on 8 July, 2008.
(Unofficial note for anyone who wants to read a copy of the DMX512-A standard. The ongoing drafts of this standard, freely available for download and comment, will be almost identical to the one that you will later be able to buy from ESTA or USITT.)
http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
ESTA draft standards available for Rigging, Floors and Power
Four draft standards have recently become available for download and public comment from the ESTA Public Review Documents web page. Comments close on 27 May, 2008.
BSR E1.6-2-200x, Entertainment Technology - Purpose Designed Serially Manufactured Electric Chain Hoists for the Entertainment Industry.
This is part of the BSR E1.6 powered theatrical rigging systems project. This document, BSR E1.6-2, covers the design, inspection, and maintenance of serially manufactured electric chain hoists having capacities of two tons or less and used in the entertainment industry as part of a performance or preparation for a performance.
BSR E1.18-1 - 200x, Standard for the selection, installation, and use of single-conductor portable power feeder cable systems for use at less than 601 volts nominal for the distribution of electrical energy in the entertainment and live-event industries.
The BSR E1.18 project is to offer guidance on the selection, installation, and safe use of single-conductor portable power feeder cable systems used in the North American entertainment and live-event industries. This part, E1.18-1, contains the majority of the recommendations, suitable for most common portable power distribution installations. (Of limited interest in the Australian/NZ context).
BSR E1.19 - 200x, Recommended Practice for the use of Class A Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) intended for personnel protection in the Entertainment Industry.
The document recommends practices for the safe use of 100 amp or lower, 120-240 VAC, single or three-phase 60 Hz Class A Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) for personnel protection in entertainment applications encompassing places of assembly, the production of film, video and broadcast, theatrical productions, carnivals, circuses, fairs and similar events in North America. (The North American view of earth leakage protection. GFCI = RCD).
BSR E1.34 - 200x, Entertainment Technology - Measuring and Specifying the Slipperiness of Floors Used in Live Performance Venues
The draft standard describes a means of measuring and specifying the slipperiness of floor surfaces used by performers in live entertainment venues. The standard is not intended to be applied to normal walking and working surfaces, but only to those floor surfaces used by actors, dancers, and other similar artists, when performing before an audience. (How to measure if it's slippery enough to mop the Tarkett with coke).
www.esta.org
Two Fog and Smoke Documents Available From ESTA
Two Fog and Smoke documents are available for public review for free on the ESTA website. The public reviews run through March 17.
The first is a reaffirmation of the existing ANSI E1.5 - 2003, Entertainment Technology - Theatrical Fog Made With Aqueous Solutions Of Di- And Trihydric Alcohols. The standard describes the composition of theatrical fogs or artificial mists that are not likely to be harmful to healthy performers, technicians, or audience members of normal working age, which is 18 to 64 years of age, inclusive. It is limited to those fogs and mists made from a solution of water and one or more dihydric or trihydric alcohols, and is intended to be applicable in theatres, arenas, and other places of entertainment or public assembly.
The second is a new draft standard, BSR E1.29 - 20XX, Product Safety Standard for Theatrical Fog Generators That Create Aerosols of Water, Aqueous Solutions of Glycol or Glycerin, or Highly Refined Alkane Mineral Oil. The draft standard is intended to help guide product safety testing laboratories in evaluating fog-making equipment for design or construction defects that might create unacceptable hazards. It is based on ANSI/UL 998 - 2006, Humidifiers, and offers some additions and modifications to the requirements in that UL standard. Products covered are theatrical fog generators rated 600 V or less, and intended for use in professional theatrical entertainment, film and video production, theme parks, and fire safety training.
In addition to being asked to review the documents to see if they offer adequate advice, reviewers are asked to notify ESTA of any protected intellectual property in the draft standards. ESTA does not warrant that its standards contain no protected intellectual property, but it also does not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property is necessary for technical reasons and can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee.
www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
Phasing Out of Incandescent Lamps - Technical Report Released for Comment
The Depart of Climate Change's Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) Committee has released the technical report - "Phase-Out of Inefficient Incandescent Lamps and Standards for Compact Fluorescent Lamps" for comment by 1st February. This is the report on which the forthcoming elimination of General Lighting Service incandescent lamps will be based.
There is a recognition in the report that there are many incandescent lamps that are not GLS and that these are not directly targeted for elimination. However we already know from the horrendous problems caused by the implementation of the removal of piggy-back plugs from retail sale, that unintended consequences are no less severe than intended ones.
It would seem that the key number in the report is the minimum required energy efficiency requirement of 20 lumens per Watt. From a greenhouse emissions perspective this number is surprisingly low, but it will mean that many of our current tungsten halogen incandescent lamps will probably make through the process unscathed, even without direct exemptions.
You can download a copy of the report from http://www.energyrating.gov.au/library/pubs/200718-phaseout-incandescent-lamps.pdf
and pass your views on to ALIA for inclusion in our submission.
Please send your comments to E3@alia.com.au.
ESTA Draft Guidance Document for Followspot Positions Available for Review
BSR E1.28, Guidance on planning followspot positions in places of public assembly, is available for public review on the ESTA website through January 14, 2008. The document offers advice on planning practical permanent followspot positions in theatres and arenas. Sometimes positions for followspots are less useful than they might be or are useless because they are placed so that obstructions keep the light from reaching performers, the passage to the followspot position is so tight that large equipment can't be moved into position, or there is too little power to operate a followspot suitable for the throw. The draft E1.28 document is intended to help people avoid these problems. The document and its supporting public review materials are available at the address below.
In addition to being asked to review the document to see if it offers adequate advice, reviewers are asked to look for protected intellectual property in the draft. ESTA does not warrant that its standards contain no protected intellectual property, but it also does not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property is necessary for technical reasons and can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. Any protected intellectual property in the document should be pointed out in the comments.
www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
ESTA Two New Lighting Standards Approved, Available For Purchase
On October 10, 2007 the ANSI Board of Standards Review approved as American National Standards two new documents from ESTA's Technical Standards Program: E1.35, Standard for Lens Quality Measurements for Pattern Projecting Luminaires Intended for Entertainment Use, and E1.36, Model Procedure for Permitting the Use of Tungsten-Halogen Incandescent Lamps and Stage and Studio Luminaires in Vendor Exhibit Booths in Convention and Trade Show Exhibition Halls.
They are now available for purchase on The ESTA Foundation website.
ANSI E1.35 - 2007, Standard for Lens Quality Measurements for Pattern Projecting Luminaires Intended for Entertainment Use describes a method for measuring stage and studio luminaire lens quality with particular emphasis on contrast and perceived image quality (sharpness). It also offers a way for presenting these results on a datasheet in a format that is readily understood by a typical end-user and that allows the end-user to directly compare lenses in a meaningful way.
Without this standard, there is no way to describe how clearly a stage lighting instrument projects an image, other than by showing a person with the actual instrument and gobo. Standards exist for projection lenses, but these are not applicable to the lower quality lenses used on stage and studio luminaires. This standard addresses this lack.
The download version of E1.35 is a ZIP file that includes the standard as a PDF and an EPS graphic file of the test pattern described in the standard. The test pattern is presented in three common gobo sizes, but the graphic is scalable. The print version is the standard only.
ANSI E1.36 - 2007, Model Procedure for Permitting the Use of Tungsten-Halogen Incandescent Lamps and Stage and Studio Luminaires in Vendor Exhibit Booths in Convention and Trade Show Exhibition Halls is a model set of procedures that can be used by convention center and trade show exhibition hall staff to mitigate the risks believed by some parties to be associated with the use of tungsten-halogen lamps and stage and studio luminaires in convention centers and trade show exhibition halls and to allow their use.
This standard helps promote the use of the lamps and luminaires in a safe manner.
Both standards were developed by the Photometrics Working Group, part of ESTA's Technical Standards Program
ESTA Draft DMX512 Cabling Standard Available for Review
BSR E1.27-2, Entertainment Technology - Standard for Permanently Installed Control Cables for Use with ANSI E1.11 (DMX512-A) and USITT DMX512/1990 Products, is available for public review through November 19, 2007. The draft standard describes the types of cable to be used in permanent installations to interconnect lighting equipment that comply with ANSI E1.11-2004 (DMX512-A) or with USITT DMX512/1990. The description includes definitions of acceptable cable and connector types and the ways in which they may be used. The draft standard and its supporting public review materials are available at the address below.In addition to being asked to review the document to see if it offers adequate advice, reviewers are asked to look for protected intellectual property in the draft standard. ESTA does not warrant that its standards contain no protected intellectual property, but it also does not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property is necessary for technical reasons and can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. Any protected intellectual property in the document should be pointed out in the comments.
www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
Clarification on NZ's "Suppliers Declaration of Compliance"
Information obtained by ALIA from reliable sources in New Zealand's Energy Safety Service confirms that there is no mandatory requirement for additional testing of lighting products before they may be sold in NZ.
