COMPLIANCE GUIDE FOR TEMPORARY STRUCTURES
V1 2022
Introduction
This guide is based on the International Code of Practice for Entertainment Rigging. It has been supplemented with guidance based on knowledge and information gained from the Australian Standards, WHS guidelines, the Building Control Commission regulations, and applicable regulations in each state. This is NOT a definitive guide and users are urged to seek confirmation from registered and licenced practitioners and local government departments as required.
This guide is NOT a substitute for training and experience of competent persons.
This guide, as was the original ICOPER document, is designed to be read in ‘stand-alone’ sections so users can reference the section applicable to their current task. To this end much of the information is repeated in each section to allow that section to be self- contained and not rely on the user reading the entire document to reference a specific section.
The concept of TEMPORARY structures installations and operation in this guide covers systems that are installed, or erected, to carry the load of other persons and/or equipment for a period of time. A truss and hoist system, a ground supporting structure to support screens, light, sound, or persons, a temporary roof or stage are all considered to be temporary structures. Even a catwalk or theatre flying system is a temporary structure in this concept when the load or equipment on that structure is changed for a period of time for a specific event or purpose.
In this guide “rigging systems” includes structures that support loads.
As this is based on the ICoPER document, the ICoPER document is reproduced faithfully and the notes on application of some sections are added as guidance for Australian situations. This additional information is in Aerial font and at the bottom of the relevant section
ICOPER
In response to calls from the international entertainment rigging community, rigging professionals from around the globe have voluntarily collaborated to create this International Code of Practice for Entertainment Rigging (ICOPER).
Recognition and acceptance of this universal code will help promote regulatory harmony and reduce potential conflicts between regions around the world. The resulting improvements in communications and relations with regional and local regulators will be particularly beneficial to those professionals involved in international production.
Acknowledging that regulations and standards differ around the world, ICOPER is not prescriptive, rather it provides a series of guidelines that, if followed, will produce uniformly predictable results and enhance safe practice. Adopting and supporting ICOPER therefore benefits everyone involved in event production.
We ask you to keep in mind that this document is intended to serve the worldwide community, so references to local legislation and practices, etc., must be used in conjunction with ICOPER.
Mission Statement
The purpose of the International Code of Practice for Entertainment Rigging is to promote awareness and safety worldwide by providing a model code of practice with a focus on arena rigging.
The practices described in the code are intended to provide a universal foundation for those engaged in planning, managing and executing rigging.
ICOPER also provides guidelines for those who wish to develop policy, design training content or help establish certification criteria.
ICOPER – Genesis and Development
Calls from the international rigging community to create a uniform code of practice to serve riggers in all geographic areas first arose at the 2010 PLASA Rigging Conference. Many countries were keen to professionalise what they do and were concerned with international parity.
In response to this, the idea of adapting and applying an existing qualification such as the ETCP or NRC to all geographic areas was explored and found to be impractical due to legislative and educational differences between regions. The conclusion was reached that the global rigging industry would be best served by an International Code of Practice.
In 2013 Michele Enright and Lori Rubinstein from the PLASA Skills Division agreed to undertake the administrative aspects of developing this Code and assembled a group of subject matter experts (SMEs) representing three different regions of the world: Asia Pacific, European Union, and North America. They also contracted with a research firm to undertake a task-based mapping exercise of existing rigging standards and codes of practice from six countries around the world.
The report issued from this exercise stated that “Overall, while there was considerable overlap, there appeared to be significant unevenness in the standards coverage across the different countries. A substantial and important feature that emerged was that there was considerable variation in the weight attached to certain elements of the rigging process by individual countries. In nearly every case, certain elements of knowledge and skills related to rigging were missing, or were not explicitly covered, within documents.”
The SMEs developed a proposed content outline and received feedback on it from attendees at the PLASA Rigging Conference. The chapters were then divided up equally among the three regions to author a first draft. Once a region had completed their draft it was forwarded to the other two regions for comment.
The group discovered that, once an initial draft was completed, their most productive way of working was to meet via WebEx and go through each chapter on a line-by-line basis so they could discuss in detail and agree on final wording. The group met every four to six weeks for eighteen months for two-to-three-hour sessions, often beginning at 6am in Sydney and 11pm in Amsterdam. The SMEs also completed extensive work between WebEx sessions.
The goal from the start was to achieve consensus on what to include, what constitutes good practice, what level of detail, and what terminology. In particular, the SMEs recognised that different regions use different terminology but, in agreeing on the final wording, the question they continually asked themselves was “Do I understand what it means?” It is hoped that the inclusion of the Glossary will help everyone to understand a common language. The SMEs wanted to approach the document from a “10,000 foot point of view” and a great deal of time was spent in paring down long descriptions or explanations to be as concise as possible.
Once the initial review was completed, the entire document was reviewed again for consistency of practice and terminology. A second group of SMEs from around the world was then asked to review the document and submit their comments. The original SMEs held several additional WebEx meetings to discuss each comment received and determine whether to incorporate the suggested change into the document.
Comments on ICOPER are cordially invited from the rigging community and will be reviewed on a periodic basis for inclusion in future editions. Comments may be sent to icoper@esta.org.
When ESTA and PLASA ended their cooperation agreement in 2015, administration of the ICOPER project was undertaken by ESTA. The Boards of Directors of ESTA and PLASA agreed to make ICOPER electronically available at no charge to the worldwide rigging community.
ESTA and PLASA wish to extend their sincerest appreciation to all the SMEs who participated in the process, but particularly to the six individuals who gave so unselfishly of their time and knowledge to author and refine ICOPER for the benefit of all: Nick Barnfield, Tiny Good, Chris Higgs, Ed Kish, Bill Sapsis, and Roy Schilderman.
