Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1992 - 52

CONCLUSION
The changes in rhe codes and srandards
rhar were made in rhis siruarion are
rypical of rhe ongoing developmenr of
codes and srandards. As an indusrry, you
can wrire and propose your own
reqUIremenrs where rhe exisring
requiremenrs conflicr wirh your needs or
pracrice. Addirionally, by your knowledge
of codes and srandards, misinrerprerarion
by local inspecrors can be changed in
your favor. You, as a pracricing
professional, musr become involved in
rhis process. There is no group of code
and srandards experrs wriring codes for
you. You, individually or collecrively,
musr parricipare in rhe developmenr of
codes and srandards affecring your
indusrry.
The organizarions such as rhe
Narional Fire Prorecrion Associarion or
Underwrirers Laborarories will rhen
review your proposals and consider rhem
for inclusion in rhe codes and srandards.
Good subsranriarion of rhe reasons for rhe
suggesred changes, backed by an
undersranding of sound engineering and
scienrific principals showing rhar rhe
change will resulr in equivalenr or safer
producrs or procedures, will help us ro
berrer rhe producrs we use.

Do nor assume rhar you can ignore
rhe changes. They will nor go away. The
inspecror may nor cire you rhis rime, bur
rhe nexr rime you play his rown, he may
have read rhis arricle, Your insurance
agency may nor raise your liabiliry
premium rhis year, bur rhey roo will
become aware of rhis issue, Finally, if an
accidenr does happen, are you prepared ro
defend yourself> Do you consider yourself
an experr in whar you do? Did you know
of a berrer and safer way ro do your job)
These are rhe hard borrom line quesrions
you have ro ask yourselves, because if you
don'r rhe plainriff's arromey will cerrainly
ask you when you are slrrlng on rhar
wirness srand.
~
Richard D. Thompson is principal

cOlISultant of Thompson Associates of Van
Nuys, CA, a conSlllting firm specializing in
the entertainment industly He is a Fellow
of the US/TT and received the US/TT
Safety Award in 1988. He served as
secretary for US/T7's 1993 National
Electrical Code Committee.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Nfl/iollal EIl'CtTiral Code (I 987), ~ational Fire Protection
Associa[ion, Quinc)', t-.'tA.
Nfl/iollal EIl'Ctrical Code (I 990), ~ational Fire Protection
Associadon. Quincy, ~ lAo
Elertrical COll5lrllctioll J\[aterials Director)' (1989),

Underwriters LaborJwries Inc., i\'orrhbrook. IL, "\X'e1ding
Cable (ZH-\W': 590-591.
"Standards for Safet\', Ul 1581, Reference Standard for
Electrical Wires, Cables and Flexible Cords." I st cd.
Underwrirers Laboratories Inc., ~of(hbrook, IL (I
December 1988 Revised).
"Standards for Saferr, Ul 62, Flexible Cord and Fixture
\Vire." 14(h cd .. Underwriters LaboralDries Inc..
:"onhbrook. Il (15 April 198- Revised).

APPENDIX:
Referenced publica(ions may be obtained from (he
following organizations:
National Fire Protection Associa(ion. Publica[ions Order
Depanme"" Banen'march Park, Quincy, ~IA 02269: 800344-3555
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Publica[ions Swck, 333
Plingsten Rd., :\onhbrook. II 60062: -08-2-2-8800

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
The alHhor wishes to expR'ss his sincere apprecia[ion to [he
following for [heir assisrance in preparing this ~lfIicle;
Murlin Marks, Assisram Director, Elenrical Division.
Underwriters Labo[Jwries, Inc.. Sama Clara, CA
Gary A. Wilson, ACling Chief EJcclfical lnspecror. City of
Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Roland LeVasseur, Chief Electrical Inspector, Dep.lrrmem
of labor and Indus",', Slate of \Vashingron, Oll'lllpia, \VA
Junior Owens, Chief Elenrical Inspector, Building Codes
Agency, Slate of Oregon, Salem, OR
Charles Moore. Senior Safety Engineer (Rerired), Division
of Occupational Safery and Heahh, State of California.
Somh San Francisco, CA
J. Phillip Simmons, Executive Director, In(erna(ional
.-\ssocia[ion ofEleClricallnspecrors, Richardson, TX
Dick Sousa, Vice Presidenl Sales Administration, Carol
Cable Company, Inc., Pawtucket, R1
\X/ayne Kowalsky, Coleman Cable Corporarion, North
Chicago,IL
Douglas Fessler. Fessler Elecuical Engineering, ~orth
Hollywood, C\

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50

1992 SUMMER

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1992
