Is the fire detection system zoned into different detection areas? Which is the norm with nearly all Fire Alarm Panels [FPA]. If so the general practice is to isolate the stage zone during the time sdmoke is being used. However in a lot of cases venue management don't feel disposed to take the time to physicaly press the zone isolation button &/or have no idea how to work the FPA. In most circustances if the FPA is fitted with a Fire Brigade Direct Alarm [DBA], it is required to contact the Fire Station & adise that a Zone isolation is being effected. This also ensures that the venue is contacted & reminded by the Fire Station Control room, to reinstate the isolated Zone, if the time period of isolation, has been exceeded & possibly forgotten.

However as smoke tends to have a mind of it's own, no matter how it used it will wonder everywhere, depending on air movement & the odd drafts.

no matter what type of detection is used, be it smoke or VESDA {Very Early Smoke Dettection Apparatus] Air sampling system}. It will be able to be controled in zones.

Also maybe if they are individual Smoke detectors over the stage area. It can be as simple as  replaced with Heat Detectors, which is the normall practice in theatre venues. Much the same as is done in restaurant kitchens & anywhere the toasting of bread or burning of other products takes place.

Although some thing that does worry me in your post, is the costumes becoming wet, in presumably an alarm situation. Meaning the venue has a Sprinkler or Deluge system on the stage? Which can create more problems than they solve generaly. I hope this not the case, as it has been proved that large exhaust fans over the stage & fly loft, is a more effective fire suspession method on stages.

I hope my waffle may help?

 

 

 

DRY ICE - fog hangs fairly low to the ground/stage so perhaps a TEST RUN before might be in order.  PLUS it's FOG - like mist - but not the smoke associated with fog machines so perhaps it wouldn't set off the alarms.  Further, I've seen dry ice machines use a long, long length of dryer hose or any large diameter hose with fan forced airway - from way way off stage (actually in another room isolated and even soundproofed) to distribute the fog and it worked beautifully.  NO loud sound, just rolling plumes of white fog that hung low to the stage and cascaded over the edge and down to the floor.  MAYBE if you do a test to see if fog will set off alarms or not.  Usually the water doesn't happen until heat or fire sets those off - just smoke might set off the alarm but not the sprinklers.  Interesting dilemma and one that brought back that Sweeney memory - fondly?  I THINK!!?? HAHA!!   

 

TonyDi

With the fire curtain [aka - the Iron this also can be activated by either, which isolates the stage from the auditorium.

With a lot of older theatres the Iron was operated on a hydrolic system, which is oporated each night when closing down the theatre & raised the next day & reset.

We don't use them in Oz any more, opting instead for the exhaust fan operation.

But you right Tony that dry ice won't set off the fire alarm,because it is heavier than air & finds the lowest level. Smoke detectors are installed at the highest piont in the cieling/roof.

Dry ice machines are easily made, using a steel rubbish [garbage] bin system & as suggested elephant hose with inline fans. But you may be better off in regard to safety, hiring in a propriety brand unit. Hazers can be a problem as they are cooled smoke & will rise after the smoke reheats. Co2 is not an option, as it is a health hazard & will set off  the smoke detectors, because it is a gas.

So you need to take the time &  investigate the fire system with the venue mansaagement.

The sensative detection system suggests it being smoke detectors are being used.

 

 

 

Neil

It may be that an innovative 'do gooder has cobbled the detection system? [possibly to cut out continual false alarms?]

Is the Camp venue owners going to have the system checked &/or upgraded. Or has the Fire Inspector given them a non compliace brief?

If they are to do a fix up, ensure they leave instructions of isolating the stage zones. {This should be on the Fire Indicator Panel [FIP] anyway!}.

 

Neil

 

The best unit I've found is an Aquafogger (here's a rental company's link: http://www.rogergeorge.com/rentals/items/raaqua/ - http://www.rogergeorge.com/rentals/items/raaqua/  ).  Their rental seems awfully high; we get it for considerably less.  It's the size of a garbage can with two heating elements for about 20 gallons of water.  Once the water's hot, a pump flushes the water over the dry ice tray and a fan pushes a big flood of fog.  We used it for our transformation sequence in "Beauty & the Beast" and it worked incredibly well with gelled 1000W fresnels blasting up from below thru the fog.

Neil