SECTION 11062 THEATER CURTAINS AND TRACKS PART 1 GENERAL 1.01 SUMMARY A. Related Sections: 1. 05500 - Metal Fabrications. 2. 06100 - Carpentry. 3. 11132 - Projection Screens. 4. Division 16 - Light Pipes. 1.02 REFERENCES A. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM): 1. E84-96a Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials. B. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): 1. 701 Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Resistant Textiles and Films, latest edition. 1.03 DEFINITIONS A. Apron: The area of the stage in front of the proscenium. B. Back Curtain: A large curtain with folds, at the rear of the stage to provide a backdrop. C. Batten: A pipe unit used to support scenery, curtains, and lights, usually suspended from the grid. D. Borders: The short curtains used to trim or hide lights and similar objects from the audience. Also, called teaser or valance. E. Cyclorama: A large, stretched, and taut curtain at the rear of the stage to provide a backdrop and used for lighting effects. F. Grid: Short for grid iron. A steel grid or framework of parallel beams located near the top of the stage house used to support the rigging system. G. House Curtain: The curtain closest to the proscenium that Project No. SPECIFICATION GUIDELINES 11062-1
opens and closes to expose the stage area to the audience. Also, called grand drape, front curtain, main curtain, or act curtain. H. Legs: Side masking curtains, usually hung in pairs on both sides of the stage. I. Proscenium: The wall, frame, or arch separating the stage and the audience. J. Rigging: Systems used to raise, lower, or move stage equipment. K. Scrim: A curtain made of scrim or gauze-like material that is semi-transparent depending on lighting. L. Traveler: A two-piece curtain that can be operated or closed at the center. M. Valance: The first masking border behind the proscenium. 1.04 SUBMITTALS A. Product Data: Manufacturer's printed technical information containing details and specifications. B. Shop Drawings: Indicate fixture layouts. Provide scaled elevations showing compliance to height clearance requirements. C. Samples: 1. 12 inch by 12 inch minimum sample for each fabric color or pattern. 2. Minimum 1 foot long piece of each type of track including carrier. 1.05 QUALITY ASSURANCE A. Regulatory Requirement: The proscenium opening of the working stage with a fire curtain shall be constructed and mounted according to State Requirements for Educational Facilities - 1999(SREF) and NFPA for working stages. B. Provide materials and equipment of new, prime quality, free from defects impairing strength, durability, or appearance and according to applicable codes and standards. C. Fabricator/Installer Qualifications: Firm with not less than 5 years of successful experience in fabrication and installation of stage curtains similar to those required Project No. SPECIFICATION GUIDELINES 11062-2
for this project. D. Flame Resistant Requirements: Provide flame resistant curtains meeting the requirements of NFPA 701. Permanently attach a label to each curtain indicating curtain flame resistant rating. 1.06 PROJECT CONDITIONS A. See light pipes and movie screens being installed under Divisions 10 and 16 of this specification. 1. Dimensions shown on drawings may be varied to accommodate other rigging or devices, when verified with and written approval obtained from A/E. PART 2 PRODUCTS 2.01 MANUFACTURERS A. Fabric: 1. Dazion, Inc. 2. Frankel Associates. 3. KM Fabrics by Greeneville Stage Equipment Co. Inc., Greeneville, SC. 4. Rose Brand, New York, NY. 5. Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc. B. Rigging: 1. Automatic Devices Co. 2. United Stage Equipment, Inc. 2.02 MATERIALS A. House Curtain and Valance: 25 ounce per linear yard velour of solid color as selected by A/E. B. Borders, Legs, Side, and Back Curtains:, 21 ounce per finished yard, 100 percent cotton fabric of solid black color, opaque. C. Cyclorama: Light blue fabric suitable for theater light projection. D. Scrim Curtain Fabric: White or beige color. 1. House curtain made in 2 sections, each high x length equivalent to entire half circle, without Project No. SPECIFICATION GUIDELINES 11062-3
fullness. 2. Construction the same as specified for the cyclorama curtains. E. CCTV Backdrop Curtain Fabric: 1. Sky blue color and flame resistant. a. House curtain made in sections, each high x long, without fullness. b. Construction the same as specified for the cyclorama curtains. NOTE TO SPECIFIER: The following paragraph is applicable to all curtains specified in this section. F. Curtain Labels: Sewn-on, permanent label, stating that the curtain material is inherently flame resistant for life of fabric. 2.03 EQUIPMENT A. Track and Pipe Battens: 1. Track for House Curtain: a. No.280 "Silent Steel" by Automatic Devices Co., Allentown, PA or No.2800 "Heavy Duty" by United Stage Equipment, Inc., Hartselle, AL. b. Furnish track in two equal sections, each section approximately long. c. Furnish track with necessary ball bearing end block pulleys, track carriers and master carriers with trim chain, backpack guides, nylon rope for manual traverse operation, splicing clamps, and other necessary accessories for complete operation. NOTE TO SPECIFIER: The following paragraph shall be used if the movie screen exceeds 11'-0" in vertical dimension. If the movie screen does not exceed this dimension, then use pipe batten for the valence as specified in Paragraph 2.01 A.13. Verify with the A/E. 2. Track for Valance: a. No.170 Besteel by Automatic Devices Co. or No.1700 "Medium Duty" by United Stage Equipment, Inc. b. Furnish track in two sections, each section approximately long. Project No. SPECIFICATION GUIDELINES 11062-4
