DEVELOPMENT OF
TIME-AND-DISTANCE GUIDELINES FOR USE OF
THEATRICAL SMOKE EQUIPMENT:
ROSCO DELTA 3000
Prepared for:
Rosco Laboratories
Stamford, Connecticut
Prepared by:
ENVIRON International Corporation
Groton, Massachusetts
May 2004
C O N T E N T S
Page
I. INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1
A. Background..............................................................................................................1
B. Use of Time-and-Distance Guidelines.....................................................................2
II. TESTING METHODOLOGY.............................................................................................3
A. Monitoring Equipment.............................................................................................3
B. Monitoring Procedures.............................................................................................3
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ..........................................................................................6
A. Aerosol Monitor Calibration....................................................................................6
B. Peak Exposure Characterization ..............................................................................6
C. How to Use the Time-and-Distance Guidelines Tables...........................................7
IV. REFERENCES .................................................................................................................15
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -i- E N V I R O N
F I G U R E S
Figure 1: Rosco Delta 3000 fog machine................................................................................4
Figure 2: Monitoring configuration.........................................................................................5
Figure 3: Calibration curve for Rosco Clear Fog Fluid in Delta 3000 fog machine...............9
Figure 4: Calibration curve for Rosco Light Fog Fluid in Delta 3000 fog machine...............9
Figure 5: Calibration curve for Rosco Fog Fluid in Delta 3000 fog machine.......................10
Figure 6: Calibration curve for Rosco Stage and Studio Fluid in Delta 3000
fog machine............................................................................................................10
Figure 7: Guidelines for use of Rosco Clear Fog Fluid in Delta 3000 fog machine.............11
Figure 8: Guidelines for use of Rosco Light Fog Fluid in Delta 3000 fog machine ............12
Figure 9: Guidelines for use of Rosco Fog Fluid in Delta 3000 fog machine.......................13
Figure 10: Guidelines for use of Rosco Stage and Studio Fog Fluid in Delta 3000 fog
machine..................................................................................................................14
T A B L E S
Table 1: Summary of Calibration Factors..............................................................................6
Table 2: Summary of Time-and-Distance Guidelines for Smoke Generation.......................8
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -ii- E N V I R O N
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Background
In 1997-99, at the request of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) and the League of
American Theaters and Producers (LATP) and with the support of the Equity-League Pension
and Health Trust Funds, investigators from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Mt. Sinai) and
ENVIRON International Corporation (ENVIRON) conducted a study to determine whether the
use of smoke, haze, and pyrotechnics special effects in theatrical musical productions is
associated with a negative health impact in actors. The results of this study were presented in the
report Health Effects Evaluation of Theatrical Smoke, Haze, and Pyrotechnics (Mt. Sinai and
ENVIRON 2000).
Based on the results of the study, Mt. Sinai and ENVIRON recommended the following
peak guidance levels with respect to glycols and mineral oil:
The use of glycols should be such that an actor’s exposure does not exceed 40
•
milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m
•
Mineral oil should be used in a manner such that an actor’s exposure does not exceed
a peak concentration of 25 mg/m3.
•
For chronic exposures to mineral oil, the existing standards established for oil mists
(5 mg/m
3
as an eight-hour time-weighted average) should also be protective for actors
in theatrical productions.
Comparable guidance levels were developed for glycerol in a subsequent study (ENVIRON
2001c):
• Glycerol should be used in a manner such that an actor’s exposure does not exceed a
peak concentration of 50 mg/m
• For chronic exposures to glycerol, the existing standards established for glycerin
mists (10 mg/m3 as an eight-hour TWA) should also be protective for actors in
theatrical productions.
To ensure that peak smoke and haze levels are below these guidelines, theaters have the
option of conducting production-specific testing at their theaters using an aerosol monitor or
following equipment-based time-and distance guidelines. Rosco Laboratories (Rosco) retained
ENVIRON to develop time-and-distance guidelines for the use of the Rosco Delta 3000 fog
machine (Figure 1).
3
).
3
.
