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Author Topic: Loud projection booths could damage hearing Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 02-25-2003 09:13 PM                     We opted for the self-adhesive carpet squares because the booth was so small. In your instance I'll bet it would be cheaper to have a company come in and install carpet professionally. Gordon, never, never, NEVER has carpet been an issue with static or dirt. Not even way back before I started using FilmGuard. I also know lots of theaters that don't have any form of film cleaning with carpet that do not have problems. I don't doubt that it affects it a little bit (maybe moreso in Canada), but you're taking it over the top. It doesn't make a noticeable difference in static or dirt. Besides, professional operators will not let the leader run across the floor anyway and I consider a soft carpet better for the film than a cement or tile floor. In the event something happened and a chunk of film got on the floor (from a toss or failed takeup), the carpet doesn't scratch the hell out of the film like a non-carpeted floor does.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-25-2003 09:16 PM                     failed takeup ? tossed prints well that is one of those inferior platter isues Accoustic Wall tiles will reduce noise levels far better in the mid and high bands than carpet ever will  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 02-25-2003 09:18 PM                     Don't tell me you've never had a takeup belt break on a reel to reel machine and the operator not noticed. (I have no idea WHY they did not notice, but it happens.) I've seen it happen and in the carpeted booth there was no noticeable film damage once it was reverse-spooled back up. When it has happened on tile floor booths, the film was badly scratched. Both were EQUALLY dirty. Tossed prints comes from techs who don't know how to set up a platter properly, or from "junk" platter designs.  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 02-25-2003 09:34 PM                     Joe, I have my people (including myself) use that wonderful invention you mentioned.  |  IP: Logged Bill Enos Film God Posts: 2081 From: Richmond, Virginia, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 02-25-2003 11:53 PM                     For a cheap and very effective anti static spray, mix 2 oz. liquid fabric softener with a quart of water, mist carpet lightly when leaving for the night. Treatment lasts for about 2 weeks. Pick your scent. The smell is pretty much gone the next morning.  |  IP: Logged Chris Wootten Film Handler Posts: 50 From: Moonlit Cinema, RAAF Tindal, N.T. Australia Registered: Dec 1999 posted 02-26-2003 06:36 AM                     A booth that I worked in a few years back (Victoria) had polished floor boards, acres of GLASS windows and fibro walls. Cinemecanica Vic 8's twins. I eventually convinced the bosses to get carpet for the floor ( a special plastic/rubber compound that is static free) and EAZY to clean, and all the walls and windows got the "tile " treatment. I could actually talk to my trainees without yelling...it was bliss. My own hearing has been damaged and can never be fixed now, but I am also and OLD fa_t so that would not help either. HA!  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 02-26-2003 07:42 AM                        Although some prefer bare floors because they can be wet-mopped to keep them clean, leg comfort and lack of noise abatement are issues. And many bare cement floors are not properly sealed, which can make them an issue for abrasive debris. If carpeting is used, is should be a short nap commercial carpet that is easy to vacuum and shampoo, and not likely to shed fibers. Antistatic treatments are readily available and easy to apply during shampooing. Synthetic fiber "Indoor-outdoor" carpets are often a good choice, and resist staining well. When vacuuming, use a central vacuum system or a vacuum equipped with true HEPA filtration, so as not to put tiny particles back into the air.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-26-2003 08:32 AM                        Joe--I thought that you used PTR rollers to clean your booth carpet? Or was that before you got those Strong platters with vacuum cleaner motors?  