Standards Development

Scope

This code of practice provides a set of guidelines for manually and power-driven performer flying operations related to machinery and machinery installations used in staging and production facilities for events.

This practice guideline applies to flying operations with single and/or multiple points of suspension, mechanical transmission and/or counterweights to move performers vertically and/or horizontally during artists performances in staging and production facilities for events. This document also applies to machinery and machinery installations based on new technologies or specially designed installations which are not expressly mentioned here but which nevertheless operate in a similar manner or are meant for similar purposes to those listed above.

The scope of this document excludes the following:

- Systems for flying the general public or for people engaged in non-performance flying effects;

- Systems for supporting a performer in a non-overhead suspension manner, such as stage lifts, elevators, turntables in stages, raked stages, treadmills in stages, or stage wagons;

- Fixed suspension points for acrobatics;

- Fall protection.

Purpose

Realizing flying effects is an artistic expression, and the material used should support the creation of this artistic expression. Since it is an art form, the relevant directive should leave sufficient room for artistic variations, but without jeopardizing safety.

Since systems for “flying” persons are often custom designed and manufactured, it is not possible to cover every part of every possible variant in this practice guideline. It is therefore the responsibility of the designer to thoroughly analyze and test each system in the conditions in which it will be used to ensure that it is safe for the effect for which it was designed.

The term “flying effect” is used broadly in this practice guideline to denote any effect in which an artist appears to rise above gravity and moves above the floor. This term includes, but is not limited to, any movement of the performer controlled by third party, in any direction and at any speed, including any pendulum swing.

Flying systems are hoisting and lifting equipment for lifting artists during a performance and are therefore excluded from the scope of Directive 2006/42/EC [2].