1905 Western Electric magazine
Wiring and Other
Electrical Regulations for Chicago Theaters
after the 1903 Iroquois Theater fire
In the Iroquois Theater fire of December, 1903, Chicago had
such a terrible experience that it revised
its wiring regulations for theaters. That
fire, although originating in a spark from
an arc lamp used on the stage, was not due
so much to deficiency in existing
requirements as to laxity in their
enforcement And if there had not been
further laxity in relation to exits, stage
flues, fire-fighting apparatus, etc., there
would probably have been no loss of life
after the fire started. Nevertheless, in the
light of that terrible calamity, the
specifications for arc lamps in theaters,
for theater wiring and control of
stage flues have been entirely revised and
are now considered to afford effective
protection.
Herewith are given, for the
benefit of all interested in the subject,
the present rules and regulations of the
Department of Electricity of the city of
Chicago relating to spread and lens lamps,
as they are called, to the control of stage
flues and to the wiring of theaters.
Spread Lamps
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Frame
The frame of lamp must be made entirely
of metal, and no wood used in connection
with it. The metal frame to be made of
galvanized steel of a thickness
equivalent to No. 24 U. S. Standard
gauge. Bottom. — Must be made of two
thicknesses of metal for strength and
be entirely closed, except that the
extending rod controlling carbon
holders may enter through the bottom,
but must be bushed in such a manner
that no opening can exist. Sides.—
Must be ribbed or fluted for strength
and be entirely enclosed; colored glass
or the like may be inserted in the
sides, provided it is held in place
both inside and outside by a metal
washer riveted tightly to the frame.
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Back
Must be entirely enclosed, except that
the leading-in asbestos covered
conductors are to enter here, protected
with porcelain bushings; wires must be
sealed inside of bushings with asbestos.
Short porcelain bushings having the
heads inside of lamp are to be provided
and held in place by a suitable flanged
ferrule riveted to metal frame.
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Top
Must be ribbed or fluted for strength
and be suitably ventilated with a
sufficient number of one-half-inch
openings and provided with a
substantially raised hood having
openings at sides; approved gauze wire
to be provided outside of casing to
cover openings, and substantially and
tightly riveted to metal frame to
prevent sparks being emitted from the
lamp.
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Front Opening
Must be provided with a hinged frame in
which ground glass or other glass must
be inserted; color holder to be a part
of this hinged frame, and frame must be
so arranged that it cannot open wider
than 60 degrees; the frame of opening
must close in an approved manner, and
when closed must effectually prevent any
spark from getting out of lamp.
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Guard
Must be provided with a one-sixteenth-
inch iron or steel guard having a mesh
not larger than one inch, and be
substantially placed over top and upper
half of sides and back of lamp frame;
this guard to be substantially riveted
to frame of lamp and to be placed at a
distance of two) inches from the lamp
frame.
-
Lamp
insulation
Fiber or rubber will not be approved as
insulation for metal parts, but mica of
suitable thickness and size will be
required.
-
Lamps on Single Standard
Not more than one arc lamp will be
permitted to be supported on a standard.
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Switch on Standard
Knife switches controlling lamps
must be encased in one-sixteenth-inch
sheet steel box, and arranged in such a
manner that the opening or closing of
the cover of box will open or close the
switch.
-
Lugs
All stranded connections in arc
lamps and at switch and rheostat must be
soldered into lugs having ample contact
surface.
-
Carbon Holders
Carbon holders which will circularly grip the
carbons and cover at least one square inch of carbon
surface will be required.
-
Rheostat
The rheostat, if mounted on standard,
must be raised to a height of at least
three inches above floor line, and in
addition to being properly enclosed must
be surrounded with a substantially
attached metal guard having a mesh not
larger than one square inch, which guard
is to be kept at least one inch from
outside frame of rheostat.
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Operation
It will be important to provide a competent man for each lamp,
whether "hand-feed" or "automatic," and
for the operator to remain at each lamp
until the connections leading to lamp
have been cut off. It will be necessary
in operating lamps to have them so
placed that the operator's head will be
slightly elevated above the lamp frame,
as the safe and proper care of lamps
requires looking down rather than up at
the lamp. In case of any improper
operation of arc lamps by incompetent
operators, this department will reserve
the right to order the discontinuance of
the use of arc lamps in theaters.
Lens Lamps
Lens lamps are to
be the same as spread lamps, except that the
front may be made stationary and door
provided on back or side; said door to be
provided with spring hinge to close
properly, and with a rabbet so set that it
will positively close opening.
Control for Stage Flues
Flues or vents
over stages in all Class V theaters shall be
provided with metal dampers, and shall be
operated by a closed-circuit battery or
closed lighting circuit.
