smoke machines and fire alarms

[New DJ]

hi guys this has probably been done before but here goes.do all smoke machines set off fire alarms in schools,hotels etc?????????
can anyone help

[Shaun]

Most hotels don't allow the use of smoke machines. I've never had a problem in any of the Schools I've played in.

It's always best to check with the client and/or venue about their policy on smoke being used.

[ross@rds]

They Set them off in most but since the smoking ban in scotland most venues don't let you use them.

[Shaun]

They Set them off in most but since the smoking ban in scotland most venues don't let you use them.

The smoking ban hasn't affected my use of smoke/haze. The venues that allowed smoke machine use prior to the ban still allows them to be used.

[Vectis]

Had a few problems with smoke in hotels etc., but since switching to haze have had no issues at all. In fact I've been known to use haze in buildings that prohibit smoke machines and the management haven't even noticed until it's too late!

[Harrison's Discos]

Oh no.. NOT THE SMOKE ALARMS!:eek:
We have had fantastic moments during a theatre production and the bloomin security have forgotten to deactivate the smoke alarms causing the main fire alarms to go off in the main foyay !:o! Not good at all :bang: :mad:

But we have found a brilliant way to combat the problem for a safe and temporary measure :D :D :D ... all you have to do is get a smallish water balloon (not filled with water of course) and stretch it over the smoke alarm (if you can reach it) and basically block the smoke censors on it. Its a simple idea providing you can reach it and allowed aswell.

[Penfold42]

and stretch it over the smoke alarm

Not sure if Health and Safety would like this......if you forget to take it off!!

[Harrison's Discos]

Not sure if Health and Safety would like this......if you forget to take it off!!

Thats really the only issue though.. providing you remember or take a note and remember and have permission granted your alright :whome:

[Penfold42]

Thats really the only issue though.. providing you remember or take a note and remember

That's just it....I cant' remember where I have left my car / house keys half the time let alone remember i've stuck a silly ballon on a fire alarm...:confused:

God forbid the place should burn down....not an option in my book.

[ross@rds]

The smoking ban hasn't affected my use of smoke/haze. The venues that allowed smoke machine use prior to the ban still allows them to be used.

I can use haze in most venues but they dont allow somke machines most of them now.

[DMX Will]

Remember guys smoke and haze is pretty much the same thing, and it's all based around the same liquid (obviously not completelty the same). Use enough of it, and the alarms will go off.

With the covering of smoke detecters - this is perfectly legal, you can even buy the specially designed caps for them. Although I would have thought it was the job of a techncian in a theatre to turn off the said alarm.

[rob1963]

Smoke machines make your lighting look fantastic, but the sad truth is that you just can't use them in the vast majority of venues these days.

The only time you're always safe with them is gigs in marquees.

I haven't even bothered taking mine out for a good few years now.

I found out about the problems they can cause back in the mid 80's when I was just starting out. I set off a Le Maitre pod which gave out a mushroom of green smoke & looked fantastic. A few seconds later, I heard a bell ringing.

After about 5 minutes, in rushed about 5 firemen in full kit & helmets. I quickly looked for an appropriate song & put on "Fire" by the crazy world of Arthur Brown, before going to apologise. Luckily, they saw the funny side & were ok about it.

Lesson learned! :p

[flatliners]

the smoking ban is gonna kill me i used 2 give out ciggerets and asked if they could blow the smoke at the lights
lol

[Harrison's Discos]

Although I would have thought it was the job of a techncian in a theatre to turn off the said alarm.

If you were hired (like i am because im technically learning in the course) to do a job at a theatre venue and used smoke and after an hour into it the smoke alarms went off.. you are hired so your not going to have a security key or know a code to shut them off. Its completely up to management or security. :D :P

[soundmaster mobile disco]

well i have to share this one with you all.it was my first time in a community hall on a sunday afternoon doing a kids party i just took it for granted to use the smoke machine for the kids.immediatley after i had filled the room with smoke,the enevitable happened yes the smoke alarm was activated.
how embarrasing was that for me!
the fire brigade turned up to switch it off so i just made a joke with the kids lets all go outside and have a seat in the fire engine.
well you know after this scene i got 3 more bookings from parents who said there kids loved it.
(cant promise the fire engine the next time though).

