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theatrical smoke and fog

vr.tr.theatrical-smoke-and-fog · thing-q7777572

Let an agent explain the kinds of theatrical fog and how each is produced, relay safety guidance on ventilation, fluids, oxygen displacement and fire systems from industry and regulators, and match an effect to a venue.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems PHY.FLW
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Kinds What kinds of fog exist.

Fluid fog and haze

Heated fluid machines.

Fluid fog

Fluid fog.

  1. How do glycol and glycerine machines and hazers produce fog and haze? definition
  2. Is the desired effect a cloud or a thin haze for light beams? boundary

Cryogenic

Dry ice and nitrogen.

Cryogenic

Cryogenic.

  1. How do dry ice and liquid nitrogen produce low-lying fog? definition
  2. Is the venue floor level safe from gas accumulation? boundary
Plan Choosing and running an effect.

Choice

Machine and fluid.

Choice

Choice.

  1. Which machine, fluid and output suit the venue size and effect? action
  2. How is output measured and compared? measurement

Venue

Venue systems.

Venue

Venue.

  1. How are fire alarms, ventilation and the fire authority handled for a fog effect? action
  2. Who must approve the effect? provenance
Safety Health and safety.

Exposure

Exposure limits.

Exposure

Exposure.

  1. What exposure guidance do standards and agencies give for performers and crew? provenance
  2. Which entry fits workplace safety? action

Hazards

Hazards.

Hazards

Hazards.

  1. What goes wrong with fog effects, and how is each hazard controlled? provenance
  2. Is the fog in question a combustion smoke, which belongs elsewhere? boundary
Craft Design and history.

Design

Design with light.

Design

Design.

  1. How do designers use haze and fog with lighting and staging? provenance
  2. Which references are standard? provenance

History

History.

History

History.

  1. How did stage fog develop from steam and chemical smoke to modern machines? provenance
  2. Which entry fits pyrotechnics? action

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Physical world and living systems
Entry kind
thing
Plane
PHY
Domain
PHY.FLW

What it is Filled

Artificial fog, haze and smoke produced for stage, film, concerts and events by fog machines that vaporise glycol or glycerine and water mixtures, by dry ice or liquid nitrogen for low-lying fog, or by hazers that keep a thin aerosol in the air to reveal light beams, used for atmosphere, concealment and lighting effects.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent explain the kinds of theatrical fog and how each is produced, relay safety guidance on ventilation, fluids, oxygen displacement and fire systems from industry and regulators, and match an effect to a venue.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Made on purpose for visual effect, not a by-product of burning
  • Fluid-based fog and haze versus cryogenic low fog
  • Hazers aim for a thin uniform aerosol rather than a cloud
  • Triggers smoke detectors unless fire systems are managed

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Use fog effects where they can trigger fire alarms or hide exits without arrangements in place.
  • Fill enclosed or low spaces with dry ice or liquid nitrogen fog where people can be overcome.
  • Expose performers or audiences with asthma to haze without warning.
  • Recommend homemade fog fluids.

Only with a human decision

  • Approving fog effects in a venue with an audience.
  • Isolating smoke detectors during a performance.

May

  • Explain kinds of stage fog, haze and smoke effects and their uses.
  • Remind operators to check venue rules, ventilation and fire alarm arrangements.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Low-lying fog can displace air and suffocate people in pits or enclosed spaces.
  • Haze can harm people with respiratory conditions.

Who is affected

  • Performers
  • Audience members
  • Crew

Owners Filled

Steward

The production or venue operator that runs the effect.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q130405697 - registry parent class

related

  • stage effect - a category of effect
  • fog machine - the device that produces it
  • pyrotechnic smoke - a combustion product with its own rules
  • stage lighting - haze exists to show light

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.theatrical-smoke-and-fog
  • Wikidata: Q7777572 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7777572)

Direct properties required Filled

  • fog fluid: glycol or glycerine with water mixture - proportions vary by product
  • dry ice: about -78 degrees C - sublimation temperature
  • output: thousands cubic metres per minute - large machines; varies widely

Recognition required Filled

  • Fog machine with a fluid tank and heater, or a hazer, or a dry ice or nitrogen fogger
  • Low-lying fog from dry ice hugs the floor and dissipates
  • Pyrotechnic smoke and combustion smoke are different products with different hazards
  • A white cloud, a low creeping layer, or a barely visible haze that makes light beams appear.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • explain how each kind of fog is produced
  • compare fluids and machines by effect
  • relay safety and ventilation guidance
  • plan an effect for a venue and its fire alarms

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • False fire alarms and evacuation
  • Oxygen displacement by carbon dioxide or nitrogen at floor level
  • Respiratory irritation with poor ventilation or wrong fluids
  • Slippery floors from condensed fog fluid

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • ANSI E1.5 and E1.23 on theatrical fog and haze, from ESTA
  • Occupational exposure guidance from workplace safety agencies
  • Venue fire alarm isolation procedures and local fire authority approval

Context of use required Filled

  • Atmosphere, concealment and visible light beams in performance.
  • glycol fog from heated fluid machines
  • haze from hazers for light beams
  • low-lying fog from dry ice or liquid nitrogen
  • oil-based cracker haze
  • chilled fog machines that sink glycol fog

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q7777572: theatrical smoke and fog - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Theatrical smoke and fog - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Should fog machines be a separate entry?
  • How should exposure guidance be linked?
  • How should venue fire procedures be represented?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q7777572/spec.json