Flame effects rental

What flame effects are and what you use them for

Flame effects are special effects that work with real open fire. A flame projector or fire machine pushes a flammable gas upwards and ignites it, so a column of fire shoots into the air that can reach several metres high. Unlike effects you only see, a flame effect gives a wave of heat that rolls through the crowd, and that makes it the most physical effect there is. You feel it in your chest and on your face, and it is precisely that physical component that makes the impact so great. It is an effect that not only makes a moment seem bigger, but that briefly sets the whole environment ablaze.

You use flame effects when you want to give a highlight maximum, tangible power. At a dance event a series of columns of fire makes the drop coincide with a wave of heat, at a festival it marks the climax of a show, and at a grand finale it gives an intensity that no other effect matches. Because open fire and heat are involved, it is almost always an outdoor or large-stage effect with generous safety distances. Flame effects belong to the heaviest special effects and are never used on their own, but always as part of a tightly directed and secured show.

When flame effects suit your event

Flame effects come into their own at large events with a lot of energy and sufficient room. At a festival or a large dance event they are one of the most powerful tools to make a moment explode: the columns of fire coinciding with the music give the crowd a physical punch that lifts the energy on the floor. On a large outdoor stage there is also the room and the free height that the effect calls for.

At a large show, a product launch on a spacious outdoor site or an award evening on a large stage too, a flame effect can give the decisive moment a spectacular charge. It is important that the location genuinely lends itself to it: there must be generous distance to the audience, decor and ceiling or canopy, and the free height must be adequate. Indoors a flame effect is rarely possible. Depending on the location and the municipality, coordination with or permission from the fire brigade is required. HuurAV assesses this in advance and is honest if a location does not lend itself to it; in that case we advise an alternative such as cold sparks, which gives a comparable image with far fewer requirements.

The technology: setup, safety and operation

With flame effects the way of working is more important than the effect itself, because open fire and flammable gas are involved. Every step is dedicated to safety.

Preparation and coordination

Before anything is set up, we assess the location: the available room, the distance to the audience and decor, the free height and the wind direction at an outdoor location. We calculate the safety distances per type of effect and coordinate the use with the venue and, where necessary, with the fire brigade. Wind is an important factor with flame effects, because a column of fire becomes unpredictable in too much wind; we take that into account and adjust the use if needed or postpone it.

Setup and test

On the day itself we place the flame units in the positions determined in advance, connect the gas supply securely and connect the control. We check all connections and safety provisions and test the system in a controlled way, so we know for certain that each effect works reliably and at the right moment. We mark out the safety zones and keep them clear. This preparation happens well before there is any audience.

Safety and operation

During the show an experienced HuurAV technician operates the flame effects, and no one else. They ignite each effect precisely, continuously guard the safety zone and the wind and match the timing to the music and the light. HuurAV takes care of the safety distances, the free height and the operation in coordination with the venue. Because of these requirements we deliver flame effects exclusively with support. That way every column of fire lands exactly in sync with the moment, while safety is never lost from sight for a second.

Points of attention for flame effects

The most important point of attention is the safety distance. Because heat is released, the clear zone around, in front of and above the effect is always generous and larger than with almost any other effect. Audience, decor and structure must stay at a distance, and the free height must be adequate. We calculate these distances per situation and guard them during the show, and they partly determine whether a location is suitable.

A second point is the wind and the environment. At an outdoor location wind can make a column of fire unpredictable, so we keep an eye on the wind direction and strength and adjust the use if needed or postpone it. Furthermore, working with flammable gas calls for careful storage, connection and monitoring, which is skilled work that we take care of completely. Finally, the coordination with the venue and the fire brigade calls for planning; the earlier you request a flame effect, the better we can arrange the approval and the safety. Anyone who wants flame effects at the last minute runs the risk that the use is no longer responsible or permitted.

Combining with light, sound and other effects

Flame effects and sound belong together. A column of fire that lands exactly in sync with a drop or a musical hit lands much harder than a loose effect, because the heat and the sound together become a physical experience. The timing of the sound and the flame must therefore be right to the fraction, and we take care of that coordination as part of the show direction.

The light plays a part too: a moment where the light briefly drops away and then flares up together with the column of fire gives a dramatic contrast that reinforces the impact. Flame effects also combine with other heavy effects such as CO2 jets, where the contrast between cold white plumes and hot orange flames gives a spectacular image. Because HuurAV delivers sound, light, video and effects from a single source and puts safety at the centre, those elements fit together tightly without you having to coordinate different parties. HuurAV takes care of the advice, the setup, the test and the operation, while standalone rental of simple effects without support can be arranged through SpeakerVerhuur.nl. Because of the open fire, we always deliver flame effects with a technician.

Requesting a quote

Do you want to give a highlight at your festival or show a tangible punch with real columns of fire that hit the whole crowd? HuurAV, part of Speaker Verhuur Amsterdam, puts together a flame effect plan on a quote basis that suits your location, your programme and the applicable safety requirements, including the calculation of the distances, the coordination with the venue and the fire brigade, and the operation by an experienced technician. Let us know which moment you want to set ablaze and at which location, and we will think along and send you a clear proposal. Request a no-obligation quote.