Examination Content: Rigger - Arena

To begin your preparation for the Arena Rigging Certification Examination, you need to know what content areas are included in the actual examination. Information regarding the content of the examination is presented below and in the Candidate Handbook.

  • During the examination, you will be given a formula sheet to serve as an aid. You may preview those formulas here.

The content outlines provide a general overview of the examination and can give you specific study direction by revealing the relative importance of each category on the examination. The content for the examination is based on a job analysis performed by twelve subject matter experts under the guidance of a professional psychometric firm, along with input from hundreds of riggers across North America.

EXAMINATION TOPIC
Number of 
Questions
1. PLANNING AND ENGINEERING
50
  A. FORMULAS AND FORCES
25
    1. Calculate conversions: SI (metric) - imperial (e.g. length, weight)  
    2. Apply mathematical formulas, including:  
      a. Algebra  
      b. Geometry  
      c. Trigonometry  
    3. Apply general principles of forces, including:  
      a. Force / weight  
      b. Vectors  
      c. Two components of force  
      d. Point load  
      e. Uniformly distributed load  
      f. Indeterminate load  
      g. Static load  
      h. Dynamic load  
      i. Shock load  
      j. Environmental (e.g. wind, rain, snow, seismic)  
      k. Tilt a 2-point object  
    4. Apply general principles of rigging, including:  
      a. Breaking strength  
      b. Object weight  
      C. Safety Issues  
    5. Calculate sling length and forces, including:  
      a. Single point connection  
      b. 2-way bridle  
      c. 3-way bridle  
      d. High/low bridle  
      e. Breast-lines  
      f. H-bridle  
  B. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF RIGGING
15
    1. Apply general principles of rigging, including:  
      a. Design factors  
      b. Working load limit  
      c. Efficiency (e.g. terminations, materials)  
      d. Strength of Materials  
      e. Service factor  
      f. D/d ratio  
      g. Fleet angle  
      h. Center of gravity  
      i. Load distribution (e.g. beam formulas, simple span)  
      j. Indeterminate structures  
      k. Fall protection and rescue design procedures  
      l. Inspections  
      m. Risk management (e.g. OSHA/OHSA)  
  C. DRAWING AND SCHEDULES
10
    1. Identify and resolve hazardous situations  
    2. Conform rigging plot to building load limitations or obstructions  
    3. Interpret facility plans (e.g. electrical, HVAC, structural steel)  
    4. Interpret show plans  
    5. Interpret hanging plot  
    6. Generate hanging plot  
    7. Perform layout - determine if adequate electrical power is available  
    8. Verify assembly / integrity of objects to be lifted using stamped engineering drawings  
    9. Verify assembly / integrity of objects to be lifted using allowable load charts  
2. INSTALLATION
60
  A. LAYOUT AND ELECTRICAL
10
    1. Layout, including:  
      a. Assign tasks to riggers  
      b. Mark floor/grid  
      c. Determine safety guidelines (e.g. fall protection, rescue)  
      d. Establish communication procedures  
    2. General powered system requirements (e.g. dead haul, power assisted), including:  
      a. Verify voltage  
      b. Verify phasing  
      c. Verify electrical connections  
      d.Determine electrical system capacity  
  B. RIGGING ATTACHMENTS
25
    1. Rigging attachments (e.g. blocks, sheaves, anchors, points), including:  
      a. Assemble rigging attachment hardware (e.g. hitches, pipes, clamps, anchors)  
      b. Inspect assembled hardware (e.g. wire rope, slings, terminations)  
      c. Attach hardware to overhead structure (e.g. clamps, hitches, eyebolts, blocks)  
      d. Attach objects (e.g. lights, sound, scenery)  
      e. Install fall protection if required  
    2. Attach assembled hardware to drop/hand line with:  
      a. Knots (e.g. bowline, clove hitch, figure 8, sheet bend)  
      b. Cable puller  
      c. Carabiners  
    3. Attach items to lifting device, including:  
      a. Inanimate objects (e.g. truss, lights, sound, scenery, video)  
      b. Taildowns  
      c. Attachment hardware  
      d. Anchoring locations  
      e. Safety equipment backups  
  C. OPERATIONS
25
    1. Lifting/lowering operations, including:  
      a. Float objects  
      b. Inspect entire system  
      c. Perform pre-movement inspection of entire assembly  
      d. Assign movement tasks (e.g. spotters, operators, communications)  
      e. Establish lifting/lowering zone  
      f. Perform bump check  
      g. Level objects  
      h. Raise/lower objects, periodically rechecking level  
      i. Verify load distribution (e.g. load monitoring devices)  
      j. Bring load to controlled stop  
      k. Verify trim  
    2. Confirm operation of control systems and hoists, including:  
      a. Emergency stop mode  
      b. System commissioning (e.g. start-up and shutdown procedures)  
    3. Complete system, including:  
      a. Verify travel path  
      b. Verify trim heights  
      c. Raise and lower loads  
3. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
40
  A. PERSONNEL ACCESS EQUIPMENT
10
    1. Select what is needed for safe access, including:  
      a. Personnel lifts  
      b. Ladders  
      c. Rope access  
      d. Fall protection  
      e. Personal protective gear  
  B. RIGGING MATERIALS
30
    1. Determine rigging materials, including:  
      a. Trusses  
      a. Other support structures (e.g. beams, pipe, platform)  
      b. Lifting devices (e.g. hoists, block and fall, lever hoist)  
      c. Chain hoist  
      d. Other lifting devices (e.g. drum hoist, block and fall, lever hoist)  
      e. Hardware (e.g. shackles, slings, wire rope)  
      f. Manufacturers recommendations  
      g. Components of specific systems  
      h. Track Systems (e.g. video, scenic, curtain)  
      i. Properties of system design  
     
TOTAL QUESTIONS
150

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