Whilst a "Suppliers Declaration of Compliance" is required for many products that are to be sold in NZ, the declaration only requires the supplier to warrant that the product is safe and show documentary evidence for the claim. Existing standards compliance documents and test reports are acceptable if they demonstrate that the equipment meets NZ safety standards, many of which are identical to those in Australia, South East Asia and Europe.
This puts to rest the mistaken notion that an additional test report from an accredited test laboratory in NZ is required. It is suspected that the rumour may have arisen as a result of some "over enthusiastic" comments originating from the NZ testing industry.
Source: ALIA news team
DMX512-A (ANSI E1.11-2004) Revision Project Started
The ESTA Controls Protocols Working Group has started work to revise ANSI E1.11-2004, Entertainment Technology--USITT DMX512-A, Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories. The work at this time is focused on correcting errors in the published standard and rewriting difficult sections of text that have been shown to be confusing to readers who do not have American English as their native language. Most of the errors are clearly typographical or cut and paste errors, but correcting them may be considered making substantive changes to the document.
This project is being announced so that parties who might be affected can comment or become involved if they wish. Therefore, any parties who would be materially affected by the revision of this standard are invited to join the Control Protocols Working Group to work on the revision this standard. The Control Protocols Working Group would have a better balance of interests if it gained members in the dealer/rental company and user interest categories. Information about joining working groups and a link to the working group membership application form are available at www.esta.org/tsp/working_groups/index.html
Of course, all members of the affected public (not only CPWG members) may become involved by commenting on the revision when it is offered for public review.
Anybody who wishes to comment or to object to the revision of this standard, because it is unnecessary or because it conflicts with another American National Standard, are invited to send their comments or objections in writing to the Technical Standards Manager at mailto:standards@esta.org
The deadline for comments is 30 days after the publication of the Project Initiation Notification in ANSI's Standards Action, which would be 23 September if the publication is in the 24 August issue, as expected.
ESTA Control Protocols Working Group www.esta.org/tsp/working_groups/CP/projs.html
BSR E1.6-2 - 200x, Entertainment Technology - Purpose Designed Serial Manufactured Electric Chain Hoists for the Entertainment Industry
This draft American National Standard is a part of the BSR E1.6 powered theatrical rigging systems project. This document, BSR E1.6-2, covers the design, inspection, and maintenance of serially manufactured electric chain hoists having capacities of two tons or less and used in the entertainment industry as part of a performance or preparation for a performance.
The review period ends on August 28th
Copies of the draft document are available for download from www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
Source: ESTA
Drafts of two Electrical Safety standards available for public review
These two draft standards now available for pubic review may not have any direct relevance for Australasian, but they serve as an interesting insight into the thinking of the US industry, which is now looking to implement some safety standards in areas where we already have safety practices and standards in place.
Note: A Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is the North American term for what is locally known as a Residual Current Detector (RCD)
BSR E1.32-200x, Recommended Practice for the Inspection of Entertainment Industry Luminaires
This document provides guidance in the inspection of stage and studio luminaires used in the entertainment industry. The information contained in this document is intended to supplement, not replace the information contained in manufacturers’ maintenance instructions.
BSR E1.19 - 200x, Recommended Practice for the use of Class A Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) intended for personnel protection in the Entertainment Industry
The document recommends practices for the safe use of 100 amp or lower 120-240 VAC single or three-phase 60Hz Class A Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) for personnel protection in entertainment applications encompassing places of assembly, the production of film, video and broadcast, theatrical productions, carnivals, circuses, fairs and similar events in North America.
Copies of these draft documents are available for download from www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
Source: ALIA web team and ESTA
ETC offers free code for DMX over ACN standard
ETC has posted free source code for the upcoming DMX over ACN standard (also referred to as streaming ACN) to its website, "to help the industry gain experience with this upcoming protocol and offer meaningful user input to the ESTA standardisation process".
A link to this C++ source code may be found at www.etcconnect.com/product.downloads.asp?ID=20339.
ETC is also offering optional source code that adds features to streaming ACN and provides a flexibility and power similar to ETCNet2 protocol.
ETC has long supported the development of ESTA standards for lighting control, such as the new ACN suite of protocols (Architecture for Controls Networks, E1.17). With ACN now an ANSI standard (as of October 2006), ETC is involved in the addition of a new protocol for the ACN suite. The new protocol, commonly called streaming ACN, details DMX-style control over TCP/IP networks. It provides a fast and efficient mechanism to transport the well-understood DMX protocol over Ethernet in an open, industry-standard way. Streaming ACN is now in public review and is referred to by the ESTA Controls Protocol group officially as BSR E1.31 - 200x, Entertainment Technology - DSP - DMX512-A Streaming Protocol ( www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php).
ETC's network products development manager Dan Antonuk, who is also chairman of the ACN Task Group, describes the new protocol: "Essentially, streaming ACN offers manufacturers interoperability over ACN for the least amount of effort. It uses a model of control identical to that of the popular DMX and is targeted at working in even the most 'lightweight' of devices - those with the lowest processing power - such as, say, moving lights, scrollers, dimmers, fog machines and stage automation.
"ETC views streaming ACN - with its well understood control model and ease of implementation - as a stepping stone to the enhanced capabilities of ACN. It is also the most likely place that widespread manufacturer interoperability will be achieved in the near future - allowing everyone onto the playing field."
"We've written a dissector for the free Ethernet sniffer Wireshark, which allows users to 'sniff' ACN and see it translated on screen," continues Antonuk. "It shows you your data in an easy-to-read format, which we think will allow manufacturers to quickly validate their implementations and thus will move the industry forward sooner."
Users can download the free Wireshark sniffer at www.wireshark.org/download.html.
The ESTA Control Protocols Working Group is also busy working on rules and messages for using streaming ACN to carry RDM over Ethernet networks. This rule set, known as BSR E1.33, should complete the model of remote configuration and status monitoring for very lightweight devices - all the way from the end of the serial DMX wire back through the most advanced networks to lighting consoles.
As BSR E1.31 - 200x progresses through the public review process, ETC plans to publish revisions to the free source code on their web site. Says Antonuk: "ETC is offering this help because we think ACN is good for everybody. Manufacturer interoperability is in the best interests of customers, the best functioning of lighting systems and of manufacturers all round."
Source L&SI Online www.lsionline.co.uk
ESTA: Draft DMX data standard for public review
ESTA's Technical Standards Program has announce that another draft standard, BSR E1.31-200x, Entertainment Technology - DSP - DMX512-A Streaming Protocol, has joined the four other draft standards now on the ESTA website for public review. BSR E1.31 will be available for review through March 19, 2007, and can be accessed at http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php.
BSR E1.31 is a simple protocol that offers functionality comparable to existing DMX512 over Ethernet protocols, but with the advantages of compatibility with ANSI E1.17-2006 and easy implementation on managed networks. Device Management Protocol over Session Data Transport, borrowed from the ANSI E1.17 protocol suite, provides a mechanism for streaming DMX-type data intermixed with random access data and high-speed feedback in a flexible and scalable way.
In addition to being asked to review the document to see if it offers adequate and correct advice, reviewers are asked to look for protected intellectual property in the draft standards. ESTA does not warrant that its standards contain no protected intellectual property, but it also does not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property is necessary for technical reasons and can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. Any protected intellectual property in the document should be pointed out in the public review comments.
For more information, please contact: Karl G. Ruling, Technical Standards Manager, ESTA, 875 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1005, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel: +1 212 244 1505, Fax: 1 212 244 1502.
www.esta.org/tsp
ANSI E1.17 - 2006, Entertainment Technology - Architecture for Control Networks, better known as ACN, is now available for sale on The ESTA Foundation website. ACN is a suite of documents that specifies an architecture, including protocols and language, which may be configured and combined with other standard protocols to form flexible, networked audio, lighting, or other control systems. It can be implemented on networks that support UDP, IP, and related protocols. It is not bound to Ethernet as a transport medium, but Ethernet is an obvious choice.