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -1- E N V I R O N
B. Use of Time-and-Distance Guidelines
In the absence of other information, theater-specific monitoring would be required to
determine whether smoke/haze machines are being used in a production in a manner that avoids
peak exposures to actors. The Time-and-Distance Guidelines described in this report were
developed as an alternative
to conducting theater- and production-specific monitoring. These
Guidelines were developed under conservative use assumptions (e.g., no on-stage activities or
props that would enhance dispersion, cue release at breathing height level). By following these
Guidelines, a production can use smoke effects without
having to conduct its own stage-specific
testing, provided the machines are used in accordance with manufacturer specifications, are well
maintained, and are functioning properly. Table 2 and Figure 7 to 10 of this report describe the
distance (with respect to the discharge point on the equipment) and length of time that
concentrations exceeding the peak guidance levels would occur for various use patterns for the
Delta 3000 fog machine. Thus, by arranging the blocking and choreography such that an actor is
not situated within the restricted areas during the times specified in Table 2 and Figures 7 to 10,
actors should not receive peak exposures. Time-and-Distance Guidelines for other Rosco
machines have also been developed by ENVIRON (2001b).
It should be noted that these Time-and-Distance Guidelines may not be appropriate for all
productions. The Guidelines are based on the Delta 3000 being positioned between four and five
feet above the ground, and being operated to achieve 30 to 60 seconds of continuous smoke
generation. Productions may want to use different configurations for positioning the machines
(e.g., different heights), provide enhanced on-stage ventilation, or generate smoke for a longer or
shorter period of time. In addition, many productions may have other stage-specific conditions
(e.g., on-stage activities and props that enhance dispersion) that would allow actors to be present
in areas that are restricted under these Guidelines but which, in fact, do not exceed the guidance
levels. In those cases, production-specific monitoring would be recommended to determine
whether peak exposure may occur.
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -2- E N V I R O N
II. TESTING METHODOLOGY
A. Monitoring Equipment
Monitoring of short-term concentrations was performed using portable real-time aerosol
monitors (personalDataRAM Model PDR-1000) manufactured by Monitoring Instruments for
the Environment, Inc. (MIE). The PDR-1000 is a high sensitivity nephelometric (i.e.,
photometric) monitor that uses a light scattering sensing chamber to measure the concentration
of airborne particulate matter (liquid or solid), providing a direct and continuous readout as well
as electronic logging of the data.
The PDR-1000 aerosol monitors as obtained are calibrated to Arizona road dust over a
measurement range of 0.001 to 400 mg/m
or oil mist concentrations, the monitors were first calibrated for the smoke or haze machines and
fluids being used. Calibration of the aerosol monitors was conducted by collecting simultaneous
measurements with a series of sampling pumps and PDR-1000 aerosol monitors, mounted on
tripods.
B. Monitoring Procedures
The testing is typically conducted in a two-step process. The first step involves
collecting sufficient data to calibrate the aerosol monitors for the equipment and fluid
combination being used. The second step involves using the calibrated aerosol monitor to
identify distances from the smoke release point where exceedances of the guidance levels occur.
These monitoring data are used to develop general Guidelines under conservative use conditions
that can be used to ensure peak exposures to actors do not occur. The calibration and sampling
procedures are discussed in detail in the ENVIRON Air Sampling Protocol (ENVIRON 2001a).
For the Delta 3000 fog machine, the calibration step has already been conducted for the
following fluids: Clear Fog Fluid, Light Fog Fluid, Rosco Fog Fluid, and Stage & Studio Fluid
(ENVIRON 2002).
To measure the levels of smoke present at different distances from the release point, a
series of six tripods equipped with aerosol monitors was used. The six tripods were placed at
distances ranging from 5 to 30 feet from the Delta 3000 release point for the 100% and 50%
settings, and at distances ranging from 3 to 18 feet for the 10% setting. The Delta 3000 was
turned on for 30 to 60 seconds, allowing sustained smoke generation to occur, and then turned
off. The aerosol monitors collected logged data on the smoke levels as the concentrations
gradually dissipated. Ventilation conditions typical for a theatrical stage were used.
Testing of the Delta 3000 was conducted on the stage of the Ginsburg Theatre at
Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts.
3
. In order to be utilized to measure short-term glycol
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -3- E N V I R O N
Figure 1. Rosco Delta 3000 Fog Machine
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -4- E N V I R O N
Figure 2. Monitoring configuration consisting of six tripod-mounted aerosol monitors situated
at five foot intervals from the Delta 3000 machine (far left). Each tripod is equipped with an
aerosol monitor.
