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GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN AUDITORIUM SEATING AISLE
A passageway between banks of chairs, or a bank of chairs and a wall. Usually going from the front to rear of an auditorium. See CROSS AISLE AISLE WIDTH
Aisle width is the distance of an aisle between the chairs in an aisle or the chairs and an obstruction. This is usually a building code determines minimum requirements. ANCHOR
A term used for the hardware that holds the chairs in place also called expansion bolts. Types of anchors include compression, expansion, wedge and chemical anchors. There are many varieties of this type hardware and the manufacturers instructions must be followed with each type used. Manufacturer's installation instructions must be followed when installing any anchor. ARMREST
The armrest divides each chair in a row of chairs. Arms can be wood, plastic, metal, or upholstered. Armrests can also function as cupholder arms, rise to allow for more seating area or to allow for handicap transfer. Follow instructions for installation. At times chairs will be supplied with arm factory installed. BACK
A component in a chair that supports the occupants back. BACK PITCH
The angle of installation for backs with more than one assembly pitch. This is used for comfort, clearance and sight lines. BACK TO BACK SPACING
The distance between backs from one row to the next row. Measured from rear of back to rear of back. BANK OF CHAIRS
A section, or group of chairs, separated by aisles and cross aisle, or aisles and walls. BUCKET
A term sometimes applied to the seat pan or seat shell of an auditorium seat component. CANTILEVER STANCHIONS
Cantilever stanchions can be either end or center stanchion with the mounting foot cantilevered under the seat. On end stanchions this gives a suspended look. With center stanchions the cantilever is used to avoid obstructions or vents. CARRIER PLATE
A heavy gauge steel plate used to support a chair stanchion, when the stanchion location falls on a joint and the mounting surface may not support the stanchion. CAULKING
A term used by installers when setting lead type anchors. CENTER STANDARD
Standard is a term given to the center stanchions which support chair components within rows of chairs. CHAIR
A chair is the complete assembly of back, seat, stanchions, and armrest component that make up an individual chair. CHAIR SIZE
The width of the chair measured center to center within a row. There can be many different chair sizes, depending upon type of chair and installation requirements. Chair size is usually determined by the installed size of the chair components. CHAIR FOOT LOCATION
The line used to locate the installation of chairs, based upon the foot of the chair model being installed. The seating print will give the location for foot placement depending upon chair model. CHEMICAL ANCHOR
A chemical anchor uses various chemicals, including epoxies to bond to studs or drop-in mechanisms to concrete. Manufacturer's installation instructions must be followed to properly use this type of anchoring system. CHASSIS
The supports for holding seat and backs together for chairs. See Stanchions or Standards. CORD
The height of the arc measured from a straight line drawn between two points across a circle diameter. This is used to determine the true radius during field checks. CROSS AISLE
An aisle in an auditorium that separates banks of chairs perpendicular to the performing area. This is used were there are large numbers of chairs and egress will be enhanced. CROSS SECTION
A cross section is the dissection through the width or length of a drawing to show a different view of the subject. DEPRESSED AISLE
An aisle recessed below the level of the chairs to define the location of the aisle in relationship with the chairs, or other auditorium levels. DISHED FLOOR (CONVEX)
A floor where the incline breaks (see Incline Breaks) are circular or straight but have elevations higher at the side than at the center. DOVETAIL
The method of attaching the wood arm rests to the stanchions. The wood arm is routed with a dovetail cutter and the stanchion has a matching dovetail plate that allows the wood armrest to be wedged onto the stanchion. Security screws must also be used. DRILLED FIELD CHECK (see Field Check)
A drilled field check is the installer drilling the anchoring holes for the chairs as the building is being measured for the chairs. This allows for accurate chair counts and sizes, plus speeds up the installation process. DRAWING NUMBER
The print drawing number, usually in the lower right hand corner of the drawing. This number does not refer to the order number. EARS
An ear is the term sometimes given to the brackets on seats or stanchions. EGRESS
The action of exiting a row of chairs, or auditorium. ENDS, END STANCHIONS OR STANDARDS
Any stanchion used at the end of a row of chairs. These are usually decorative, but are also at the row end at walls or obstructions (See Wallend). ENVELOPE
The measurement of a chair from the point most rearward to the point of the chair which intrudes most forward. This can be measured with the chair seat in the up or down position. This measurement can also include the chair height and width as part to the total envelope. FIELD CHECK
The check of a completed building to determine its suitability to accommodate the proper number of chairs called out in a seating layout. The field check locates any irregularities in the building construction, mounting hazards, and is the basis for the final seating layout. FLOOR MOUNT
Stanchions that are mounted either on a flat or inclined wood, steel, aluminum or concrete surface. FOOT
The steel plate or formed part that is used to mount the stanchion to the floor or riser surface. FRAME
The supports for holding seat and backs together for chairs. See Stanchions or Standards. FULL FOLD, ¾ FOLD
The full fold or ¾ fold is the seat location in an unoccupied chair. ¾ fold is standard and will allow for movement when the occupant stands to allow passage of people entering or leaving within the chair rows. Full fold is used to reduce the chair envelope. INCLINE BREAKS
The separation in a floor where the angle changes either up or down. This affects the construction of the chair, in that the chairs have to fit the slope of the floor for occupant comfort. Measurement of the angle is usually referred to in drop per foot. INCLINE TOOLS
The tools used to measure the floor angle. These include a ruler and a level. The level can be and length and held level measured to the floor. The length of the level must be identified when reporting the amount of drop. An example would be a 3 foot level with 3¾" inch drop would equal 1¼“ per foot of drop. INGRESS
The act of entering a row of chairs or auditorium. LUGS
The metal tabs on the stanchion dovetail plate, which hold the arms in place. LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURAL CONCRETE
Concrete which is lighter than Normal Weight Concrete with the use of lightweight aggregate. Lightweight Concrete should weigh between 90 and 115 pound for cubic foot, and have compression strength of 2500-PSI minimum. MOVEABLE BASE
A support base for one, two, and three chairs, used to allow the chairs to be moved on an occasional basis. ORDER NUMBER
A specific number relating to each order of chairs. OVERHANG OF END STANCHIONS
The amount allowed for each end when figuring total row lengths. Check with the chair supplier for the exact amount of overhang for the chair model being installed. PILASTER
A rectangular wall projection which usually hides a structural member within an auditorium. PRE-CAST CONCRETE
Concrete that is poured and cast molded off site and erected as a building block on site. Issues to be aware of with this type concrete are as follows. - 1. Gussets which interfere with the mounting.