ACN is being distributed via download as a five megabyte ZIPped archive of 17 PDF and two DDL files. The "hardcopy" is a CDROM; there is no paper version offered. The ReadMe file lists the 18 other files that make up the suite and provides links to the human-readable PDFs, as well as giving acknowledgments and stating legal notices.
ACN is available on The ESTA Foundation website at http://www.estafoundation.org/pubs.htm. ESTA member discounts are available, and sales help support The ESTA Foundation's charitable and educational work.
ESTA, the Entertainment Services and Technology Association, has announced that BSR E1.27-2, Entertainment Technology - Standard for Permanently Installed Control Cables for Use with ANSI E1.11 (DMX512-A) and USITT DMX512/1990 Products, is available for public review until November 20, 2006.
The draft standard describes the types of cable to be used to interconnect products that comply with ANSI E1.11-2004 (DMX512-A) or with USITT DMX512/1990 in permanent installations. The description includes definitions of acceptable cable and connector types and the ways in which they may be used. The draft standard and its supporting public review materials are available at ESTA has also said that the Control Protocols Working Group has started work on a new standard: BSR E1.37-200x-Additional Message Sets for ANSI E1.20, Remote Device Management. The BSR E1.37 project is, as the title says, to define additional message sets to be used with ANSI E1.20. The project has been announced to ANSI as a multi-part standard, with additional parts describing additional messages being developed as the messages are defined, e.g., E1.37-1, E1.37-2, and so on. The first part of the project, E1.37-1, will be for bulk data transfer.
Anyone interested in contributing to the E1.37 project may do so by joining the Control Protocols Working Group or by participating in the forthcoming public review or reviews. Information about joining the working group can be found at http://www.esta.org/tsp/working_groups/index.html. Documents in public review are posted at http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php. Anyone objecting to this project because it is unnecessary or conflicts with an existing standard is invited to send his or her objections to the e-mail address below.
www.esta.org
Source L&SI Online www.lsionline.co.uk The Technical Standards Program of ESTA (Entertainment Services and Technology Association) has officially ratified the much-anticipated international communications standard ACN.
ESTA is the non-profit trade association representing the North American entertainment technology industry. The next step, ANSI certification, is expected to be completed by the time of the LDI trade show in October. Like DMX, ACN allows equipment from different manufacturers to operate together and function seamlessly within the same control network. Unlike DMX, ACN works over Ethernet, using internet standards, greatly increasing opportunities for product innovation and performance.
"This August represents the 20th anniversary of the ratification of the DMX standard," says Dan Antonuk, chairman of the ACN Task Group and network products development manager for lighting manufacturer ETC. "Twenty years from now people will look back on the acceptance of the ACN suite of protocols in the same way - as a watershed moment for technical progress in our industry."
Dan predicts that ACN will find its way well beyond lighting and into sound and multimedia control. "ACN allows control devices to discover the properties of new equipment on the fly. Every ACN device is able to provide a file that fully describes its capabilities to any lighting desk or controller. This file uses a structured fixture library format called DDL. This on-the-fly ability to adapt to new equipment makes ACN attractive in uses as far ranging as consumer electronics or industry-specific professional applications. It is also ideally suited for dynamic environments like audio mixing and video effects."
ACN has already arrived in lighting control systems and manufacturers, including, ETC are set to debut ACN enabled products this year in Las Vegas at LDI.
Source L&SI Online www.lsionline.co.uk Four new projects were started at ESTA's Technical Standards Program's working group meetings held by ESTA recently in Fort Worth, Texas. Anyone interested in joining a working group to work on these projects is invited to join. Information about joining a working group can be found at http://www.esta.org/tsp/working_groups/index.html. Anyone objecting to one of these projects because it is unnecessary or conflicts with an existing standard is invited to send his or her objections to the e-mail address given below.
BSR E1.33-200x, Extensions to E1.31 (DMX512 Streaming Protocol) for Transport of ANSI E1.20 (RDM) is a project to develop a set of extensions to E1.31 to support ANSI E1.20 functionality. The basic E1.31 protocol can be described as 'DMX512 over Ethernet'. It is intended to be suitable for implementation in hardware with very limited resources. The E1.33 project can be described as 'RDM over Ethernet'. It is to add RDM functionality while maintaining E1.31's compatibility with the E1.17 (ACN) control architecture and ANSI E1.11 (DMX512-A). BSR E1.33 is a project of the Control Protocols Working Group, which is particularly interested in gaining new voting members in the interest categories of dealer/rental company, user, and general interest.
BSR E1.34-200x, Entertainment Technology-Measuring and Specifying the Slipperiness of Floors Used in Live Performance Venues, is a project is to develop a means of quantifying the slipperiness of floor surfaces used by performers in live entertainment venues. The hope is to be able to come up with a measurement that will correlate with a performer's perceptions when he or she says a floor is too slippery or not slippery enough. It is axiomatic that you can't manage what you can't measure; floor slipperiness is something that must be managed for the convenience and safety of performers, so we must have a way to measure it. There are other standards aimed at making sure fire fighters don't slip off fire engine steps and that pedestrians don't lose their footing, but none deal with the concerns of performers trying to dance or to do some other unusual movement in front of an audience. BSR E1.34 is a project of the Floors Working Group, which is which is particularly interested in gaining new voting members in the interest category of dealer/rental company.
E1.35-200x, Standard for Lens Quality Measurements for Pattern Projecting Luminaires Intended for Entertainment Use, is a project to develop a method for measuring lens quality with particular emphasis on contrast and perceived image quality (sharpness). It also will offer a method for presenting these results on a datasheet in a format that is readily understood by a typical end-user and that allows the end-user to directly compare lenses in a meaningful way. There is currently no way to describe how clearly a stage lighting instrument projects an image, other than by showing a person, which is effective, but often inconvenient. Standards exist for projection lenses, but these are not applicable to the lower quality lenses used on stage and studio luminaires. This project is a project of the Photometrics Working Group, which would welcome new voting members in the interest categories of dealer/rental company, users, and general interest.
E1.36-200x, Model Procedure for Permitting the Use of Tungsten-Halogen Incandescent Lamps and Stage and Studio Luminaires in Vendor Exhibit Booths in Convention and Trade Show Exhibition Halls, is a project to develop a model set of procedures that can be used by convention centre and trade show exhibition hall staff to mitigate the risks perceived to be associated with the use of tungsten-halogen lamps and stage and studio luminaires in convention centres and trade show exhibition halls and to allow their use. There is no evidence that tungsten-halogen lamps or stage and studio luminaires present any greater risk as they are used in exhibition halls than any other light source or type of luminaire, but at least one major convention centre in the US believes that they do have elevated risks and have moved to prohibit or limit their use by exhibitors. The restrictions are inconsistently enforced, and this complicates the trade show business. A model set of procedures to allow the use of tungsten-halogen lamps and stage and studio luminaires would bring uniformity to the regulations and simplify doing business in the trade show industry. It also may improve safety by assuring that the lamps and luminaires are indeed used in a safe manner. This project is a project of the Photometrics Working Group.
For more information, please contact Karl G. Ruling, technical standards manager at ESTA, via the e-mail address below.
standards@esta.org
Standard for the selection, installation, and use of single-conductor portable power feeder cable systems for use at less than 601 volts nominal for the distribution of electrical energy in the entertainment and live-event industries, offers guidance on the selection, installation, and safe use of single-conductor portable power feeder cable systems used in the entertainment and live-event industries as power distribution systems, and is available for review until 28 August 2006. The draft standard and its supporting materials are available at http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
In addition to being asked to review the document to see if it offers adequate advice, reviewers are asked to look for protected intellectual property in the draft standard. ESTA does not warrant that its standards contain no protected intellectual property, but it also does not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property is necessary for technical reasons and can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. Any protected intellectual property in the document should be pointed out in the comments.
