And riggers don't to structural engineering, either, they implement what the A/E has spec'd.
In the end, get someone with a license to design things (and put their name/stamp on it). Whether you need a certified rigger to install the extra bracing the A/E specs is another discussion (I'd say, probably not if they follow the drawings/spec), and whether or not you need a certified rigger to install the winch and/or hang the chandelier is yet a third.
Funny thing about us riggers; we often DO have to do statics math to ensure our rig won't fall down. We can't stamp drawings (unless one of us happens to be a PE) but we have to do the math all the time. If you've ever been to an arena concert, a music festival, a theatre production, etc... a (hopefully) competent head rigger has done the math, and often designed the entire rig. We tend to be a pretty darn conservative bunch when it comes to design factors and hardware choices, and those type of rigs are usually wildly overengineered simply to cover the unknowns and the unexpected.
Not to say we don't employ the services of PE's. We do all the time. It's just that we often don't have that luxury. In this case, I'm absolutely advocating the involvement of a PE to look over the design of the rigging itself, but more importantly, the design of the building where the client wants the 250# chandelier hung. In the world of rigging, 250# is peanuts, and the hardware to safely suspend that type of load is relatively straightforward. What needs close scrutiny is the attachment to the building. I don't necessarily know the details why, but I do know that many residential structures framed with factory-made wood truss construction don't necessarily lend themselves to 250# point loads. Spreading that load is the key, and why a PE's skills are so important to a project like this.
As for "rigging certification" that's not really that straightforward either. Riggers aren't licensed like electricians (though they probably should be). ESTA, the Entertainment Services & Technology Association, implemented a program called ETCP (Entertainment Technician Certification Program) that has begun to address the industry's need for a formal skills assessment and certification program. It's long overdue and a step in the right direction, though carrying an ETCP cert isn't legally required most places. Individual venues may have a requirment that the head rigger carry an ETCP cert, but nothing legally requires it yet (except maybe in Vegas). It's a niche industry (much more than electrician-ing) so it's flown under the radar for the most part so far. A series of high-profile rigging accidents in the last decade is starting to change that though.
Not to diverge too far from the OP's question. I just wanted to pass along a little background from my little corner of the Entertainment industry. Thanks for indulging.
SceneryDriver