c. Furnish track with necessary ball bearing end block pulleys, floor pulley with "special disconnect" feature, track carriers and master carriers with trim chain, backpack guides, nylon rope for manual traverse operation, splicing clamps, and any other necessary accessories for complete operation. 3. Track for Leg No.1, Leg No.2, and Leg No.3: a. No.170 Besteel by Automatic Devices Co. or No. 1700 "Medium Duty" by United Stage Equipment, Inc. b. Furnish track in 2 sections, each section approximately long for Leg No.1, approximately long for Leg No.2, and approximately long for Leg No.3. c. Furnish track with necessary ball bearing end block pulleys, floor pulley with special "disconnect feature", track carriers and master carriers with trim chain, backpack guides, nylon rope for manual traverse operation, splicing clamps, and other necessary accessories for complete operation. 4. Cyclorama: a. Same as for Legs except each section approximately long. b. Furnish track with necessary ball bearing end block pulleys, floor pulley with special "disconnect feature", track carriers and master carriers with trim chain, backpack guides, nylon rope for manual traverse operation, splicing clamps, and other necessary accessories for complete operation. 5. Pipe Batten for Border No.1: One inch ID galvanized pipe, sleeve jointed with rivets, end capped, furnished long, bend as shown on Drawings. 6. Pipe Batten for Border No.2: Same as for Border No.1, except furnished long, bend as shown on Drawings. 7. Pipe Batten for Border No.3: Same as for Border No.1, except furnished long, bend as shown on Drawings. 8. Pipe Batten for Cyclorama Border: Same as for Border No.1, except furnished long, bend as shown on Drawings. NOTE TO SPECIFIER. The following paragraph shall be used if the valance does not require track in order to free it from conflict with the top of the movie screen, see Paragraph 2.01 A.2. Verify with the A/E. Project No. SPECIFICATION GUIDELINES 11062-5
9. Pipe Batten for Valance: Same as for Border No.1, except furnished long. B. Track Support Assembly Components: 1. Track Clamp: Heavy steel construction, standard to manufacturer designed for anchoring to any position along track. 2. Lap Links: 7/32", galvanized. 3. Turnbuckles: Minimum 1-1/4" x 4" drop-forged, eye-toeye, galvanized. 4. Chain: Minimum #2/0 tenso, galvanized. 5. Pipe Clamp: Heavy steel construction, standard to track manufacturer (approx. 1-1/2"). C. Pipe Batten Support Assembly Components: 1. Eye Batten Rings: Clancy No.387-B. 2. Lap Links: 7/32", galvanized. 3. Turnbuckles: Minimum 1-1/4" x 4" drop-forged, eye-toeye, galvanized. 4. Chain: Minimum #2/0 tenso, galvanized. 5. Pipe Clamp: Heavy steel construction, standard to track manufacturer (approx. 1-1/2"). D. Grid Pipe Cross Members: One inch I.D. galvanized pipe in length as required for intermediate cross supports over top of 1-1/2" diameter pipe grid. E. CCTV Backdrop Curtain Track: 1. No.140 "Flex-I-Track" by Automatic Devices Co., Allentown, Pa. or accepted equivalent. 2. Furnish track in 1 continuous section (splices as required to accommodate corner radii and as accepted by A/E) approximately long, dead hung. 3. Furnish track with necessary track carriers, master carriers and white nylon lead lines for "walk-along" operation from both ends of each curtain section. NOTE TO SPECIFIER: The following item applies to high schools only. F. Little Theater Scrim Curtain Track: 1. No.140 "Flex-I-Track" by Automatic Devices Co., Allentown, Pa. or accepted equivalent. 2. Furnish track in 1 continuous section (splices as required to accommodate radii and as accepted by the Project No. SPECIFICATION GUIDELINES 11062-6
A/E) approximately long, dead hung. 3. Furnish track with necessary track carriers, master carriers and white nylon lead lines for "walk-along" operation from both ends of each curtain section. 2.04 FABRICATION A. Curtains. 1. General: a. Fabrics shall be from the same dyelot number. b. Cut fabric from bolt so defects or imperfections are not in the visible surface of the finished seams. c. Provide nap down on velour fabrics. d. Horizontal seams are not allowed. e. Less than 1/2 width cuts of fabrics are not allowed. 2. Fabrication and Plotting: a. Curtains shall contain 50 percent fullness. b. Widths shall be full length with vertical seams. c. Plot seams shall be hidden. 3. Pleating and Reinforcing: a. Box pleated on 12 inch centers (rear stitch 12" down). b. Sew 3-1/2" of 6-1/2 pound jute webbing to top of drapery with 2 rows of lock stitching. 4. Attachments: Cotton tie lines for securing to pipe battens, 30 inches long. B. House Curtain: 1. House Curtain made in 2 sections, each section high x long, with 50 percent fullness. a. Turn back 24 inches of fabric on leading edge and 6 inches of fabric turned back on trailing edge, with turned back fabric in excess of specified fullness. b. Make 4 inch bottom hems and double, with galvanized #2/0 weldless well chain weight encased in and tacked to bottom fold of separate chain pocket inside hem. c. "Lock-stitched" the hems with clear #9 monofilament nylon thread. d. Reinforce tops of curtains with 6-1/2 pound jute Project No. SPECIFICATION GUIDELINES 11062-7