The BSR E1.18 draft standard is a project of the Electrical Power Working Group, part of ESTA's Technical Standards Program. The working group is seeking voting members in the dealer/rental company and general-interest interest categories. The working group has enough manufacturer and user members, and is not actively seeking members in these interest categories at this time. Membership in the working group is open to all who are affected by the work of the group. There is no fee, and membership in ESTA or any other organization is not a requirement, but voting members are required to attend meetings regularly and to vote on letter ballots. More information about joining the working group is available at http://www.esta.org/tsp/working_groups/index.html
RDM (Remote Device
Management over DMX512 Networks) Standard Now Available
The RDM Task Group today proudly announced that the ANSI E1.20 RDM (Remote Device
Management over DMX512 Networks) Standard is now published and
available for purchase (US$40) from the ESTA Foundation Website at
www.estafoundation.org
ANSI E1.20-2006, Entertainment Technology--Remote Device Management over USITT DMX512, describes a method of bi-directional communications over a USITT DMX512/1990 data link between an entertainment lighting controller and one or more remotely controlled lighting devices. The protocol also is intended to work with the ANSI E1.11-2004 control protocol. It allows discovery of devices on a DMX512/E1.11 network and the remote setting of DMX starting addresses, as well as status and fault reporting back to the control console.
The official START Code is published with this document, which now
lets manufacturers build interoperable devices that can be discovered
and provide bi-directional communication for remote configuration and
monitoring across a DMX512 link. [Source: ESTA Control Protocols Working Group]
BSR E.19, "Recommended Practice for the use of Class A Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) intended for personnel protection in the Entertainment Industry" is available for comment on the ESTA Technical Standards Program website at http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php. The GFCI is the American equivalent to our RCD (Residual Current Detector) forBSR E.19 gives advice on where, when, and how to use GFCIs rated for 100 A and lower in the entertainment industry. These devices are used for personnel protection in entertainment applications encompassing places of assembly, the production of film, video and broadcast, theatrical productions, carnivals, circuses, fairs and similar events in North America. It should also make interesting reading for those of us involved in electrical safety in Australasia.
BSR E1.17, Entertainment Technology-Multipurpose Network Control Protocol Suite, the draft standard commonly called "ACN," is now available for public review through June 19th. The draft standard is a suite of protocols offering needed services in network management, device management, device description, and device control with reliable multi-cast transport on data networks that use the common Internet protocols. There are 21 documents that describe various aspects of the suite of protocols, and they are all contained in the approximately 2.5 megabyte compressed file ACN.zip. Reviewers should also read the Readme.pdf file. It is not part of the draft standard, but it explains the structure of ACN and the changes that were made since the last public review. All the public review materials are at http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php.
There are several small changes that have been made to BSR E1.17 since the last public review, but the most important one--the one that made this public review essential--was the change to the SLP (Service Location Protocol) templates. These have been reworked to be fully compatible with OpenSLP source code. The previous templates were valid SLP, but didn't work with OpenSLP, so implementers of E1.17 would have had to develop their own code rather than use the popular, open-source, OpenSLP.
In addition to being asked to review the documents to see if they offer adequate advice, reviewers are asked to look for protected intellectual property in the draft standards. ESTA does not warrant that its standards contain no protected intellectual property, but it also does not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property is necessary for technical reasons and can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. Any protected intellectual property in the document should be pointed out in the comments.
www.esta.org
Insulated-Pin Plugs Only 4 Weeks Away
ALIA would like to remind everyone engaged in the sale of electrical equipment, that from April 3rd 2006 it will no longer be possible to sell equipment without insulated-pin plugs.
Hirers of electrical equipment are reminded that all equipment entering service after April 3rd 2006 must be fitted with insulated-pin plugs.
All hire equipment already in service on April 3rd 2006 may remain in service without modification.
ACN Takes Major Step Closer to Reality
The most recent public review draft of BSR E1.17, Entertainment Technology - Multipurpose Network Control Protocol Suite, better known as the Architecture for Control Networks (ACN), drew no public comments whatsoever. The ESTA Control Protocols Working Group (CPWG) takes this as unanimous public acceptance of the proposed protocol. (Some cynics in the entertainment technology community have unkindly suggested that no comments were forthcoming, because after about a decade of waiting, everyone else has lost interest :-)
ACN is a suite of protocols offering needed services in network management, device management, device description, and device control with reliable multi-cast transport on data networks that use the common Internet Protocols. The CPWG is now clear to move the draft further down the path to becoming an ANSI Standard. As the shape of the protocol suite is now quite clear, we should expect to see ACN products appearing in the near future.
.www.esta.org/tsp/working_groups/cp.html
Reminder on Standards and Recommended Practice currently in Public Review
The following Recommended Practice and Standards are currently in Public Review and thus available for you to download, read and submit your comments on.
Comments are welcome from anyone with a contribution to make.
USITT RP-2 (revision 5), Recommended Practice for Theatrical Lighting Graphics is available for public review until 5 p.m. US Eastern time on March 20, 2006. See www.usitt.org/standards/UsittRP-2v5.html.
ESTA Technical Standards Program Activity: Four documents are currently in Public Review.
Full details, copies of the documents, instructions, and review forms can be found at the TSP Public Review Documents section of ESTA's web site www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php.
Until March 28, 2006: BSR E1.22, Entertainment Technology - Fire Safety Curtain Systems.
Until April 11, 2006: BSR E1.3200x, Entertainment Technology - Lighting Control Systems - 0 to 10V Analog Control Specification. ANSI E1.3-2001 is being considered for reaffirmation without any changes.
Until April 11, 2006: Reaffirmation of ANSI E1.14-200x, Entertainment Technology - Recommendations for Inclusions in Fog Equipment Manuals. ANSI E1.14-2001, is being considered for reaffirmation without any changes.
Until April 11, 2006: Revision of ANSI E1.9-200x, Entertainment Technology - Reporting Photometric Performance Data for Luminaires Used in Entertainment Lighting is a revised version of the existing ANSI E1.9-2001.
BSR E1.22, Entertainment Technology - Fire Safety Curtain Systems, is available for public review on the ESTA website until 28 March, 2006. The draft standard describes the materials, fabrication, installation, operation, testing, and maintenance of fire safety curtains and fire safety curtain systems used for theatre proscenium opening protection.
It is a serious attempt to avoid offering a cook-book description of a fire safety curtain system and, instead, to specify how a fire curtain shall perform. That is, it doesn't tell you what kind of fabric to use for a fire safety curtain, for example, but instead tells you how strong whatever fabric you use must be and what abrasion and fire tests it must pass. The document may be accessed by visiting http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php or by requesting it from ESTA's Technical Standards Manager.
In addition to being asked to review the document to see if it offers adequate and correct advice, reviewers are asked to look for protected intellectual property in the draft standards. ESTA does not warrant that its standards contain no protected intellectual property, but it also does not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property is necessary for technical reasons and can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. Any protected intellectual property in the document should be pointed out in the public review comments.
www.esta.org/tsp
ESTA: 'ACN' draft standard for review
ESTA, the North American Entertainment Services and Technology Association, has anounced that BSR E1.17, Entertainment Technology - Multipurpose Network Control Protocol Suite, the draft standard commonly called 'ACN', is now available for public review until 14 February 2006.
The draft standard is a suite of protocols offering needed services in network management, device management, device description, and device control with reliable multi-cast transport on data networks that use the common Internet Protocols. There are 17 documents that describe various aspects of the suite of protocols, and they are all contained in the approximately three megabyte compressed file ACNDraft3.zip. The public review materials for this draft standard and all the draft ESTA standards currently available for public review are at http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php.
In addition to being asked to review the documents to see if they offer adequate advice, reviewers are asked to look for protected intellectual property in the draft standards. ESTA does not warrant that its standards contain no protected intellectual property, but it also does not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property is necessary for technical reasons and can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. Any protected intellectual property in the document should be pointed out in the comments.
For more information, please contact Karl G. Ruling, technical standards manager at ESTA.
ESTA (North America's Entertainment Services and Technology Association) says its working group meeting in Orlando during the week of the LDI trade show, approved the initiation of six standards projects. ANSI requires that the initiation of projects be announced far and wide to affected parties so that people can be aware of the projects and can participate if they wish or can argue against the projects being undertaken if they are not needed or conflict with existing standards.
People interested in working on a project (besides simply commenting during public review, which is also helpful, say ESTA) need to join the working group for the project. Information about joining working groups and about the need for voting members in under-represented interest categories in the groups is available at here. People wanting to argue against a project being undertaken can write e-mail ESTA at the address below to express their concerns.