- Overlap, gaps, and joints.
- Conduit, pipes or any buried obstructions.
These all require attention for chair installation prior to installation start and preferably before the manufacture of the components. PUNCH LIST
A list generated by the owner, contractor, or owner representative detailing deficiencies within the chair installation that must be corrected. These may be chair or installation problems that have to be corrected. RADIUS INCLINE
A sloping floor that follows the set radius breaks by incline. (Also see Dished Floor) RADIUS ROWS
Chair rows set in semi-circles based upon feet and inches or meters and centimeters. A row of chairs will either increase or decrease in length as the row expands or contracts with the radii as rows are added or subtracted. RE-BAR / RE-ROD
Steel reinforcing rods used in concrete work. Installers have difficulty drilling in concrete when the reinforcing bars are in the drilling locations. It is best if the reinforcing rod is at least 1½ inches deep for the floor mounted chair and 2 ½ inches deep for riser mounted chairs. RIGHT-LEFT HAND OF AUDITORIUM
This is interpreted as the side when looking at the front of the auditorium. RIGHT-LEFT HAND OF CHAIR
This is determined as one sits in the chair. RISER STANCHION OR STANDARD
A riser stanchion is used vertical rise plane where chairs are anchored. Heights of risers affect the back location and require specific stanchions to accommodate the backs. RISER FACE
The riser face is the vertical portion of the riser to which the chairs are installed. Typically, there are three heights used to mount chairs to a riser, low, medium and high risers. Care must be taken so that the risers are plumb, and that the mounting area is acceptable for the stanchion foot (no gaps, ridges, or gussets to interfere). The riser height should be consistent along the length of the riser, and the riser should be straight or follows a radius consistently. ROW
A group of chairs assembled together side by side in numbers two and greater. Row length must follow the local building codes. ROW SPACING
The distance between two rows also referred to as Back to Back spacing. SEAT
The load bearing component of the chair where the occupant places their backside when sitting in a chair. SIGHT LINES
The sight line is the view the occupant has from the chair to the focal point of the presentation area of the auditorium. SLOPE
The incline of the floor as it angles down or up to the stage or screen in an auditorium. STAGGER
The changing of chair sizes within rows to allow for an offset in the middle of a row for improved SIGHT LINES. STANCHION OR STANDARDS
A stanchion is the column, which support the back and seat of a row of chairs. Can be called centers, ends, wall ends, legs, standards, mids, or uprights. STANDEE RAIL
The partition that is usually in back of the last row of chairs which does not go to the ceiling. It usually separates the standing room from the seating area. STUB-UP
The term used to identify the location of the junction box in the floor for aisle light connections. STUD WELD
The welding of studs to steel decking used to support chairs. Decking must be of sufficient thickness and reinforced to support chair installation. SUB FLOOR
Sub floor is the term for flooring under a floor covering such as hardwood carpet, tile or other materials. It is important to know what the base floor is made of to properly secure the chairs. T/A
Tablet arm, a folding writing surface. TEMPLATE
A marking device used to locate the drilling for mounting the chair anchors. These can be individual foot templates or multiple foot and adjustable templates. TREAD INCLINE
The condition that exists when the incline breaks in the floor are straight and are level on a straight line within the building width. TREAD
A raised surface or step that is used as a passageway or mounting surface for chairs. Chairs can be mounted on the tread floor or on the riser face of the tread. TRUSS
A structural supporting member, such as a girder or an assemblage of beams, rods, or bars, which add strength to a platform or suspended structure. VOMITORY
A major entrance / exit on any level in a large auditorium. It is usually a recessed access to the seating areas. WALL END
A stanchion used at a wall or row end, used to terminate a row. The wall end is similar to the center stanchion with the exception that the side terminating the row is flush with the stanchion column. WING (Wing Bracket)
A wing is the term given to the brackets attaching the back the stanchions. These brackets can also allow for changing the pitch of the back.
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seating-sales@greystoneintl.com © Copyright 2008 by GreyStone International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. We're a public seating manufacturer of chairs for cinemas, theaters, auditoriums, churches, educational lecture halls, and home theater rooms.
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