Technical Design Solutions for Theatre

CO2 Fire Suppression System for Theatrical Fire Effects

Jens McVoy

For every director who wants to use live fire, there is a fire marshal ready to refuse. The reluctance is, of course, rooted in a legitimate concern about the difficulties of controlling live fire onstage. Probably no live-fire effect can be made foolproof, but an effective CO₂, fire suppression system like the one described here can help reassure everyone involved in a production.

FIGURE 1: THE CO₂ FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

CONSTRUCTlON

Figure 1 shows how this suppression system was integrated into a trash-barrel fire effect for a Yale Repertory Theatre production. As part of ...