Reaffirmation of ANSI E1.3-2001, Entertainment Technology - Lighting Control Systems - 0 to 10V Analog Control Specification. The Control Protocols Working Group voted to start the job of reaffirming the existing ANSI standard for analog control at its meeting on November 10. ANSI E1.3-2001 is approaching its fifth birthday and action needs to be taken to keep the document active and in the ANSI catalog. The standard has been useful as a lowest common denominator control method for connecting a variety of controlers and controlled products. No one makes a big deal about analog control, but it is still being used on new and custom products. No changes in the existing standard are proposed at this time, but a forth-coming public review may yield some comments that will require the document to be revised.
New standard, E1.30-200x, Application level equipment interoperability for control of commonly encountered entertainment technology devices using E1.17. The Control Protocols Working Group's E1.17 (ACN) control protocol project is approaching completion, but there is a need to continue to develop equipment interoperability profiles to be used in conjunction with it. This BSR E1.30 specification will consist of a set of Interoperability Profiles defining standard DMP device types using device description templates written in DDL. Additional motivational text will be included to aid understanding for newcomers to E1.17.
New standard, E1.31-200x, Lightweight streaming protocol for transport of DMX512 using ACN. The Control Protocols Working Group's E1.17 (ACN) control protocol project is approaching completion, but there is a need to develop a minimal subset of DMP operating at the ACN root layer for streaming data for very lightweight devices. In a nutshell, this is what most people would call "DMX512 over Ethernet," but done in such a way that it will work with the E1.17 suite of protocols and other well-behaved Ethernet protocols. Device Management Protocol over Session Data Transport provides an elegant mechanism for streaming DMX-type data intermixed with more random access data and high speed feedback in a flexible and highly scalable way. Doing this work as a separate standard from the rest of E1.17 (ACN) will allow E1.17 to move forward more quickly.
New standard, E1.29-200x, Product Safety Standard for Theatrical Fog Generators that Create Aerosols of Aqueous Solutions of Glycol or Glycerin, or Aerosols of Highly Refined Alkane Mineral Oil. The Fog and Smoke Working Group voted to start a project to write a product safety standard for theatrical fog generators. At this time, there is no product safety standard used by Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories that is specifically written for theatrical fog generators. NRTLs use standards written for other products, such as electrical heating appliances or humidifiers, and apply these as appropriate to fog machines. However, these other standards do not address the hygiene of the fog produced, only the electrical and fire safety of the appliance. This BSR E1.29 project is intended to develop a product safety standard that addresses the safety of the machine and the fog produced by it.
Reaffirmation of E1.14-2001, Entertainment Technology - Recommendations for Inclusions in Fog Equipment Manuals. The Fog and Smoke Working Group has voted to start the job of reaffirming the existing ANSI E1.14-2001. It is approaching its fifth birthday and action needs to be taken to keep the document active and in the ANSI catalog. So far, it has been a useful guidance document for specifying what information fog equipment manufacturers need to give equipment users and for telling end-users what information they should expect to receive so they can use the equipment in a safe and responsible manner. No changes in the existing standard are proposed at this time, but a forth-coming public review may yield some comments that will require the document to be revised. ANSI E1.14-2001 is available for free on the ESTA website and at ANSI's eStandards Store.
Revision of E1.9-2001, Reporting Photometric Performance Data for Luminaires Used in Entertainment Lighting. The Photometrics Working Group has voted to start work on revising ANSI E1.9-2001. The standard is approaching its fifth birthday and action needs to be taken to keep the document active. However, the existing standard has not been used widely because it has a great number of requirements. It is hoped that by removing some of the non-essential requirements, the benefits of the isolux diagram, which is the heart of the standard, may be enjoyed by more lighting designers, and by more stage and studio luminaire renters and purchasers.
The public reviews of the documents produced by these projects will be announced in future issues of ESTA's Standards Watch and ANSI Standards Action. The review document for a standard being reaffirmed without modification will be the existing document, which will be made available at the current price.
standards@esta.org
Two draft standards have recently been posted on the ESTA website for public review, until 17 January 2006.
BSR E1.2-200x, Entertainment Technology-Design, Manufacture and Use of Aluminum Trusses and Towers, is a revision of the existing American National Standard E1.2-2000. Its revisions are to address the effects adding or removing paint or other coatings may have on the strength of aluminum truss and tower modules. The changes since the last public review have focused on clarifying the references to other standards.
BSR E1.4-200x, Entertainment Technology-Manual Counterweight Rigging Systems, describes the design and construction of manually powered counterweight rigging systems. There are numerous editorial changes made since the last public review, and a few substantive changes, primarily dealing with the load ratings of trim chains. A listing of the last public review comments and their resolutions is provided as background material for this public review.
ESTA says: "In addition to being asked to review the documents to see if they offer adequate advice, reviewers are asked to look for protected intellectual property in the draft standards. ESTA does not warrant that its standards contain no protected intellectual property, but it also does not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property is necessary for technical reasons and can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. Any protected intellectual property in the document should be pointed out in the comments."
www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
Three draft standards have been added to those currently available for public review on the ESTA website at the address listed below. The three additional standards are BSR E1.23, a guidance document for planning and executing fog effects; BSR E1.25, a document specifying the basic testing conditions for any of a variety of flat-wall photometry methods; and BSR E1.27-1, a standard for portable DMX512 cables.
BSR E1.23, Entertainment Technology-Design and Execution of Theatrical Fog Effects, is modeled aftet the well-respected NFPA standards for indoor pyrotechnics and flame effects. Those NFPA standards (NFPA 1126 and NFPA 160) help protect workers and audience members, and also help simplify working with the local authority having jurisdiction for the effects designers and technicians. E1.23, when it is finished, is expected to do the same for fog effects. The review on this document runs through 27 December 2005.
BSR E1.25, Recommended Basic Conditions for Measuring the Photometric Output of Stage and Studio Luminaires by Measuring Illumination Levels Produced on a Planar Surface, describes the basic testing conditions (e.g. the condition of the luminaire, the power supply, etc.) for any of a number of methods of measuring a luminaire's output that involve shining the light from the luminaire on a flat wall and then measuring the levels of illumination produced. The draft standard does not describe the equipment or measurement method used to measure the illumination. The major changes since the last public review have been in the sections about lamp calibration and power supply stability. The review on this document runs through 3 January 2006.
BSR E1.27-1, Entertainment Technology-Standard for Portable Control Cables for Use with USITT DMX512/1990 and E1.11 (DMX512-A) Products, is a draft standard for a very common thing: a piece of portable DMX512 or E1.11 cable. BSR E1.27-1 would standardize the wiring of a DMX512 cable and require labeling so single-pair and dual-pair cables can be distinguished from each other. The review on this document runs through 3 January 2006.
Note that the website listings show the reviews as ending the dates one day after the dates listed above. This is because the reviews listed here end when the date listed on the website begins. That is, the start of December 28 at midnight UTC marks the end of December 27; when December 28 starts, the public review running through December 27 ends, and the links to the review materials on the website will disappear.
In addition to being asked to review the documents to see if they offer adequate advice, reviewers are asked to look for protected intellectual property in the draft standards. ESTA does not warrant that its standards contain no protected intellectual property, but it also does not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property is necessary for technical reasons and can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. Any protected intellectual property in the document should be pointed out in the comments.
www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
Proposed RDM Standard Available for Public Review BSR E1.20, Entertainment Technology - Remote Device Management over USITT DMX512, is available for public review through 11 October 2005. The standard describes a method of bi-directional communications over a USITT DMX512/1990 data link between an entertainment lighting controller and one or more remotely controlled lighting devices. The protocol also is intended to work with the ANSI E1.11-2004 control protocol. The public review materials are available at http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php.
USITT RP-2 (revision 4), Recommended Practice for Theatrical Lighting Graphics, is available for public review until 5 p.m. Eastern time on October 28, 2005. Go to http://www.usitt.org/standards/UsittRP-2v4.html
for more information and to download the document, letter ballot, and supplemental material.
The USITT document is the only published Recommended Practice for lighting graphics. Although being based primarily on North American lighting practice, it provides a sound basis for drafting lighting plans.
GFCI is the North American name for the (hopefully) familiar RCD (Residual Current Detector) or Safety Switch, although their GFCI is designed to trip at the much lower fault current of 6 milliamps.
