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Intermediate2-4 hours

Rig Load Calc Guide

Learn rig load calc from scratch with a clear step-by-step workflow, recommended tools, safety guidelines, and expert tips.

riggerstechnical directors

Workflow

  1. Inventory All Rigged Elements

    1 hour

    Lights speakers scenery batten weight cable.

  2. Apply Safety Factor

    30 min

    Live entertainment typically 8:1 wire rope 5:1 hardware.

  3. Determine Balance and Pick Points

    1 hour

    Even load distribution bridles angle load.

  4. Document and Sign Off

    30 min

    Written load sheet TD rigger sign before hang.

Checklist

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Planning

Preparation

Baseline

Quality

Tracking

Reference Materials

Rigging Load StandardStandard

Industry best practices for rigging load.

Rigging Load FormulaFormula

Total load ≤ WLL with safety factor; bridle angle increases leg load 1/cos θ.

Rigging Load Reference TableTable

Key benchmarks for rigging load.

SFApplicationCode
Wire8:1ANSI
Hardware5:1ETCP

  • Pro Tip

    Spec sheet — guess kills.

  • Time Saver

    Angle bridle — trig matters.

  • Warning

    Change anything — recalc.

Safety Notes

  • Overload — catastrophic failure.
  • Spreadsheet error — peer review.

Related Scenarios

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Stage Rigging