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -5- E N V I R O N
×
=
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A. Aerosol Monitor Calibration
Calibration data for the Delta 3000 were collected previously by ENVIRON (2002). To
develop a calibration curve for each glycol fluid, the average aerosol monitor readings for each
air sample were calculated and plotted against the total glycol concentration data. The
calibration curves for the glycol fluids tested are shown in Figures 3 to 6. First order regression
curves are also shown on these figures. The calibration factors for the glycol fluids, calculated
from the slopes of these regressions, are summarized in Table 1.
TABLE 1
Summary of Calibration Factors
Rosco Delta 3000 Fog Machine
Machine Fluid
Rosco Clear Fog Fluid 1.43
Rosco Delta 3000
Rosco Fog Fluid 1.00
Rosco Light Fog Fluid 1.35
Rosco Stage & Studio Fluid 1.97
Reference: ENVIRON (2002)
B. Peak Exposure Characterization
For 100% and 50% settings, monitoring data collected using aerosol monitors placed at
distances of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 feet from the Delta 3000 machine were combined with the
calibration factors to determine the levels of smoke at different distances from the release point
and times following the release. For the 10% setting, the monitors were placed at distances of 3,
6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 feet. The real-time aerosol monitor readings were converted to glycol
concentrations using the appropriate calibration factor for the fluid, as follows:
PDRCCONC
where:
CONC = air concentration of total glycols, µg/L
C = aerosol monitor calibration factor (from Table 1), (µg/L)/(mg/m3)
PDR = aerosol monitor reading, mg/m
3
Calibration Factor,
(ug/L)/(mg/m3)
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -6- E N V I R O N
Based on these calibrated data, the times after which the concentration of smoke at each
of the six distances drops below the guidance levels were determined. These Guideline values
are summarized in Table 2. Graphs showing the change in concentration at each location with
time are presented in Figures 7 through 10.
C. How to Use the Time-and-Distance Guidelines Table
For various distances from the cue release point, Table 2 provides the time (in seconds)
after the end of the cue release after which the glycol concentrations will have fallen below the
guidance levels. Thus, in order to prevent peak exposures to actors, the blocking and
choreography should be arranged such that actors are not situated within a particular distance
from the front of the smoke release point until the amount of time listed in Table 2 has elapsed
following the end of the cue. For example, if a production is using the Delta 3000 at a 50%
setting with Stage & Studio fluid, an actor should not be situated within five feet from the front
of the cue release point until at least 50 seconds following the end of the cue release; an actor
should not be situated within 10 to 15 feet from the front of the cue release point until at least 33
seconds following the end of the cue release.
It should be reiterated that the Time-and-Distance Guidelines provided in Table 2 are
intended to allow a production to use the Delta 3000 without
conducting monitoring. However,
these Guidelines may not be appropriate for all productions. Table 2 is based on the Delta 3000
being positioned between four to five feet above the ground, and being operated to achieve 30 to
60 seconds of continuous smoke generation. Productions may want to use different
configurations for positioning the machine (e.g., different heights), provide on-stage ventilation,
or generate smoke for a shorter or longer period of time. In addition, many productions may
have other stage-specific conditions (e.g., on-stage activities and props that enhance dispersion)
that would allow actors to be present in areas that are restricted under these Guidelines but
which, in fact, do not exceed the guidance levels. In those cases, production-specific monitoring
would be recommended to determine whether peak exposure may occur. For the fluids included
in this testing, the calibration factors summarized in Table 1 can be used.