BSR E.19, Recommended Practice for the use of Class A Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) intended for personnel protection in the Entertainment Industry, is available for public review. The draft standard gives advice on where, when, and how to use GFCIs in the entertainment industry. The official ANSI 60-day public review period starts on August 5, but the draft standard is available now at http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php. The public review runs through October 4, and the links on the website will disappear at the beginning of October 5, the ending date noted.
Whilst the details of this proposed standard may not fit with Australasian practice, especially considering the absence of any standardised or mandated safety testing scheme, this eight page document is worth looking at to see how others do electrical safety.
Two draft standards, BSR E1.22 and BSR E1.23, dealing with fire safety curtain systems and theatrical fog, have joined the two draft rigging standards available for review on the ESTA website. These two new documents will be available for review through the end of the day July 19, 2005.
The Design and Execution of Theatrical Fog Effects Standard is intended to be applicable to the creation of theatrical effects using artificial fogs or mists in theatres, arenas, and other places of entertainment or public assembly. It is intended to offer atmospheric effects creators and operators guidance in the planning and execution of theatrical fog effects so that the health and comfort of workers and spectators shall not be compromised. In addition, the Standard is intended to help avoid nuisance triggering of fire detection systems, while preserving adequate functioning of the systems.
The Fire Safety Curtain Systems Standard, is one of the newly posted standards. It describes the materials, fabrication, installation, operation, testing, and maintenance of fire safety curtains and fire safety curtain systems used for theatre proscenium opening protection. This is the second public review of the document, and is a radical reworking of what had been offered before. It is a serious attempt to avoid offering a cook-book description of a fire safety curtain system and to instead specify what it is supposed to do. That is, it doesn't tell you what kind of fabric to use for a fire safety curtain, but instead tells you how strong whatever fabric you use must be and what abrasion and fire tests it must pass.
http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
The word “exit” has been replaced with the internationally recognised “moving person” symbol in the newly published Australian Standard for emergency evacuation lighting. Standards Australia has published the revised Parts 1 and 3 of series AS 2293 Emergency evacuation lighting for buildings, specifying the use of the “moving person”symbol developed by ISO, instead of the word “EXIT”on illuminated exit signs. Download 69 kB PDF for further information.
Two draft rigging standards have been posted on the ESTA website for public review. BSR E1.4, Entertainment Technology-Manual Counterweight Rigging Systems, and BSR E1.21, Entertainment Technology - Temporary Ground-Supported Overhead Structures Used to Cover the Stage Areas and Support Equipment in the Production of Outdoor Entertainment Events, will be available on the ESTA website until the end of the day, midnight GMT, on 28 June 2005.
They can be accessed on the ESTA Public Review Documents page.
Insulated pin plug deadline extended
Although the date for the introduction of insulated pin plugs has just passed, all Australasian electrical safety authorities have extended the deadline for the retail sale of non-insulated pin plugs (the last of these announcements was only made a few days ago). In the ACT the extension is for six months only, whilst in all other jurisdictions it is for a full year. The table below summarises the situation and provides links for additional information.
In the process, ERAC ( Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council) has issued a statement that includes a clear delineation of the regulatory position on equipment offered for hire.
"Hirers will be permitted to continue to hire existing stock (where fitted with uninsulated pins) but purchase of new hire stock will need to be in accordance with the local jurisdiction requirements." (Full text of ERAC statement)
| Jurisdiction | Extended deadline | More information |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | 3rd October 2005 | PDF document |
| NSW | 3rd April 2006 | web site |
| NT | 3rd April 2006 | email Tim Hallen |
| NZ | 3rd April 2006 | web site |
| Queensland | 3rd April 2006 | web site |
| SA | 3rd April 2006 | web site |
| Tasmania | 3rd April 2006 | web site |
| Victoria | 3rd April 2006 | PDF document |
| WA | 3rd April 2006 | web site |
The proposed ACN protocol (Architecture for Control Networks - BSR E1.17) is now in its second period of public review.
The draft documents are available from the ESTA website http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php
A browser-friendly version of this suite of documents is available at http://www.engarts.com/acn/pubreview2
Review/comment period ends April 27th 2005.
Draft standards for public review have also been released for:
* BSR E1.15, Recommended Practices and Guidelines for the Assembly and use of Theatrical Boom & Base Assemblies.
* BSR E1.1, Entertainment Technology - Construction and Use of Wire Rope Ladders.
* BSR E1.25, Recommended Basic Conditions for Measuring the Photometric Output of Stage and Studio Luminaires by Measuring Illumination Levels Produced on a Planar Surface.
* BSR E1.24, Entertainment Technology - Dimensional Requirements for Stage Pin Connectors (NB: North America ONLY)
The drafts of the new Test & Tag standards, AS/NZS 3760 Part 2, covering Secondhand Equipment and AS/NZS 3760 Part 3, covering Repaired Equipment, are now available for public comment. Copies of the draft standards (and a proposed amendment to the main standard) may be downloaded from the ALIA web site.
Comments on these draft standards should be submitted by April 18th 2005.
Comments may be directed via Andy Ciddor aciddor@alia.com.au ALIA's representative on the EL-036 standards committee, or directly to the committee secretariat using forms that will shortly be available for download from the Standards Australia standards.com.au or Standards New Zealand standards.co.nz web sites.
Second hand equipment 320kB PDF
In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment 163 kB PDF
Safety inspection and testing:Repaired electrical equipment 342 kB PDF
USITT DMX512-A can now be purchased. A PDF version is now available from ANSI's Electronic Standards Store: http://webstore.ansi.org/ansidocstore/product.asp?sku=ANSI+E1%2E11%2D20
A hard copy version is now available from USITT (see the ESTA Publications section): https://secure.ffa.ucalgary.ca/cgi-bin/usitt/store/enter.pl
A hard copy version will be available from PLASA: http://www.lsionline.co.uk/books/result.asp?cat=Standards
Notification on Final Action on: ANSI E1.11-2004 Entertainment Technology - USITT DMX512-A - Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories (new standard) Approval Date of Final Action:
The Board of Standards Review has approved the above action in connection with a candidate American National Standard:
Notice of this Final Action will be published in an upcoming issue of Standards Action. For actions other than withdrawals, applicable publication and maintenance requirements are contained in clause 4 of the ANSI Essential Requirements: Due process requirements for American National Standards.
BSR E1.20, Entertainment Technology - Remote Device Management over USITT DMX512, is available for public review until 17:00 US Eastern Time, 7 December 2004. The standard describes a method of bi-directional communications over a USITT DMX512/1990 data link between an entertainment lighting controller and one or more remotely controlled lighting devices. The protocol is also intended to work with the E1.11-2004 (DMX512A) control protocol.
The complete public review packet consists of the draft standard, a public review comment form, and this instruction page. Comments on BSR E1.20 are being sought so that the standard may reflect the consensus of informed opinion in the entertainment lighting industry. Please tell the standards committee if you think the draft is good enough to become an American National Standard as it is. If you think so, please check the "Yes" box. If you think so, but you want to offer some comments, check "Yes with comments," and offer your comments in the space provided, or on additional pages, in an email message, or in some other computer-readable file. If you don't think the draft standard is acceptable, please mark "No with reasons" and state your reasons. Please return your comments or reasons (if you have any) and the comment form to both ESTA's Technical Standards Manager and the Secretary of the ANSI Board of Standards Review. The email addresses and other contact information are given on the public review comment form.
Please look for protected intellectual property in the draft standard. ESTA and Accredited Standards Committee E1 do not warrant that their standards contain no protected intellectual property, but they do not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. If you see any protected intellectual property in the document, please point it out in your comments.
ESTA Control Protocols Working Group www.esta.org/tsp/cpwg.html
During the recent PLASA conference and trade show in London, the ESTA Control Protocols Working Group CPWG (the body responsible for developing lighting control standards) held a breakfast presentation to bring the lighting world up to date on their progress. Amongst those who attended the presentation were ALIA members Nic Moreau of Enttec and Richie Mickan of LSC Lighting Systems, whose notes and recollections have been complied to produce this report.
The session entitled "Managing the installation - Device Interoperability and Control Protocols – A current perspective", was divided in to two sections.
RDM
The first section was about the proposed RDM (Remote Device Management) standard. Progress on this protocol seems to be good and the standard is nearly finalised. Wayne Howell (Artistic Licence) and Peter Willis (Andera Ltd) showed some example products (mainly discovery and remote addressing products).