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-26-2003 09:47 AM                     Most Cinemark booths I have worked in average 70 to 80 dB, depending on where the measurement is taken. If standing right NEXT to the projector the level is as high as 90 dB... even higher with the booth monitor turned on. If standing in the hallway NEAR a projector but not right next to it I have seen it as high as 75 to 80 dB. (Monitors off.) If standing in the middle of the room, not near a projector (Say, at the work bench) it is about 70 to 75 dB. I have done this at more than one booth and the measurements were taken with "C" weighting and "Slow" sampling. This is the average I have gotten over several (about 10) booths. Some booths were a bit higher and some were a bit lower. If I remember right, the maximum continuous noise level allowed by OSHA is 85 dB for up to 8 hours exposure. If the levels go above that (or for longer than 8 hours) the employer must provide abatement measures... including sound-proofing the room (carpet, acousic tile, etc.) and all the way up to providing hearing protection for the employees. The way I remember, this works on a "sliding scale". Employees can be exposed to louder noise levels IF they are not exposed for long periods of time. For instance, 90 dB is permissible if the time of exposure is no more than 4-6 hours... etc, etc... I don't remember the exact number but there is a maximum noise level beyond which nobody is to be exposed for ANY length of time unless hearing protection is provided. I'm going to pull a number out of my ass and say the maximum is 110 dB. None of the Cinemark booths I have worked in were loud enough to require noise abatement, although some have been close. I can guarantee you, that in the years I have worked around machines (of all types), I have experienced noticible hearing loss and even some tinnitis. I would not fault ANYBODY who wanted to wear ear plugs, muffs or better still, electronic noise-cancelling headphones. Aside from hearing loss, exposure to continuous noise can have psycohological effects, including irritability, loss of sleep, lack of concentration, nervousness and even (in severe cases) mental breakdown. Personally, when I was working in the booth day-to-day I would take as much time as I could to "get away from machines" in my off hours. Living in the country, it was easy. Sitting outside in the back yard, listening to the crickets and the coyotes and all the other critters sort of had a cancelling effect on all the machine noise I absorbed all day long. If you want to hear about REALLY FREAKY noises, check out this site on the Taos Hum!  |  IP: Logged Daniel Burns Film Handler Posts: 52 From: dallas, TX, USA Registered: Jan 2003 posted 02-26-2003 10:50 AM                     The one carpeted booth I worked in was full of static. We have very few static problems in our "unfinished booths". I'm not sure if AMC has anymore carpeted booths around here.  |  IP: Logged Peter Hall Master Film Handler Posts: 314 From: London, UK Registered: Dec 2000 posted 02-26-2003 11:04 AM                        We stuck to vinyl for years, however with the demise of projectionist rest rooms started to look at how we could make the booth a more comfortable working environment. Carpeting and good air cond were no 1 - since then we've humidity controlled the environment and at the same time used (effectively) PET based carpet and have not had a problem  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 02-26-2003 11:16 AM                        quote: The one carpeted booth I worked in was full of static. We have very few static problems in our "unfinished booths". I'm not sure if AMC has anymore carpeted booths around here. Again, conductive antistatic treatments are effective and can be applied during shampooing. Conductive carpeting is also available: http://www.aclstaticide.com/01/index.html http://ultrastat2000.com/static_control_carpet_ultratough.html http://www.anti-staticmat.com/ConductiveCarpeting.htm http://www.esdjournal.com/techpapr/sfowler/ccenters.htm http://www.usacitylink.com/citylink/afshome/top/carpet/manu.html  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 02-26-2003 12:00 PM                     John, its a trade-off. While in the navy, I had my share of brow and quarter deck watches, and I can tell you that standing on the steel decks in an area where there is not much room to walk around, those steel decks really do a "number" to the knees and hips. Even today, if I stand around and shift my weight a little, a hip or knee will just "give way" on me, and if I didn't react fast enough, I would probably land on my ass.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 02-26-2003 12:09 PM                        Another problem with smooth floors is that they can be slippery when wet or oily.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 02-26-2003 02:16 PM                        See, Gordon?... even the Kodak guy recommends carpet (although indirectly)! He's all about film done right. And so am I. I looooove carpet. But hell I'll take acoustical wall tiles in addition as well. 70's green shag carpet would be the best.  |  IP: Logged

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