[BBoy-Gnash]

We have smokers and hazers and as soon as the word hotel is mentioned we wouldn’t even let them near the van.

I can’t remember the last time we used a smoke machine and this Saturday will be the first time in ages the hazer has been out. All council owned venues in Gloucestershire and Bristol prohibit their use and they own some of the best civil venues.

It’s a shame really as a hazer used sensibly really does enhance the lights but I think our ZR12’s and Tecnohazers’s days are numbered and they are destined for the flight case in the sky :(

RIP :eek:

[flatliners]

i am proud of the fact that i set the alarms off at the stadum of light and cleared the whole building my question is wht put a smoke alarm in a funtion room anyway

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

i am proud of the fact that i set the alarms off at the stadum of light and cleared the whole building my question is wht put a smoke alarm in a funtion room anyway

Erm, in case of fire I would have thought. :bang:

[BeerFunk]

i am proud of the fact that i set the alarms off at the stadum of light and cleared the whole building my question is wht put a smoke alarm in a funtion room anyway


Erm, in case of fire I would have thought. :bang:
Lmao, you asked for that one!! :D :rolleyes:

[super-hero]

As soon as you ask if you can use a smoke machine the venue owners imagine thick choking fog. If you are sensible with them they really do make a difference to a lightshow.

[DMX Will]

If you were hired (like i am because im technically learning in the course) to do a job at a theatre venue and used smoke and after an hour into it the smoke alarms went off.. you are hired so your not going to have a security key or know a code to shut them off. Its completely up to management or security. :D :P

Thought you were a tech there...make your mind up.

[BeerFunk]

I'd have thought it was the job of the on-site technician/janitor to deal with alarms. I know the nearest theatre to me runs this way, although it isn't that large.

[DMX Will]

I'd have thought it was the job of the on-site technician/janitor to deal with alarms. I know the nearest theatre to me runs this way, although it isn't that large.

Our local works this way too.

[Dance FX]

We are doing our first ever gig at a local youth centre in 3 weeks and have permission to use the smoke machine BUT you have got me worried now because I dont really wnat to set the fire alarm off :(

(although hunky firemen would be nice ;) )

Sarah

[sleah]

<rant>
The school I work for are building a new 6th form centre which incorporates a new drama studio.
We did a site visit the other day (they are at first fit i.e. cables going in) and I asked about the fire alarm sensor that will be positioned in the centre of the drama studio - guess what the reply was? OPTICAL :bang: :bang:

This highlights the complete lack of knowledge and understanding from architects through to alarm contractors.
Surely to God a fire alarm installer would know the appropriate sensor to put in an area? They probably don't even bother asking what the area is to be used for, let alone know what's suitable.
And these systems are supposed to help save your life!!! Makes you wonder....
</rant>

[rob1963]

As soon as you ask if you can use a smoke machine the venue owners imagine thick choking fog. If you are sensible with them they really do make a difference to a lightshow.

I don't agree with the first part.

I agree that they make a difference to a lightshow - a fantastic difference, but being sensible with them doesn't usually come into it. The fact is that most places simply won't allow you to use them, as there is a STRONG risk of them setting off fire alarms.

If a venue official comes up to me when I'm setting up, 9 times out of 10 it's to ask if I have a smoke machine & to tell me that if I do I can't use it.

[waxintaxin]

depends on the sensor type

heat sensors will not go off in smoke
optical will
standard smoke , will if a lot of smoke

stupid really as smoke really does set the lights off

its H&S gone mad most of the time, as a small ammount of smoke is not going to harm anyone or set alarms off , it annoys me no end that i am told so many rubbish reasons why smoke is banned , none of them really acurate and in no way connected to H&S , just idiots thinking they know the rules

i was told that smoke from machines causes cancer !!!!

That as the ceiling was low smoke couldnt be used as it might mean people could not see where they were going

and a venue with heat sensors told me smoke sets the alarms off !!!

its stupid most of the time

Rich

[pulsemobiledisco]

My regular hotel has heat sensors in all function rooms so I can use my haze machine, makes the light show look so much better.