Magnet operating
damper to be wound to take full voltage of
circuit it is supplied with, using no
resistance device, and must not heat more
than normal for apparatus of like
construction. Magnet must be located in loft
above scenery and be installed in an iron
box with tight-closing door.
Such dampers are
to be controlled by two switches, one at
electrician's station on the stage, and the
other at the city fireman's station on
opposite side of stage. Said switches are to
be standard single-pole switches mounted in
substantial iron boxes.
Wiring between
switches, magnet, batteries, etc., to be
standard No. 14 rubber-covered wire
installed in iron conduit. Conduit must
properly enter all boxes and be provided
with lock nuts and smooth bushings on end.
The above
apparatus must be independent of all other
devices or apparatus used to control these
dampers and its operation must not be
interfered with in anyway.
Theater Wiring
1.
All fuses used in connection with lights
illuminating parts of the house used by the
audience, such as auditorium, halls,
corridors, lobbies, stairways, etc., and
also supplementary lights on the stage, must
be enclosed in double fireproof enclosures
with a half-inch air space between
materials, and be so constructed that there
will be six inches between the fuses and the
sides and face of enclosure if open fuses
are used, and three inches for cartridge
fuses. When iron or steel are used the
materials will have to be of a thickness of
at least one-sixteenth inch.
2.
Switchboards accessible from stage
level must be protected by an approved guard
rail to prevent accidental contact with live
parts on board.
3.
Approved stagecables will be allowed to connect
stage pockets to strip lights and bunch
lights, and to extend from border lights to
fly gallery panel boxes, but no other
exposed wiring will be allowed on any stage
or in any dressing rooms, except by special
permission.
4.
All wires, whether exposed or concealed,
except those classed in the above paragraph,
must be encased in approved iron conduits
continuous from outlet to outlet.
5. Flexible cord will not be allowed in any dressing room,
scene room, property room, or on any stage
or working portion of any of the
above- mentioned houses.
6.
Molding will not be permitted to be
used.
7. Approved lugs
must be sweated to the ends of all stage cables.
8. The use of calcium lights in theaters is
strictly prohibited. All arc lamps used in
the building must meet specifications of
this department, and are not to be used
until stamped "approved" by the city
electrician.
9. A competent attendant must be constantly kept in
charge of each arc lamp during the entire
time such lamp is in use or connected to the
live circuits.
10.
Pockets for receptacles must contain
no gas piping, and must be rendered
absolutely fireproof, and must be kept open
at the bottom so that no accumulation of
rubbish or dust will collect therein.
Pockets must be so constructed that live
parts of plug will be protected by floor
ledge and must be cleaned out before every
performance.
11.
Pocket receptacles, when permitted,
must be wired for a capacity of at least 15
amperes.
12. All stage borders must be constructed of
galvanized or enameled iron having a
thickness of not less than No. 20 gauge, and
must be constructed so that the flanges of
reflectors will protect the lamps. Borders
must be suspended by wire rope. Fuses must
not be placed on borders.
13.
Strips are to be constructed the same
as the border lights above, except that in
the proscenium strips a wire mesh will be
required to keep the curtains and scenery
from coming in contact with lamps. Other
strips are to have iron bands so constructed
that they will protect the lamps.
14.
Footlights are to be mounted in an
iron trough constructed of galvanized or
enameled iron not less than No. 20 gauge.
15.
General lamps about the stage and
dressing rooms must be provided with
approved guards. Sockets or lamps will not
be permitted on a canvas or other cloth
setting.
16. Plugging boxes must be of an approved type.
17. Drop chandeliers will not be allowed in
scene setting unless a special permit has
been obtained for use in each setting.
18. The use of
any special electrical effect, such as
lightning, etc., must be approved before
being used.
19.
All lights in halls, corridors, lobby, or any other
part of the building used by the
audience, except the auditorium, shall be
controlled by a separate shut-off located in the lobby,
and controlled only in that particular
place.
20.
Every portion of the building devoted to the use
or accommodation of the public, also all
outlets leading to the streets and including
all open courts, corridors, stairways, exits
and emergency exit stairways
shall be well and properly lighted during
every performance, and the same shall
remain lighted until the entire audience has
left the premises. One 16-candlepower
incandescent lamp for every 400 square feet
of floor space will be considered sufficient
for illumination.
21.
All stairways and corridors shall be
supplied with asupplementary lighting system of
electricity, gas or sperm oil and such
system shall be independent of all other
lights in such building, and shall be in
operation during the entire period such
theater is open to the public and until the
audience has left the building.
22.
All alterations to electrical equipment, and all
new work to be installed or used on each
attraction must be reported by manager of
house and permits be secured before any work is
done. (This to include sign work.)
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