BS 7909 Review
Members may be aware of BS 7909, The Code of Practice for the “Design and
installation of temporary distribution systems delivering AC electrical supplies for
lighting, technical services and other entertainment related purposes.”
As the Society of Television Lighting Directors (STLD) is a recognised
professional body, the STLD have been asked by the BSI to sit on the committee
reviewing BS 7909. This allows the STLD to give our input, experience and views
to the revision committee. To enable the standard to be improved in the light of
current practice and to ensure that the standard is effective and relevant to our
industry.
This British Standard and other related standards have a great bearing on our
industry. BS 7909’s scope is very wide ranging, covering just about all of our
activities, from studio to location, manufacturers, hire companies, PSC & film
shoots, television studio programmes, television OB & location shoots, theatres,
events, concerts, exhibitions, etc.
The BS 7909 standard was introduced in 1998; and was developed from the
original BS 5550 standard, introduced in the 1980's. The British Standards
Institution (BSI) likes to review all of their published standards every 5 years or so,
therefore BS 7909 is well overdue for review. Membership of the review
committee, is wide ranging and membership is taken for many areas of the
entertainment industry.
The revision process has commenced, and we need your input, good, bad or
indifferent, as to the workings of BS 7909. So that we can present our findings to
the revision committee towards the end of August 2006. As the nominated STLD
representative on the revision committee, could I ask all interested parties to
contact me with their feedback on the current BS 7909 standard.
Please see this pdf for more details.
Mike Le Fevre.