Stage truss and rigging installation in Bay Area venue

AV systems · Rigging

Plan overhead systems from documented loads and attachments.

Coordinate truss, fixed supports and lifting equipment with the venue structure, intended loads and the professionals responsible for the rigging design.

Discuss your project (650) 550-0819

Planning the system

The existing ceiling is not a load-rating document.

A stage rigging installation needs a defined equipment schedule and reliable information about the supporting structure. Visible beams or an existing attachment do not establish capacity for a new load.

Identify who provides structural review, the rigging design, installation and inspection. The scope should connect those responsibilities to the actual truss, fixtures, loudspeakers and other suspended equipment being proposed.

Rigging truss grid — illustrative — illustrative service image

Scope of work

Resolve the support system before the equipment goes up.

Equipment and load schedule

List proposed suspended equipment and all associated components for review by the responsible design professionals.

Existing structure review

Collect available structural and rigging records. Identify missing information before relying on existing attachment points.

System arrangement

Coordinate fixed supports, truss or motorized systems around stage use, access and the approved design.

Construction interfaces

Resolve attachment work, electrical feeds, controls and access with the relevant trades and equipment suppliers.

Installation planning

Define the installation sequence, work-zone controls and responsible qualified personnel for the agreed system.

Inspection and records

Assign required inspection and testing, preserve equipment records and define the ongoing inspection and maintenance responsibilities.

Project concepts

See the possibilities for your space

Drag the divider to compare before and after, or open a comparison for a closer look.

Installed rig concept — illustrative design concept — View comparison

Installed rig concept before work, illustrative comparison — View comparison

Room & equipment detail — illustrative design concept — View comparison

Room & equipment detail before work, illustrative comparison — View comparison

Everything overhead is a safety decision. — illustrative service image

Planning and responsibility

Keep design, installation and inspection traceable.

Changes to equipment or loading should return to the responsible reviewer before installation. An earlier arrangement does not establish that a revised system is suitable. Keep approved drawings, equipment identification and inspection records available to the venue team.

Product examples below help identify equipment categories; they are not a loading plan or an instruction for suspending equipment.

FAQ

Questions to settle with the rigging team.

The proposed load and its location need review against the documented system and supporting structure. Do not infer remaining capacity from appearance or from equipment that is already suspended.

Read the detailed guide: Can an Existing Lighting Truss Carry New Speakers or an LED Wall? →

The project needs appropriately qualified design professionals with reliable information about the structure and intended loads. Assign that review explicitly before the installation scope is finalized.

Consider how often equipment changes, access needs, operator responsibilities and the maintenance program. The choice also depends on the approved design and the venue's ability to operate and inspect the system.

Read the detailed guide: When Motorized Rigging Solves an Access Problem, and What It Adds to Operations →

For manually operated and motorized rigging, J.R. Clancy recommends annual inspection and inspection immediately after installation, alteration or repair. Ask a qualified inspector to establish the required scope using current ANSI E1.47 guidance, equipment instructions and applicable requirements. Damage, unusual behavior or demanding service can require earlier review. An annual appointment is not permission to keep using a system with a reported concern.

Read the detailed guide: A Rigging Inspection Is Only Useful If the Findings Get Closed →

Agree the drawings, equipment identification, operating instructions and inspection records required for the system. Define how future equipment changes will be reviewed before the venue modifies the loading.

Start with a qualified survey and a controlled record of what is known, unknown and restricted. Collect existing drawings, manuals, labels and previous inspection reports without assuming that old paperwork matches the current installation. Ask the reviewer to identify gaps that require structural investigation or equipment replacement. The handoff should include an inventory, current configuration drawings, documented operating limits, inspection findings and a clear process for future changes, with unresolved items visible.

Read the detailed guide: Inherited a Theater Rig Without Drawings? Rebuild the Record Before Adding Loads →

Request a complete configuration drawing that identifies the truss, base, equipment positions, approved stability measures and intended environment. Side-mounted fixtures, height, cable forces and public access can matter as much as total weight. Have the appropriate qualified professional evaluate the whole arrangement using the actual product documentation. Staff should receive clear placement restrictions and a process for changes. A baseplate, an improvised push test or a remembered ballast rule does not establish an approved installation.

Read the detailed guide: Freestanding Truss Towers: Why a Baseplate Is Not a Stability Plan →

Explore all 5 rigging & trusses guides →

Plan your project

Bring the equipment list and the existing rigging records.

Tell us what needs to be suspended, how the stage is used and which structural or rigging documentation is available.

Discuss your project (650) 550-0819

Equipment references

Rigging equipment references.

Equipment selection belongs within the approved rigging and structural design, with the required installation and inspection responsibilities defined.

Equipment options — illustrative design concept — Equipment illustration. Final products and specifications are selected for the project.

Columbus McKinnon

Entertainment hoists and rigging equipment

Explore manufacturer equipment

TOMCAT

Truss and structural systems

Explore manufacturer equipment

ETC

Lighting, controls and stage infrastructure

Explore manufacturer equipment

Manufacturer examples for project planning. Brand references do not indicate a dealer or certification relationship. Equipment compatibility and availability are confirmed during selection.

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(650) 550-0819

Plan overhead systems from documented loads and attachments.

The existing ceiling is not a load-rating document.

Resolve the support system before the equipment goes up.

Equipment and load schedule

Existing structure review

System arrangement

Construction interfaces

Installation planning

Inspection and records

See the possibilities for your space

Keep design, installation and inspection traceable.

Questions to settle with the rigging team.

Can we add speakers to an existing truss?

Who determines the structural capacity?

When does a motorized system make sense?

How often should rigging be inspected?

What should be handed to the venue?

What should we do if our existing rigging has no reliable records?

What should we review before allowing freestanding lighting towers?

Bring the equipment list and the existing rigging records.

Rigging equipment references.

Columbus McKinnon

TOMCAT

ETC

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