Keeping your school auditorium safe

As one of the biggest areas in a school, a stage or auditorium may seem like a tempting place to use as storage. Unfortunately, it can also become a major fire hazard—especially if proper maintenance is not performed on the curtains.

The following are some of the biggest risks associated with auditorium storage and curtains—and how you can make your auditorium a much safer place for all the people in your building.

Auditorium storage

While it’s inevitable that some areas of your auditorium will need to be used as storage (especially for sets and other large pieces that won’t fit anywhere else), there are several hazards that you should be aware of:

• Tripping hazards – When boxes and other supplies are stored in random places throughout the auditorium or stage area, there is a strong likelihood someone will trip and fall. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code prohibits any obstruction that prevents clear and accessible path of travel to an exit route, at all times.
• Risk of fire – In particular, maintain a clear area of at least 36 inches around electrical equipment. This type of equipment must be accessible to isolate power if necessary.
• Flammable and combustible liquids – Any flammable or combustible materials that are used to create special effects should be stored in approved flammable storage cabinets. Oil/solvent-soaked rags should also be disposed of in an approved oily waste container and emptied each day.
• Exit obstruction – Items stored in the auditorium should never block an emergency exit or fire safety devices, such as fire extinguishers, fire hoses and fire alarm pull stations. This could be a life-threatening mistake in case of fire or other emergency requiring evacuation.

Curtain risks

School stage curtains can pose a fire risk because of several different factors, including:

• Dust – It can accumulate on the curtains and is extremely combustible. This is an especially big problem if the curtains are not used often, which makes dust an even bigger problem.
• Heat – Lights play a big role during theatrical productions—and they can also become very, very hot. Lights can create a hazard when they are too close to the curtains.
• Chemicals – If flammable chemicals are stored in an auditorium, and they come in contact with curtains, that could create a dangerous situation.
• Flammability – Curtains are flammable and can quickly spread flames. Over time, flame retardant treatments become ineffective to reduce the spread of fire.

To mitigate the risk of fire to your stage curtains, it’s important to:

• Maintain the curtains’ flame resistance by checking their manufacturer tags. The tags will specify the flame-resistant rating for each curtain, and how long this rating is effective. Curtains may be classified as:
  • Non-Flame Retardant (NFR), meaning the fabric is not flame retardant.
  • Flame Retardant (FR), meaning the fabric has been treated with a flame-retardant chemical that may be effective for a year or longer.
  • Durably Flame Retardant (DFT), meaning the fabric is treated with non-water-soluble flame retardant, which will hold up to frequent washing.
  • Inherently Flame Retardant (IFR), meaning the fabric is constructed of non-combustible elements, and is permanently flame resistant for the life of the fabric.

Although curtains should be inspected annually regardless of rating, most chemical treatments may only be effective for one to five years. During this time frame, a qualified vendor should perform an inspection. Following inspection, the vendor may recommend additional treatment applications or replacement of the curtains. Seeking the advice of an expert will help you know for sure when it is time to treat or replace your curtains.

• Consider installing fire safety curtains, which release from the ceiling to provide a barrier between the stage and auditorium seating, allowing individuals more time to evacuate in the event of a fire.
• Know your local fire codes. These are typically based on the National Fire Protection Association’s standards.

The things that can be the most impressive in an auditorium—pyrotechnics, fog machines, lavish curtains and elaborate sets—can also be most dangerous. Use caution with use, storage method, and how often you replace them.

Check out additional risk control theater safety tips here.