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -7- E N V I R O N
TABLE 2
Summary of Time-and-Distance Guidelines for Smoke Generation
Rosco Delta 3000 Fog Machine Based on 30-or 60-Second Releases
Time (in sec) After Which Air Concentrations Are Below Guidance Level (40 mg/m3)
Fluid
Machine
Setting
Release
Duration
(sec)
3 ft 5 ft 6 ft 9 ft 10 ft 12 ft 15 ft 18 ft 20 ft 25 ft 30 ft
100% 30 --- 215 --- --- 215 --- 215 --- 215 215 115
50% 30 --- 88 --- --- 88 --- 88 --- 88 88 70
Rosco Clear
Fog Fluid
10% 60 130 --- 130 130 --- 130 117 73 --- --- ---
100% 30 --- 157 --- --- 157 --- 157 --- 87 87 87
50% 30 --- 94 --- --- 94 --- 94 --- 57 56 44
Rosco Fog
Fluid
10% 60 58 --- 0 58 --- 58 10 0 --- --- ---
100% 30 --- 63 --- --- 63 --- 63 --- 53 53 53
50% 30 --- 60 --- --- 10 --- 0 --- 0 0 0
Rosco Light
Fog Fluid
10% 60 30 --- 0 0 --- 0 0 0 --- --- ---
100% 30 --- 53 --- --- 53 --- 53 --- 53 53 53
50% 30 --- 50 --- --- 33 --- 33 --- 28 28 23
Rosco Stage
& Studio
Fluid
10% 60 63 --- 13 13 --- 13 0 0 --- --- ---
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -8- E N V I R O N
Rosco Laboratories
Delta 3000 / Rosco Clear Fluid
400
)
3
300
200
(Laboratory Analyzed)
100
Total Glycol Concentration (mg/m
0
0 50 100 150 200 250
Average PDR Concentration (mg/m³)
Figure 3. Calibration curve for Rosco Clear Fog Fluid in Delta 3000. Calibration factor, based
on slope of curve, is 1.43 (mg/m
400
)
3
300
200
(Laboratory Analyzed)
100
Total Glycol Concentration (mg/m
0
0 50 100 150 200 250
3
glycols)/(mg/m3 aerosol).
Rosco Laboratories
Delta 3000 / Rosco Light Fluid
Average PDR Concentration (mg/m³)
Figure 4. Calibration curve for Rosco Light Fog Fluid in Delta 3000. Calibration factor, based
on slope of curve, is 1.35 (mg/m
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -9- E N V I R O N
3
glycols)/(mg/m3 aerosol).
Rosco Laboratories
Delta 3000 / Rosco Fog Fluid
500
)
3
400
300
200
(Laboratory Analyzed)
100
Total Glycol Concentration (mg/m
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Average PDR Concentration (mg/m³)
Figure 5. Calibration curve for Rosco Fog Fluid in Delta 3000. Calibration factor, based on
slope of curve, is 1.00 (mg/m
500
)
3
400
300
200
(Laboratory Analyzed)
100
Total Glycol Concentration (mg/m
0
0 50 100 150 200 250
3
glycols)/(mg/m3 aerosol).
Rosco Laboratories
Delta 3000 / Rosco Stage & Studio Fluid
Average PDR Concentration (mg/m³)
Figure 6. Calibration curve for Rosco Stage & Studio Fluid in Delta 3000. Calibration factor,
based on slope of curve, is 1.97 (mg/m
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -10- E N V I R O N
3
glycols)/(mg/m3 aerosol).
Clear Fog Fluid
250
200
150
100
Time After Release (sec)
50
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Distance (ft)
100% (30-second release)
50% (30-second release)
10% (60-second release)
Figure 7. Guidelines for use of Rosco Clear Fog Fluid in Delta 3000 fog machine
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -11- E N V I R O N
Light Fog Fluid
70
60
50
40
30
20
Time After Release (sec)
10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Distance (ft)
100% (30-second release)
50% (30-second release)
10% (60-second release)
Figure 8. Guidelines for use of Rosco Light Fog Fluid in Delta 3000 fog machine
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -12- E N V I R O N
Rosco Fog Fluid
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
Time After Release (sec)
40
20
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Distance (ft)
100% (30-second release)
50% (30-second release)
10% (60-second release)
Figure 9. Guidelines for use of Rosco Fog Fluid in Delta 3000 fog machine
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -13- E N V I R O N
Stage & Studio Fluid
70
60
50
40
30
20
Time After Release (sec)
10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Distance (ft)
100% (30-second release)
50% (30-second release)
10% (60-second release)
Figure 10. Guidelines for use of Rosco Stage and Studio Fog Fluid in Delta 3000 fog machine
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -14- E N V I R O N
IV. REFERENCES
ENVIRON International Corporation (ENVIRON). 2001a. Evaluation of short-term exposures
to theatrical smoke and haze: Air sampling protocol. Prepared for Equity-League
Pension and Health Trust Funds. May 14.
ENVIRON International Corporation (ENVIRON). 2001b. Equipment-based guidelines for use
of theatrical smoke and haze. Revision 1. Prepared for Equity-League Pension and
Health Trust Funds. June 8.
