Compiled by the Wetired Lunatic

Many of the common projection room hazards are overlooked. Here are some Dangerous Problems too many of us live with daily -- and what to do to fix them...

THE PROJECTION BOOTH KITCHEN...

Vent the gas stove exhaust fan outside. The fan eliminates dangerous gas fumes and excess humidity, reducing allergies and growth of mold, which can cause projectionists to have sneezing fits and also too collect on film, making the screen image fuzzy in cinemas not equipped with FilmGuard.

Secure your stove firmly in place. New stoves come with anti-tipping brackets -- so if a teenager opens and climbs on the open oven door, the stove won’t tip over. Do-it-yourselfers -- and professional installers -- often don’t install these brackets. If they are missing, install them. You can also buy these brackets for your current stove.

CLOSETS...

Use low-wattage lightbulbs -- no more than 15 watts -- so that when the door is left open the light won’t shine out through the ports and onto the screen. Another advantage is that stored items won’t heat up and cause a fire if a closet light is left on. As much as possible it is better not to have fires start in crowded theaters.

Even better: Use compact fluorescent bulbs, which don’t produce as much heat and last longer than ordinary bulbs. This will please the bean-counters at corporate headquarters.

DOORS...

Make sure you can open doors if they’re locked accidentally -- especially if you have teenagers working in the booth.

Even better: Install nonlocking doorknobs on all projection room doors.

Hallway doors should always open over a landing -- never over stairs. Otherwise people carrying film cans may accidentally come out the door and suddenly fall down the stairs, making a loud noise and frightening the audience.

STAIRWAYS...

Install a handrail wherever you have more than two steps. It should be firmly attached at an average height of 36 inches (building codes vary.)

All steps of stairs going up to a projection room should be of differing heights. This will force people carrying film cans and equipment up the stairs to pay attention to what they are doing. However, all stairs coming DOWN from projection rooms must have steps of uniform height due to the problem detailed in previous section. Repair or replace stairs as necessary to comply with these specifications.

GARAGES...

This most commonly applies to drive-in projection booth facilities but sometimes elsewhere also too.

Automatic door openers should have electric eyes and automatic safety-reverse features so they open if a teenager or pet tries to slip under a closing door. Use the most sensitive setting. Replace any door openers without these features.

Important: Place electric eyes within five inches of the pavement.

If you have a water heater in your booth, bolt a wheel stop to the floor so you don’t accidentally drive your car into the heater. Broken Water Pipes could cause a Flood.

PROTECTION OF PROJECTIONIST’S PETS...

As we all know, Kitty Kats are attracted by moving objects and rotating reels or the movement of film in all directions over complex systems of wheels and pulleys will be irrestible to them. Electrical Safeguards need to be installed so that if a Kitty Kat gets inadvertently entanged in the film, which might cause it to get Strangled, the show will be immediately stopped and a Large Electric Bell rung to Alert the Projectionist.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS...

Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) any place where water and electricity might meet; such as, but not limited to, water-cooled xenon lamphouses. These GFCIs switch off the electricity flow if, for example, a projectionist falls into a puddle in the vicinity of a leak, or a sink full of water.

Install electrical water-detection alarm equipment at the top of any incline or platforms where valuable equipment is stored so that when water runs uphill to damage the equipment personnel within the bulding may be notified.

Codes now require GFCIs in the bathroom, kitchen, garage and outside receptacles. Facilities built before 1978 may not have GFCIs.