webbing. e. Install #2 brass grommets 3/4" from the top of curtains at center of each pleat and at curtain ends and at middle of leading edge. f. Provide #9 "S" hooks for attaching the track carriers. g. Locate pleats 12 inches o.c., close the back, with back edges sewn together from the top, a distance of 12 inches down. h. Cross seams are prohibited. C. Valance for Use with Pipe Batten: 1. Valance curtain made in 1 section high x long, with 50 percent fullness. 2. Fabricate Valance with straight top and bottom. 3. Construction same as specified for the House Curtain, except chain weight and chain weight pocket not required. D. Valance for Use with Traverse Track: 1. Valance curtain made in 2 sections, each section high x long, with 50 percent fullness. 2. Fabricate valance with straight top and bottom. 3. Construction same as specified for the House Curtain, except chain weight and chain weight pocket not required. E. Cyclorama: 1. 100 percent cotton, long x high, seamless muslin or Cyc cloth. Natural color. 2. Fabrics shall be flame treated in a manner approved by the State of Florida. Flame treatment certification shall be sewn into the bottom corner of each piece of material attesting that all fabrics have been flame treated in an approved manner. 3. Hem the bottom pocket of the cyclorama with a pipe pocket to accommodate 3/4" inch diameter pipe. 4. Reinforce the top of cyclorama with 3-1/2" wide, 12 pound jute webbing with heavy duty grommets at 1 foot intervals. Provide 36 inch long black tie-lines attached. 5. Sew back the face fabric on the side sections 6 inches on both sides. F. Leg Curtains No.1, 2 and 3: 1. Leg Curtains made in 2 sections, each high x Project No. SPECIFICATION GUIDELINES 11062-8
long, with 50 percent fullness. 2. Construction the same as specified for the cyclorama curtains. G. Border Curtain No.1: 1. Border Curtain No.1 made in one section high x long, with 50 percent fullness. 2. Construction same as specified for cyclorama, except the chain weight and chain weight pocket are not required. H. Border Curtain No.2: Same as Border Curtain No.1, except it shall be made on one section high x long, with 50 percent fullness. I. Border Curtain No.3: Same as Border Curtain No.1, except it shall be made in one section high x long, with 50 percent fullness. J. Cyclorama Border: Same as Border Curtain No.1, except it shall be made in one section high x long, with 50 percent fullness. NOTE TO SPECIFIER: The following item applies to high schools only. K. Little Theater Scrim Curtain Track: 1. No.140 "Flex-I-Track" by Automatic Devices Co., Allentown, Pa. or accepted equivalent. 2. Furnish track in 1 continuous section (splices as required to accommodate radii and as accepted by the A/E) approximately long, dead hung. 3. Furnish track with necessary track carriers, master carriers and white nylon lead lines for "walk-along" operation from both ends of each curtain section. PART 3 EXECUTION 3.01 INSPECTION A. Do not proceed with the work of this section until conditions detrimental to the proper and timely completion of the work have been corrected in an acceptable manner. 3.02 INSTALLATION A. Track: Install support assembly for track not to exceed 8 Project No. SPECIFICATION GUIDELINES 11062-9
feet o.c., and in the exact order listed as follows: 1. Track Clamp: Heavy steel construction, standard with manufacturer, designed for anchoring to any position along track. 2. Lap Links: 7/32", galvanized. 3. Turnbuckles: Minimum 1-1/4" x 4" drop-forged, eye-toeye, galvanized. 4. Chain: Minimum No.2/0 tenso, galvanized. 5. Pipe Clamp: 1-1/4" heavy steel construction, standard with manufacturer. B. Pipe Battens: Install support assembly for pipe battens not to exceed 8 feet o.c. and in the exact order listed as follows: 1. Lap-links, chain and pipe clamps same as track support assembly. 2. Eye Batten Rings: Clancy No.387-B, or accepted equivalent. C. Hang finished curtains so that bottom is approximately 1 inch from finished floor. 1. Provide sufficient trim chain at track carriers to allow for vertical adjustment. D. Where track is specified to be "dead hung", use hardware standard to the manufacturer specifically designed for the purpose and as accepted by the A/E. E. Install valance curtain, provide necessary tie lines. 1. Install valance pipe level, provide support chain as required to establish a working height of 9'-0" for elementary schools and 11'-6" for middle and high schools measured from stage floor to bottom of valance curtain. F. Attach nylon rope to each end carrier of side mask curtains for "walk-a-long" operation. G. Provide each curtain section, valance and border with a curtain label on back side. Locate label not less than 7'- 0" above bottom edge of any curtain section and along top edge of borders and valances. END OF SECTION Project No. SPECIFICATION GUIDELINES 11062-10