Using Plexiglass Sheeting as flooring

[Geoffrey George]

Does anyone have info on how to size the thickness of plexiglass as a
flooring material able to withstand the dynamic load of a dancer? We are
currently in preproduction for the musical BIG..as you know, there is the
famous scene in F A O Shwartz where they dance on a giant piano...

[Pat Covert]

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In article <FB_93.3287$g02....@news.rdc1.ab.wave.home.com>, "Geoffrey
George" <geoffre...@gov.edmonton.ab.ca> wrote:

It varies in direct proportion to the unsupported area of any given
piece. If you are going with something similar to the film, with keys
in the 3'x1' range, you could probably use 1/2". If you're getting
into much larger areas I'd go with 3/4".

--
"I have no superfluous leisure."

[Sir Speedy Printing]

Should be able to contact the manufacturer for information. Find out
from your local supplier who makes it and what their phone number would
be.

[RebelYowl]

>Does anyone have info on how to size the thickness of plexiglass as a
>flooring material able to withstand the dynamic load of a dancer?

The shop I used to work at (National Scenery) built the current touring deck
for "Wizard of Oz." The downstage part was the yellow-brick road, and it was
all steel-framed lightboxes with 1/2" Lexan lids. Nothin's come back broken
yet!

I would suggest keeping your crossbracing to around 18" inches on center. It
worked for us.

Good luck!

[Dipl.-Ing. Norbert Zepter]

Hello,

as my experience shows plexiglass has to be minimum 12 mm thickness in use
on frame 1 x 1 m, with a dynamic load of 500 kg/m2 (each dancer produces min
200 kg /m2).

But if you want to dance on it and do this often, please think of this:
plexiglass is on its surface very soft. Therefore small particles on the
skin of the dancing-shoes may damage the material. After a few days the
plexiglass will be milky. If possible, use for the special dancing area a
piece of glass as used for tables. The frame connection to the rest of the
giant piano is possibly made out of a plexiglass profile.

For more information please contact me. I am a specialist German civil
engineer for THEATRE AND EVENT TECHNOLOGY.
Geoffrey George schrieb in Nachricht ...

>Does anyone have info on how to size the thickness of plexiglass as a

[Ed Haynes]

Geoffrey George wrote:

> Does anyone have info on how to size the thickness of plexiglass as a
> flooring material able to withstand the dynamic load of a dancer? We are
> currently in preproduction for the musical BIG..as you know, there is the
> famous scene in F A O Shwartz where they dance on a giant piano...

Use Lexan™ because Plexiglass™ is not considered flame retardant. In my
experience 3/4" is a good thickness ( a little overkill never hurts)-

[David Boevers]

>Use Lexan™ because Plexiglass™ is not considered flame retardant. In my
>experience 3/4" is a good thickness ( a little overkill never hurts)-

Is the case of Lexan (vs. generic polycarbonate sheet) and 3/4" thick (vs. 1/2"
with some intermediate supports) a little overkill will almost certainly hurt
your budget.

David Boevers
Commercial Theatre Project Manager/Project Engineer
Las Vegas, NV

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[Geoffrey S. Gooch]

Have you already started building? Our community theatre was the first
group to perform this show and we have a piano for rent.
Geoff

Ed Haynes <em...@domain.com> wrote in message
news:376F95E7...@domain.com...

> Geoffrey George wrote:
>
> > Does anyone have info on how to size the thickness of plexiglass as a
> > flooring material able to withstand the dynamic load of a dancer? We
are
> > currently in preproduction for the musical BIG..as you know, there is
the
> > famous scene in F A O Shwartz where they dance on a giant piano...
>

> Use LexanT because PlexiglassT is not considered flame retardant. In my