This guide is based on the International Code of Practice for Entertainment Rigging. It has been supplemented with guidance based on knowledge and information gained from the Australian Standards, WHS guidelines, the Building Control Commission regulations, and applicable regulations in each state. This is NOT a definitive guide and users are urged to seek confirmation from registered and licenced practitioners and local government departments as required.
This guide is NOT a substitute for training and experience of competent persons.
This guide, as was the original ICOPER document, is designed to be read in ‘stand-alone’ sections so users can reference the section applicable to their current task. To this end much of the information is repeated in each section to allow that section to be self- contained and not rely on the user reading the entire document to reference a specific section.
The concept of TEMPORARY structures installations and operation in this guide covers systems that are installed, or erected, to carry the load of other persons and/or equipment for a period of time. A truss and hoist system, a ground supporting structure to support screens, light, sound, or persons, a temporary roof or stage are all considered to be temporary structures. Even a catwalk or theatre flying system is a temporary structure in this concept when the load or equipment on that structure is changed for a period of time for a specific event or purpose.
In this guide “rigging systems” includes structures that support loads.
As this is based on the ICoPER document, the ICoPER document is reproduced faithfully and the notes on application of some sections are added as guidance for Australian situations. This additional information is in Aerial font and at the bottom of the relevant section
ICOPER
In response to calls from the international entertainment rigging community, rigging professionals from around the globe have voluntarily collaborated to create this International Code of Practice for Entertainment Rigging (ICOPER).
Recognition and acceptance of this universal code will help promote regulatory harmony and reduce potential conflicts between regions around the world. The resulting improvements in communications and relations with regional and local regulators will be particularly beneficial to those professionals involved in international production.
Acknowledging that regulations and standards differ around the world, ICOPER is not prescriptive, rather it provides a series of guidelines that, if followed, will produce uniformly predictable results and enhance safe practice. Adopting and supporting ICOPER therefore benefits everyone involved in event production.
We ask you to keep in mind that this document is intended to serve the worldwide community, so references to local legislation and practices, etc., must be used in conjunction with ICOPER.
Mission Statement
The purpose of the International Code of Practice for Entertainment Rigging is to promote awareness and safety worldwide by providing a model code of practice with a focus on arena rigging.
The practices described in the code are intended to provide a universal foundation for those engaged in planning, managing and executing rigging.
ICOPER also provides guidelines for those who wish to develop policy, design training content or help establish certification criteria.
ICOPER – Genesis and Development
Calls from the international rigging community to create a uniform code of practice to serve riggers in all geographic areas first arose at the 2010 PLASA Rigging Conference. Many countries were keen to professionalise what they do and were concerned with international parity.
In response to this, the idea of adapting and applying an existing qualification such as the ETCP or NRC to all geographic areas was explored and found to be impractical due to legislative and educational differences between regions. The conclusion was reached that the global rigging industry would be best served by an International Code of Practice.
In 2013 Michele Enright and Lori Rubinstein from the PLASA Skills Division agreed to undertake the administrative aspects of developing this Code and assembled a group of subject matter experts (SMEs) representing three different regions of the world: Asia Pacific, European Union, and North America. They also contracted with a research firm to undertake a task-based mapping exercise of existing rigging standards and codes of practice from six countries around the world.
The report issued from this exercise stated that “Overall, while there was considerable overlap, there appeared to be significant unevenness in the standards coverage across the different countries. A substantial and important feature that emerged was that there was considerable variation in the weight attached to certain elements of the rigging process by individual countries. In nearly every case, certain elements of knowledge and skills related to rigging were missing, or were not explicitly covered, within documents.”
The SMEs developed a proposed content outline and received feedback on it from attendees at the PLASA Rigging Conference. The chapters were then divided up equally among the three regions to author a first draft. Once a region had completed their draft it was forwarded to the other two regions for comment.
The group discovered that, once an initial draft was completed, their most productive way of working was to meet via WebEx and go through each chapter on a line-by-line basis so they could discuss in detail and agree on final wording. The group met every four to six weeks for eighteen months for two-to-three-hour sessions, often beginning at 6am in Sydney and 11pm in Amsterdam. The SMEs also completed extensive work between WebEx sessions.
The goal from the start was to achieve consensus on what to include, what constitutes good practice, what level of detail, and what terminology. In particular, the SMEs recognised that different regions use different terminology but, in agreeing on the final wording, the question they continually asked themselves was “Do I understand what it means?” It is hoped that the inclusion of the Glossary will help everyone to understand a common language. The SMEs wanted to approach the document from a “10,000 foot point of view” and a great deal of time was spent in paring down long descriptions or explanations to be as concise as possible.
Once the initial review was completed, the entire document was reviewed again for consistency of practice and terminology. A second group of SMEs from around the world was then asked to review the document and submit their comments. The original SMEs held several additional WebEx meetings to discuss each comment received and determine whether to incorporate the suggested change into the document.
Comments on ICOPER are cordially invited from the rigging community and will be reviewed on a periodic basis for inclusion in future editions. Comments may be sent to icoper@esta.org.
When ESTA and PLASA ended their cooperation agreement in 2015, administration of the ICOPER project was undertaken by ESTA. The Boards of Directors of ESTA and PLASA agreed to make ICOPER electronically available at no charge to the worldwide rigging community.
ESTA and PLASA wish to extend their sincerest appreciation to all the SMEs who participated in the process, but particularly to the six individuals who gave so unselfishly of their time and knowledge to author and refine ICOPER for the benefit of all: Nick Barnfield, Tiny Good, Chris Higgs, Ed Kish, Bill Sapsis, and Roy Schilderman.