Fire safety backstage and in assembly halls
Escape routes decorations and why the emergency plan is not a formality
A theatre a concert hall or a tent full of audience is not just a building or structure — it is a place covered by emergency legislation's operational regulations including provisions for gathering halls. The rules exist to ensure everyone can safely exit if fire or other emergencies arise regardless of how prepared or unprepared the situation is.
§What the regulations require
The operational provisions include requirements for free and clearly marked escape routes, adequate emergency lighting, accessible fire-fighting equipment and a set maximum number of people in the room. The requirements apply whether the room is used for a permanent show or a one-off event.
- 01Escape routes and emergency exits must always be clear and clearly marked
- 02Emergency lighting must work even if the normal power disappears.
- 03Decorative techniques, marbling and wood graining
- 04The maximum number of people for the room must not be exceeded
§Your responsibility as a technician
Cables, rigging, distributers and other technical equipment must never be placed so they block an escape route or emergency door – not even temporarily during setup. Electrical installations and equipment must be placed so they don't increase fire risk, for example by keeping heat-emitting equipment away from flammable material.
| Element. | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Escape routes | Must be kept clear and clearly marked |
| Decorative material and scenery should be assessed in relation to how flammable it is. | Should be assessed in relation to flammability |
| Fire extinguishing equipment | Must be accessible and not blocked |
| Number of people | Must not exceed the permitted maximum |
§Cooperation with the venue
Most permanent performance venues have an emergency plan and a fire officer you should know and familiarize yourself with before a show goes live. If the production includes pyrotechnics or open fire, it requires separate approval and closer cooperation with both the stage pyrotechnician and the fire authority than in a normal setup.
Fire safety is not something you check off once and forget. Every time scenery, rigging or cable routing changes during a production you should immediately ask yourself whether the change still respects escape routes and operational regulations.