“As a rock star, I have two instincts: I want to have fun and I want to change the world.” — Bono
On a recent late spring day, a rock star walked out on stage before a live audience of 5,500 very enthusiastic people. It was a big stage with a huge video backdrop framed by black soft goods that were splayed by parallel beams of white light. As the man in a black shirt, jeans and tennis shoes made his way downstage center, the house erupted in wild applause. And then he pitched the new Apple iPhone.
{mosimage}Our rock stars used to be young, mop-haired musicians and singers. Today, they can be old, grey-haired CEOs, musicians and country singers. Anyone who has a sexy product to sell, be it a computer, a song, or a dance, can build a huge following. Steve Jobs is a rock star because he represents a sexy brand. Bono is a rock star because he is a sexy brand. Sex sells.
It’s hard to compete with rock stars and cool phones with built-in GPS. Maybe that’s why those little UL or ETL stickers on your lights aren’t featured in glossy brochures and flattering magazine ads. They’re not featured at trade shows and they don’t win awards for innovation. Sure, they get a mention in the fixture specs, but so does the thermal data, and there’s nothing sexy about that.
Manufacturers usually build gear to comply with codes and standards when they are obligated by law or feel pressure from their customers to do so. Sure, they want their products to be safe — it’s bad for business to kill your customers. But having a product tested by a recognized testing laboratory and listed for compliance is not an inexpensive venture. And in a highly competitive industry like entertainment production, every dollar that subtracts from the bottom line is very carefully scrutinized, agonized, analyzed and re-analyzed. So unless there is a compelling reason to have a product tested and listed so they can put the little UL or ETL stickers on them, why spend the money?
One such compelling reason is the National Electrical Code. In the 2008 edition of the NEC, there’s a new addition that says, “All luminaires and lampholders shall be listed.” Those seven words carry the force of a thousand armies…or do they?
Actually, they don’t. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which published the NEC, has no teeth. Or to quote from the NEC, “The NFPA has no power, nor does it undertake to police or enforce compliance with the contents of [the NEC]. Nor does the NFPA list, certify, test or inspect products, designs, or installations for compliance with this document.”
Why, then, does it matter? It matters for two very good and compelling reasons. The NEC codes, standards, recommended practices and guides were developed by volunteers from the electrical industry in order to safeguard lives and property. These are not a random set of rules made up for the sake of bureaucracy, but words of wisdom from experienced professionals who are trying to address a problem that they’ve seen in the field. There are no guarantees, but if you follow the code, you’re more likely than not to keep from burning down the house or lighting up your fellow crew.
The other compelling reason is that, even though neither the NEC nor the NFPA enforces compliance, chances are that someone in your area does. Those guys are known as the “authority having jurisdiction” or the AHJ. Most of the time, metropolitan areas are responsible for regulating the construction industry, including the construction of electrical systems. Your friendly neighborhood electrical inspector is the guy with all the teeth. He also has a pocket full of red tags that he will not hesitate to use if he so chooses, and if he red-tags your work, it’s not likely to be of any use to anyone until the tag is removed. He does this to keep you from cutting too many corners trying to save money at the expense of the safety of those who occupy the building. Electrical inspectors typically use the NEC as a reference to guide them on enforcement. Sometimes the municipality might choose to enact stricter or different legislation than provided in the NEC, but chances are, the NEC is the Bible.
But electrical inspectors rarely, if ever, make an appearance at concerts or touring events. Over the past 20 years, I’ve seen…hmmm…let’s see…14, carry the one…oh yeah, exactly zero electrical inspectors on site at any concert that I’ve ever been to. You’re far more likely to encounter a fire marshal than an electrical inspector at your show. Fire marshals may or may not look for compliance stickers on your gear, but they are not likely to stop a show if they don’t find them. They’re far more interested in those gerbs and things that go “bang!” than they are in climbing the truss to search for UL or ETL stickers. And the fact is that the electrical inspector gets off of work at 5 p.m. and your show doesn’t even open its doors until the inspector is home with his beer in one hand and remote control in the other.
You could go through your entire career on the road and never encounter an electrical inspector. So why bother spending the extra money to buy gear with compliance stickers?
In simple terms, you should bother because it could save lives.
Compliance stickers don’t add to the wow factor of your show. No one in the audience will “oooh” and “aaah” over them, and they won’t get an ounce of applause, even if the audience could see them. Compliance stickers aren’t sexy and they aren’t the rock stars of the industry, but they are your best safeguard against poorly-designed gear that could go wrong. And when it goes wrong, you’ll wish you had paid more attention to those little stickers.