ENVIRON International Corporation (ENVIRON). 2001c. Theatrical Haze and Fog Testing for
Mamma Mia!, Winter Garden Theatre. Prepared for Mamma Mia! Broadway and Nina
Lannan Associates. November 12.
ENVIRON International Corporation (ENVIRON). 2002. Development of Calibration Factors
for Monitoring Theatrical Smoke and Haze. Prepared for Entertainment Services and
Technology Association. November 11.
Mount Sinai School of Medicine and ENVIRON International Corporation (Mt. Sinai and
ENVIRON). 2000. Health effects evaluation of theatrical smoke, haze, and
pyrotechnics. Prepared for Equity-League Pension and Health Trust Funds. June 6.
ROSCO DELTA 3000 -15- E N V I R O N
June 22, 2004
MEMORANDUM
To: Eric Tishman, Rosco Laboratories
From: Alan Kao
Subject: Addendum to Time-and-Distance Guidelines for Rosco Delta 3000
In the report Development of Time-and-Distance Guidelines For Use Of Theatrical Smoke
Equipment: Rosco Delta 3000 dated May 2004 (“T&D Guideline report”), ENVIRON developed
time-and-distance (T&D) guidelines for the use of four Rosco fog fluids in the Delta 3000 fog
machine. These T&D guidelines were based on release durations of 30 seconds for the 100%
and 50% settings, and 60 seconds for the 10% setting. This memorandum provides an
adjustment factor (AF) for using different release durations than 30 or 60 seconds.
ENVIRON conducted additional testing with the Delta 3000 fog machine to evaluate the effect
on the T&D guidelines using different release durations. Release durations ranging from 5 to 60
seconds were evaluated. Figures 1 and 2 show the percent change from the 30-second and 60second T&D guidelines observed at different release durations. A linear regression was
performed on each plot to develop the following equations for:
For 100% and 50% settings:
AF = (1.36
×
RD + 59) / 100
For the 10% setting:
AF = (0.93
×
RD + 44) / 100
where:
AF = adjustment factor (unitless)
RD = release duration (sec)
For using the Rosco Delta 3000 at release durations that differ from those on which the T&D
Guideline report was based, the T&D guideline value from Table 2 can be multiplied by the
274 Main Street C P.O. Box 1220 C Groton, Massachusetts 01450 C USA C (978) 448-8788 C Fax: (978) 448-8825
www.environcorp.com
Eric Tishman -2- June 22, 2004
calculated AF to generate an appropriate T&D guideline value for a wide range of release
durations. Values of AF for a range of release durations are provided below in Table A-1:
TABLE A-1
Adjustment Factors for Different Smoke Release Durations
Adjustment Factor (unitless) Release Duration
(sec)
(100% or 50% setting) (10% setting)
5 0.66 0.49
10 0.73 0.53
15 0.79 0.58
20 0.86 0.63
25 0.93 0.67
30 1.00 0.72
35 1.07 0.77
40 1.13 0.81
45 1.20 0.86
50 1.27 0.91
55 1.34 0.95
60 1.41 1.00
90 1.81 1.28
120 2.22 1.56
Note: For release durations other than those listed in this table, the
equations on page 1 of this addendum can be used to calculate AF.
Example calculations:
1. Using Rosco Fog Fluid with the Delta 3000 at a 50% setting, Table 2 from the T&D
Guideline report gives a value of 94 SECONDS at 10 feet from the release point. For a
release duration of 15 seconds, the adjustment factor is:
AF = (1.36
×
[15 sec] + 59) / 100 = 0.79
Therefore, the T&D value would be 94 seconds × 0.79 or 74 SECONDS.
2. Using Rosco Clear Fog Fluid with the Delta 3000 at a 10% setting, Table 2 from the T&D
Guideline report gives a value of 130 SECONDS at 6 feet from the release point. For a
release duration of 30 seconds, the adjustment factor is:
AF = (0.93
×
[30 sec] + 44) / 100 = 0.72
Therefore, the T&D value would be 130 seconds × 0.72 or 94 SECONDS.
Eric Tishman -3- June 22, 2004
Figure 1. Percent change in T&D guidance value from 30-second value for 50% and 100%
settings at release durations other than 30 seconds.
Figure 2. Percent change in T&D guidance value from 60-second value for 10% setting at
release durations other than 60 seconds.
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