I have asked the PLB insurance people for a price to add fire dancing to my insurance...what so other people do for insurance and what do you use as a fuel dump station?
posted by:
Horizon
United Kingdom
  • Not to pick nits or anything, but it's a "fuel dump" or "fuel station". the former being a play on the military term "ammo dump" or a place to store ammo. The latter being the more accurate term. But , here in the states anyway, a "dumping station" is a place for getting rid of waste, usually where Mobile homes can expel human... excrement. So, not generally used for places that store desired objects.

    I talked to a lot of fire marshals and they have a lot of concerns for fuel areas. The very biggest one is that you have a lot of fuel there, more than on stage. So, first, what would happen if you accidentally sent a flaming fire prop from the stage towards your fuel area?
    1) If there's a hard wall between the two, then there's little issue
    2) if not, is anything breakable (ie glass), or meltable (plastics, etc)? Metal is the preferred storage/dip containers.
    3) can things be knocked over? Closed lid metal around dip containers is the preferred.

    So, at the extreme, they might ask for a flammable liquid storage cabinet (and have):
    www.inlad.com/EagleFlamma...abinets.aspx

    But, for one-person shows, or just to manage your personal supply, just some sort of double-metal device is usually good enough. Personally, I use this:
    www.bearclawmfg.com/catalog/...ts_id/184

    Second, they're concerned about random flames (cigarettes, heaters, etc) getting close enough to ignite random fuel station vapors. Usually posting 'no smoking' signs, or 'this crap will explode if you even think about fire' signs in a 30' radius will make them happy. But someone guarding the station at all times when vapors are an issue will always satisfy them.

    Third is the spin-out area. Not every tool can use spin out buckets or stuff like this:
    www.bearclawmfg.com/catalog/...ts_id/263
    So having signs around that area, good ventilation, stone surfaces, catch basins, etc are usually necessary.
    • Tedward really does know best. I use his fueling stations when I perform. I love the fact that his stuff is tried and true!! I also have a spotter just for my fueling station, a spotter for myself and a spotter for the crowd. I am a intermediate fire spinner and I use kerosene just because it is a little less flammable than white gas. I feel safer using this type of fuel. Indoors though it would get stinky. I also spin out my extra fuel in containers as to not damage the grass or area around me. The fire marshals might also ask you about the MSDS for the type of fuel your using. You need to know the flash points and general components of what your fuel is and how to treat it. Most places will require you to have insurance if your burning inside. This is why I don't perform inside. Clowns of the US provides insurance for performers of all kinds.
  • PLB Insurance??
    The only performer insurers I've dealt with in the UK are Ace Europe, and Equity. I've recently registered as a full member of Equity - and it was the same price as any other companies so definitely worth it for the extra perks. Standard Public Liability Insurance comes with Equity membership, and then for an additional £26 you can apply for fire cover too (which I've just had through today).
    There's a few rules and regs set out on the fire cover (like using sealed airtight tins for fuel, and only taking as much as you need for performance, as well as the usual safety issues) and I had to send them a risk assessment for all my acts.

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