As for the other hotels I work at that use optical sensors, at a handful of them after a quick chat with the DM he/she will isolate the room from the rest of the system, but starting to find less venues are willing to do this now.

[sleah]

depends on the sensor type

heat sensors will not go off in smoke
optical will
standard smoke , will if a lot of smoke

stupid really as smoke really does set the lights off

its H&S gone mad most of the time, as a small ammount of smoke is not going to harm anyone or set alarms off , it annoys me no end that i am told so many rubbish reasons why smoke is banned , none of them really acurate and in no way connected to H&S , just idiots thinking they know the rules

i was told that smoke from machines causes cancer !!!!

That as the ceiling was low smoke couldnt be used as it might mean people could not see where they were going

and a venue with heat sensors told me smoke sets the alarms off !!!

its stupid most of the time

Rich

Here, here Rich!:agree:


As for the other hotels I work at that use optical sensors, at a handful of them after a quick chat with the DM he/she will isolate the room from the rest of the system, but starting to find less venues are willing to do this now.

....because if there were a fire no one would have the common sense to trigger the alarm and would sooner burn....:(

At least that's the only justification I can think of not to isolate them.:rolleyes:
Oh and the other reason is in case they forget to re-enable them when the room is empty, the same way they forget everything else, like the fact you are a DJ and need space, they forget to pay you, they forget it's actually the Bride & Groom's big day, not the hotel managers, they forget to put bog roll in the bog, they forget to clean knives & forks, they forget to feed you, they forget to arrange anything remotly important to anyone other than the manager, so safety of the public and the premises is the first thing that they'll forget!!!!:eek:
Have I forgotten anything?????:D

[PropellerHeadCase]

Is that a Monopoly hotel I see on your shoulder, there, Sleah?

[Harrison's Discos]

Thought you were a tech there...make your mind up.

I am Will, but its not my Job to turn the smoke alarms off m8t. Get my point?

[sleah]

Is that a Monopoly hotel I see on your shoulder, there, Sleah?

Well spotted that man!

[Corabar Steve]

I am Will, but its not my Job to turn the smoke alarms off m8t. Get my point?

Despite frequent requests from Admin & Mods for members to not use text speak on the forum some of you (it seems) still haven't got the message.

Text speak is a breach of forum rules & (as has been warned before) will now be deleted without warning.

(BTW, isn't the t at the end superfluous? Phoneticly mate would be pronounced the same as m + 8 adding the extra t makes it matet, matey would be m + 8 + e wouldn't it?)

[flatliners]

but what i ment to say is why carnt they have some form of portable smoke alarm that can be moved when a funtion is on

[Harrison's Discos]

Despite frequent requests from Admin & Mods for members to not use text speak on the forum some of you (it seems) still haven't got the message.

Text speak is a breach of forum rules & (as has been warned before) will now be deleted without warning.

(BTW, isn't the t at the end superfluous? Phoneticly mate would be pronounced the same as m + 8 adding the extra t makes it matet, matey would be m + 8 + e wouldn't it?)

Apologies Steve.. i will bare that in mind

[leighinstoke]

It's a real bug-bear for us all isn't it - the smoke sensor dilema.

Doing Corporate and AV for about 13 years, I've seen these set off by plenty of sources, not just smoke machines;

Chaffing Dish burners,
Large Party Poppers,
Balloons (especially with optical beam ones),
Someone drilling in a room installing a soap dispenser and the dust going into the sensor,
Steam in kitchens,
Steam from showers,
A fly being zapped in one of the bug killers that then started to smoke and burn during it's final moments of life,
A very large cigar once that smoked like mad,
One TV 'style expert' giving a demonstration and accidentally setting fire to a hemp-based table mat,
A rather nicely made 'treasure chest' that was opened on stage that emitted gold and silver glitter,
A sparkler on a birthday cake.
A CO2 fire extinguisher being set off to put out some tissues in a bin!

I was also part of a crew at one of the hotels at Manchester Airport that sent the place into turmoil when the security shift re-enabled the smoke detectors, just as we were setting up for a fashion show and filled the room with haze, followed by filling the place with firemen, ambulance and armed police!

Someone also mentioned the plastic covers - we used to use complimentary hotel shower caps to do the same job. :)

Leigh.....