One newly introduced feature, that has slightly delayed the finalisation of the standard, is the possibility of device independent firmware upgrades. The idea is that RDM should allow a manufacturer to issue a new version of firmware for their fixture that can uploaded via any RDM device. So a moving light from manufacturer A could have new software installed via the lighting console from manufacturer B. This is an exciting concept that could eliminate the current requirement to carry a swag of manufacturer-specific devices to perform this function.
ACN
The session on ACN (Advanced Control Network) produced a more lively debate. There was a short introduction to ACN and what it was supposed to achieve, ACN for audio was mentioned too.
Karl G Ruling, Technical Standards Manager from ESTA, then talked about the process ACN was going through to become an ANSI standard and explained that this was one of the reasons why the process is taking so long (since the mid 90s).
There was discussion about the transport medium used for ACN (Ethernet) and the problems linked to that. Some solutions were discussed eg: putting an Ethernet switch on the truss. However, it was stressed that the ACN standard is designed to be transport-independent (unlike DMX which can only run over RS485). Thus, whilst Ethernet is likely to be used in the short term for ACN, the standard allows for any other medium to be used (eg. USB2, Firewire, or even Morse code over wet string).
Also mentioned was the capability for ACN to coexist on a network with existing proprietary systems (eg. Strand ShowNET and ETCnet). This was seen as both a good thing and a bad thing, as it allows manufacturers to slowly migrate over to ACN. However, it also enables such companies to claim that they are ACN compliant, even though they may keep some functions, such as dimmer talkback, in a proprietary format.
This was followed by a question and answer session that was cut short at 10am when the trade show doors opened.
Getting involved
ALIA members may be interested in the possibility of registering with the CPWG as an "Interested Party" - a mechanism for stakeholders who are interested in being involved with the development of these protocols, but cannot commit to attending the international meetings. Interested Parties receive the minutes of CPWG meetings, and are able to add replies and comments, all from the comfort of their office desk. This facilitates a much higher level of participation in the development process than merely waiting for the revised document to be released for public comment, and may suit Australasian, equipment designers, manufacturers, systems integrators and consultants, who cannot afford the time and/or money to attend regular meetings overseas.
CPWG (http://www.esta.org/tsp/cpwg.html)
ANSI (http://www.ansi.org)
ESTA (http://www.esta.org)
PLASA (http://www.plasa.org)
Enttec (http://www.enttec.com)
LSC Lighting Systems (http://www.lsclighting.com.au)
Three new documents have been posted on the ESTA (Entertainment Services and Technology Association) website for public review. Two of them are draft American National Standards, while one is an informational handbook, designed to help camera crane operators use cranes safely. Comments are requested by the dates indicated below.
Camera Crane Operator's Handbook: Public comment is invited on a proposal to publish a Camera Crane Operator's Handbook. Camera cranes are simple devices, but improper use of them can result in injury or death. The handbook is intended to offer nonbrand-specific advice on how to use a camera crane safely. The public review of the Camera Crane Operator's Handbook is scheduled to run until 17:00 Eastern Time on 8 June. The complete public review packet, including the draft handbook, is available on the ESTA website at www.esta.org/tsp/CC_Handbook_inst.htm.
BSR E1.23 Draft Fog Standard: BSR E1.23, Entertainment Technology - Design and Execution of Theatrical Fog Effects, is available for public review. The purpose of the document is to offer atmospheric effects creators and operators guidance in the planning and execution of theatrical fog effects so that the health and comfort of workers and spectators shall not be compromised by excessive exposure to chemicals or by the obscuration of hazards or safe paths of egress. In addition, the draft standard is intended to help avoid nuisance triggering of fire detection systems, while preserving adequate functioning of the systems. People are invited to review the draft standard and to indicate if they feel it should be adopted as an American National Standard, and if not why not. The public review is scheduled to run until 17:00 Eastern Time on 8 June. The complete public review packet is available on the ESTA website at www.esta.org/tsp/E1-23_inst.htm.
BSR E1.27-1, Draft Portable DMX Cabling standard: BSR E1.27-1, Entertainment Technology - Standard for Portable Control Cables for Use with USITT DMX512/1990 and E1.11 (DMX512-A) Products, is available for public review through 17:00 Eastern Time in New York City on 25 May. The document describes the portable cable that is recommended for the transmission of digital data among products that comply with E1.11, Entertainment Technology - USITT DMX512-A and also USITT/DMX512/1990 products. It covers recommended cable types, connectors, and their internal wiring. The draft standard, a document describing the history and goals of the standards-drafting project, and a public review response form may be accessed by visiting www.esta.org/tsp/E1-27-1inst.htm.
More information or paper copies are available from ESTA's Technical Standards Manager, Karl G. Ruling, at ESTA - 875 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1005; New York, NY 10001; tel: +1 212 244 1505; or via the e-mail address below.
www.esta.org
According to the NSW regulator: "The term 'sell' as defined under the Electricity Safety Act includes 'hire'" This would definitely require the replacement of all non-compliant plugs by April 3rd, 2005.
ALIA has commenced discussions with the NSW Office of Fair Trading as to how we may seek a more reasonable implementation of the introduction of Insulated-Pin Plugs on equipment offered for hire. It seems very likely that we will be able to secure an exemption that will allow for either a substantially longer transition period, or perhaps even a term-of-life exemption for all equipment in use on April 3rd, 2005.
To assist with our submission to the regulator, we would like those of you in the hire end of the industry to email us an estimate of how many 10 and 15 Amp 3-pin plugs are in your hire inventory. It is important that we deal with this problem immediately, as failure to do so could potentially cost our industry millions, in either compliance costs, or fines for non-compliance. Please send the number of plugs, and your state to plugs@kilowatt.com.au. All replies will be treated as confidential, with only aggregate numbers and states being used in our communications with regulators. Once we have sorted out the process in NSW, we will then follow this model in our negotiations with other state regulators.
Insulated-Pin
Plug requirement now less than 12 months awayALIA would like to remind all members of the entertainment and lighting industries that the date for the mandated use of insulated-pin plugs, April 3rd 2005, is now less than a year away.
In April 2000, the revised version of AS/NZS 3112 -"Approval and test specification - Plugs and socket-outlets", introduced the requirement for insulation on the active and neutral pins of all two and three pin, 10Amp and 15Amp plugs. In order to allow for a smooth transition to this safer standard, a changeover period of five years was allowed. Since then, many manufacturers have released approved insulated-pin versions of their products.
ALIA's inquiries with electrical parts manufacturer Clipsal, reveal that supplies of the insulated-pin version, of the industry-standard Clipsal 463 socket-adaptor plug (our beloved piggy-back), should be available in early June 2004.
For hire companies, the requirement for insulated-pin plugs also applies to new equipment being introduced into your hire inventory after April 3rd 2005, and all repairs made to the plugs on hire equipment, after this date.
Right now, you should be running down any existing stocks of plugs, supply cables or cable tails in preparation for restocking with plugs, tails or supply cables with insulated pins.
There has been some suggestion that electrical safety regulators may require hirers to replace all non-compliant plugs by the changeover date. As yet no such regulations exist. However, after being alerted to the possibility (by Jim Keating at corporate member Panavision), ALIA is actively watching the situation and will maintain contact with the regulators, to ensure that they are fully aware of the ramifications for the production industry, of any such move.
ALIA's input into the Test and Tagging standards process was instrumental in saving the hire and production industry from the serious and unintended financial burden, of testing and tagging all equipment before every hire. It is our intention to see that no similarly unintended financial burden is inadvertently placed upon our industry by
regulators
who, like us, are concerned with improving community safety.The following is an excerpt from the circular sent in April 2001, to manufacturers and suppliers of electrical appliances and equipment, in all Australian states and territories.
From 3 April 2005 it will be mandatory for all plugs (and appliances or equipment with integral pins) to incorporate insulated live pins. Approvals of non-insulated pin plugs will be cancelled on that date.
Plug manufactures have been notified separately and it is anticipated that insulated pin plugs will be generally available shortly. At least one manufacturer has insulated pin plugs on the market.
In the interests of enhanced safety and to ensure rapid dispersion in the marketplace, each Australian State and Territory, and New Zealand Electrical Regulator will require all electrical equipment to be supplied with insulated pin plugs, at all points of sale, by no later than 3 April 2005.
