This document provides mounting instructions and general safety information for the d&b audiotechnik E6530/E6531/E6502, 1220/1222 Loudspeaker accessories. It covers general safety advice, installation advice, secondary safeties, safety inspections, load safety factors, and specific instructions for attaching rigging to loudspeaker cabinets.
General Safety and Installation Advice
Function Description:
The d&b audiotechnik E6530/E6531/E6502, 1220/1222 Loudspeaker accessories are designed for the safe and secure suspension and installation of d&b loudspeakers. These accessories are critical components for deploying loudspeakers in various environments, including theatres, studios, and other places of work and entertainment. They are manufactured to high load safety factors to ensure reliability and prevent personal injury or equipment damage.
Usage Features:
- Recommended Use: d&b loudspeakers should only be flown or installed using recommended d&b rigging accessories. These accessories are designed exclusively for use with specific d&b loudspeakers and are not intended for use with any other loudspeakers or devices.
- Qualified Personnel: Installation must be carried out by properly qualified personnel in full compliance with all required safety codes and standards.
- Assembly: Rigging accessories must not be modified or assembled in ways other than those indicated in the d&b rigging accessories manual and specific mounting instructions. Components supplied as part of an assembly are non-interchangeable.
- Fasteners: Only specified screws, fasteners, plain and shakeproof washers should be used. Welding or other permanent fixing methods are not allowed.
- Wall/Floor/Ceiling Mounting: When mounting rigging components to walls, floors, or ceilings, ensure all fixings and fasteners are of appropriate size and load rating (e.g., DIN 18800 standards in Germany). The structural integrity of the wall/floor/ceiling must be capable of safely supporting the actual load.
- Torque Settings: Recommended maximum torque settings for screw fasteners must be strictly complied with.
- Cabinet Fixing Points: Rigging components must only be fixed to d&b loudspeaker cabinets using the cabinet fixing points, assembly methods, and fasteners specified in the manual. Using incorrect screws or bolts can damage the cabinet or create an insecure fixing.
Important Technical Specifications & Load Safety Factors:
Rigging accessories are safety-critical components. To maximize safety and reduce the risk of failure, various recommendations and safety codes are followed, such as the German BGV C1 safety code and the EU Machinery Directive (EN292-2).
- General Engineering Practice: Components are designed with a minimum 1.25X load safety factor, meaning they can resist 25% more than their specified Safe Working Load (SWL) without breaking.
- High-Risk Applications (Rigging): Due to the high risk associated with rigging failure, much greater load safety factors are demanded.
- German BGV C1 (GUV 6.15) Safety Code: This code distinguishes between components for fixed, static loads and moving loads, requiring higher safety factors for dynamic loading.
- Fixed Load: SWL of ropes and slings should not exceed 1/10 of their calculated ultimate stress.
- Moving Load: SWL of ropes and slings should not exceed 1/12 of their calculated ultimate stress.
- d&b Specific Load Safety Factors:
- 12X Load Safety Factor: Recommended for chains, ropes, shackles, eyebolts, straps, and hooks. This factor is derived from §9, GUV 6.15.
- 10X Load Safety Factor: Recommended for accessories and fixings for mobile use. This factor is also derived from §9, GUV 6.15 as a basic safety standard for rigging components.
- 5X Load Safety Factor: Recommended for accessories generally employed in fixed, permanent installations. This provides an enhanced safety margin over the 4X minimum load safety factor derived from EN292-2 chpt. 4.1.2.5d for metal rigging components.
- EU Machinery Directive (EN292-2) Load Safety Factors:
- Steel wire ropes: factor 5 (chpt. 4.1.2.5a)
- Welded link chains: factor 4 (chpt. 4.1.2.5b)
- Fabric slings: factor 7 (chpt. 4.1.2.5c)
- Metal components: factor 4 (chpt. 4.1.2.5d)
- BGV C1 (GUV 6.15) Code Provisions:
- Plastic load-bearing components are not permitted.
- Plastic laminated or coated steel wire ropes are not permitted.
- Load connector parts must have a load safety factor 10X greater than their stated SWL.
- Load-bearing chains must have a load safety factor 0.5X greater than the dynamic value specified by the manufacturer (equivalent to a 12X load safety factor the specified SWL). For high tensile chains conforming to EN 818, grade 8 (4X SWL), the specified SWL must be derated by a factor of three to comply with the 12X requirement.
1220/1222 Accessories
Function Description:
The 1220/1222 loudspeakers feature detented rigging tracks at the top, bottom, and rear of the cabinet, allowing for the use of specific d&b rigging accessories to achieve precise vertical flying angles and cluster configurations.
Usage Features:
- E6530 Ancra Ring Fitting:
- Allows single 1220/1222 loudspeakers or two-cabinet 1220/1222 clusters to be flown at precisely defined vertical angles without additional stabilizing guylines.
- Preset flying angles between +48° and -12° are achieved by positioning the ring fittings in specific detented track locations.
- A single ring fitting supports the weight of a single 1220/1222 loudspeaker with a 12X load safety factor.
- The manual includes a table showing vertical flying angles (Column A for single loudspeakers, Column B for two-cabinet clusters) for pick-up points on the cabinet top or upper rear detented track.
- E6531 Ancra Stud Fitting:
- A screw fitting with a 3/8" threaded stud and flange nut, designed for use with detented rigging tracks.
- Used to attach the E6502 60° Angle bracket.
- E6502 60° Angle Bracket:
- Used to precisely align two 1220/1222 loudspeakers next to each other, creating a two-cabinet cluster with a 120° dispersion angle.
- Fixed to the 1220/1222 loudspeaker rear panel detented rigging tracks using two E6531 Ancra stud fittings.
- It is recommended to use two brackets: one on the upper rear panel tracks and one on the lower tracks.
- CRITICAL WARNING: The hole in the center of the Angle bracket is ONLY for attaching a stabilizing guyline if needed. The cluster itself MUST be flown using E6530 Ancra ring fittings attached to the upper flying tracks. Under no circumstances should the Angle bracket be used as a suspension (flying) point for a speaker cluster.
Maintenance Features:
- Safety Inspections: All rigging components and assemblies are subject to wear, tear, aging, and corrosion. Prior to each use or installation, all rigging components, assemblies, and cabinet fixing points must be carefully inspected for defects (e.g., dents, cuts, tears, splits, corrosion).
- Damage Protocol: If damage is discovered or there is any doubt about the physical integrity and safety of an item, it must NOT be deployed.
- Regular Testing: Regular, more rigorous test and inspection of rigging components must be carried out in compliance with safety legislation and requirements, which vary by country. Annual independent test and inspection by a suitably approved and qualified inspector is often required.
- Logbook: d&b recommends keeping a logbook detailing the test and inspection history of each d&b rigging accessory.
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