It is proposed that following the introduction of the insulated pin requirement on 3 April 2005, electrical appliances and equipment will be monitored. The sale (which includes advertisement or exposure for sale) of non-compliant plugs may result in enforcement action, including prosecution, against any person or corporation responsible for that sale.
If you are a retailer you are advised to ensure that your stock of electrical equipment without insulated pins is depleted before 3 April 2005.
If you are a manufacturer or distributor you are advised to alert your customers of these requirements and to discontinue the supply of appliances and equipment that are fitted with non-insulated pins with sufficient time for those customers to meet the 3 April 2005 deadline.
There is a very good explanation of the implications of the change of plug approvals in a document available from the Australia Electrical & Electronic Manufacturers' Association web site http://www.aeema.asn.au/docs/Insulated_pins.PDF
© Copyright ALIA, 2004
Public comment is invited on a proposal to adopt the draft BSR E1.27-1, Entertainment Technology -- Standard for Portable Control Cables for Use with USITT DMX512/1990 and E1.11 (DMX512-A) Products, as an American National Standard. The document describes the portable cable that is recommended for the transmission of digital data among products that comply with the forthcoming E1.11, Entertainment Technology -- USITT DMX512-A and also the existing USITT DMX512/1990 products. It covers recommended cable types, connectors, and their internal wiring. The opinion of the affected public is being accepted through 17:00 Eastern Time in New York City on 25 May 2004.
The complete public review packet consists of a copy of the draft BSR E1.27-1, an informational foreword, a public review response form, and these instructions you are reading now. The foreword is not part of the standard, but it explains some of the reasoning used in drafting the document. You may disagree with that reasoning, and if it has led to a standard that is unacceptable to you, you may include criticism of it in your vote on accepting the draft standard.
The response form is an Adobe Acrobat form with embedded fields that may be filled out with Reader or Acrobat, or printed out and filled in by hand. If you have only Reader, the form with the filled in fields must be printed and then faxed or mailed to ESTA's Technical Standards Manager and the Secretary of the ANSI Board of Standards Review; Reader will not allow you to save the field data to a file. If you have a full version of Acrobat, you can save the filled out form with the field data and email it.
Please tell the standards committee if you think the BSR E1.27-1 should be accepted as an American National Standard as it is. If you think so, please check the "Yes" box. If you think so, but you want to offer some comments, check "Yes with comments," and offer your comments in the space provided. If you don't think the standard is acceptable, please mark "No with reasons" and state your reasons. Please tell the standards committee what would need to be changed and how it would need to be changed to earn your unqualified "Yes" vote. Please give a justification so the committee can understand your reasons for requiring the change.
Please also look for protected intellectual property in the draft standard. ESTA and Accredited Standards Committee E1 do not warrant that their standards contain no protected intellectual property, but it is our intention not to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. If you see any protected intellectual property in the document, please point it out in your comments.
Four standards being developed by ESTA's Rigging Working Group are in public review through 17:00 U.S. Eastern Time on 27 April 2004. The four standards are:
ANSI E1.1-1999, Entertainment Technology - Construction and Use of Wire Rope Ladders. This is a reaffirmation of the existing standard, without any changes to the standard.
BSR E1.2-200x, Entertainment Technology - Design, Manufacture and Use of Aluminum Trusses and Towers. This is a revision of the existing standard, ANSI E1.2-2000, to address problems that could be caused by improper application or removal of surface coatings.
BSR E1.15-200x, Entertainment Technology - Manufacture, Assembly, and Use of Theatrical Boom & Base Assemblies. This is the second public review of this draft standard, which was modified to address concerns raised in the first public review.
BSR E1.21-200x, Temporary Ground-Supported Overhead Structures Used to Cover Stage Areas and Support Equipment in the Production of Outdoor Entertainment Events. This is the first public review of this draft standard for portable stage roofs.
Links to the public review materials for these standards-drafting projects are on the ESTA website at www.esta.org/tsp/ The review materials include free copies of the draft versions of BSR E1.2, BSR E1.15, and BSR E1.21. For the existing ANSI E1.1-1999, links are provided to vendors from whom the standard may be purchased at its normal price.
Neither ESTA nor Accredited Standards Committee E1 (which is the official ANSI designation for the Technical Standards Program) warrant that ESTA's standards contain no protected intellectual property. However, it is not our intention to publish any standard that contains protected intellectual property, unless that property can be licensed for use by anyone for a reasonable fee. As part of these public reviews, people are invited to bring any protected intellectual property that might be in one of these documents to the attention of the Rigging Working Group.
For additional information contact:
Karl G. Ruling
Technical Standards Manager
ESTA
875 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1005
New York, NY 10001
+1-212-244-1505
Fax +1-212-244-1502
BSR E1.17, Entertainment Technology - Multipurpose Network Control Protocol Suite, is available for public review until 17:00 US Eastern Time, 9 December 2003. This is the draft standard that developed out of the Advanced Control Network study project, and is often referred to by the acronym "ACN," although those initials do not appear in the title of the draft standard. The draft standard defines a suite of protocols offering needed services in network management, device management, device description, and device control with reliable multi-cast transport on data networks that use the common Internet Protocols. The protocol suite's purpose is to allow heterogeneous systems of entertainment equipment and infastructure devices to fully interoperate.
Further details can be found at http://www.esta.org/tsp/E1-17inst.htm
ALIA will be leading industry discussion on these topics via the forums
BSR E1.20, Entertainment Techology - Remote Device Management over USITT DMX512, is available for public review until 17:00 US Eastern Time, 9 December 2003. The standard describes a method of bi-directional communications over a USITT DMX512/1990 data link between an entertainment lighting controller and one or more remotely controlled lighting devices. The protocol is also intended to work with the E1.11 control protocol being developed concurrently by the Control Protocols Working Groups.
Further details can be found at http://www.esta.org/tsp/E1-20inst.htm
ALIA will be leading industry discussion on these topics via the forums
BSR E1.11, Entertainment Technology -- USITT DMX512-A -- Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories (CP/1998-1031r7), is now available for public review and comment. This document is a revision of the widely used DMX512/1990, which was originally developed by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology.
DMX512 is being revised to clarify undefined and loosely defined provisions in the original document, and to accommodate new lighting technology while maintaining as much backward compatibility with products that comply with the existing standard as possible. The new version addresses issues regarding the use of alternate start codes, the previously undefined second data link, grounding practices, over-voltage protection, and alternate connectors.
Comments on this draft are being sought so that the standard may reflect the consensus of the entertainment lighting industry. The public is invited to review the document and to offer criticism - both positive and negative - by the comment deadline of 17:00 US Eastern Time on 30 September 2003. A copy of the draft and full instructions for preparing your response are available on the ESTA website at http://www.esta.org/tsp/E1-11inst.htm.
Discussion of this preview and its implications will be held on the ALIA On-Line Forums prior to ALIA's submission to the ESTA Technical Standards Group.
ANSI's Board of Standards Review has approved ANSI E1.5-2003, Entertainment Technology - Theatrical Fog made with Aqueous Solutions of Di- and Trihydric Alcohols. This standard is now referenced in ESTA's "A Test Is Worth a Thousand Words" fog testing program and is available for free download from the ESTA website.
The new standard specifies the components of glycol and glycerin fog and the ceiling and the time-weighted-average exposure limits for the fogs. The ceiling limits are rationally based on scientific data and are consistent with the ceiling limits that have been specified in many performer union contracts, but the standard goes beyond those contractual limits by also controlling the time-weighted-average levels. The standard specifies the glycols that can be used in a conforming fog to proscribe irritating, common industrial glycols and ensure that only those glycols for which there is ample, public documentation of their benignity are used.
The ANSI E1.5 standard is available at http://www.esta.org/tsp/E1-5_2003.pdf. More information about ESTA's "A Test Is Worth a Thousand Words" fog testing program is available at http://www.esta.org/foginfo/index.html
ANSI E1.5 was drafted by the Fog & Smoke Working Group, part of the ANSI-accredited standards committee E1, Safety and Compatibility of Entertainment Technical Equipment and Practices. The Entertainment Services and Technology Association is the secretariat for Accredited Standards Committee E1 and provides administrative support to the committee. Membership in the working group is open to all who are affected by its work. Membership in ESTA is not a requirement.