As cinemas across the United States and around the world suspend operations in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19, tech leaders have begun issuing tips and guidelines for proper equipment shutdown and maintenance during the closures.
Below are some guidelines from the Cinema Technology Comunity and Boston Light & Sound on proper steps to care for your equipment during the closures, and prepare for re-opening once cinemas return to operation.
Cinema Technology Community
Shutting Down Equipment
Digital Cinema Projectors
Leave the projector’s uninterruptible power supply (UPS) powered with the projector in “standby” mode. Doing this will help to keep the security certificate in your media block from being lost which will result in being unable to play encrypted content without a new media block.
Exhaust fans should be switched off and any dampers closed. Lens caps or other protective coverings may be placed on the outside of lenses to keep airborne dust and dirt from settling on the glass.
Best practice varies considerably and CTC recommends obtaining specific instructions relating to your projector from either your integration partner or product manufacturer.
3D Systems
3D systems should be powered down and filters where possible slid or moved away from the projector lens. 3D filters should be covered where possible.
Digital Cinema Servers
Leave the server’s uninterruptible power supply (UPS) powered with the server in “standby” mode. This will ensure that your integration or service partners are able to gain remote access to assist should you encounter any problems. Ensuring your servers remain in standby mode will also ensure that the security certificate in your media block remains valid the result of which would be the loss of ability to play encrypted content without the addition of a new media block. This is especially important for Series 1 projectors.
Audio and Control Systems
Leave any audio rack or control system uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) powered with any connected equipment in “standby”mode in order to avoid losing any settings or tuning data. If the audio rack is powered off each night then this can be done,
Maintaining Operational Readiness and Re-Charging UPS Batteries
Where possible, all equipment should be powered up weekly for between one and two hours to ensure that equipment remains operational and to ensure the complete charging of UPS batteries.
HVAC
Whilst the temperature inside the cinema can be reduced due to the unoccupied status of the building, minimum temperatures in the booth or auditorium should not fall below 10°C/50°F to protect components in all equipment.
Film-Based Projection Systems
Film systems may be powered off. Exhaust fans should be switched off and any dampers closed. Xenon lamps can be removed and placed in protective packaging however these can be left in place.
Lenses should be placed in a protective covering and stored in a clean environment. Where your projection system uses an anamorphic lens, this should remain installed and covered with a lens cap or other protective cover.
Prior to Commencing Operations
Powering Up Equipment
In some instances, it is advisable to power up equipment in multiple phases in order to avoid large peak voltages. A recommended order for powering up should be projector, server and lastly the audio rack.
Auditorium Cleanliness
Whilst it is understood that all cinemas are likely to be deep cleaned prior to re-opening, it is essential that residual dust which may have built up is removed from the auditorium. Places where dust is likely to affect optimum viewing performance include port glass and screen.
Pre-Opening Testing
It is essential that a rigorous plan for testing and re-calibrating equipment is in place and carried out fully prior to re-opening to ensure that systems have remained operational and movies can be shown.
KDM Renewals
With closures for an uncertain amount of time, it is possible that KDMs for certain titles may expire and need renewing. This should be checked in advance of re-opening.
Conclusion
At such a difficult time, it is important that the global cinema community comes together to support each other. By doing this we will ensure that audiences will return to our cinemas and that our venues will remain the best and only place to see movies.
This document is aimed at being a working document and will continue to be updated accordingly. CTC welcomes suggestions related to this essential topic or others from across the industry and we aim to provide support and guidance where necessary.
Digital Cinema Projectors:
Leave the projector uninterruptible power supply (UPS) energized with the projector in “standby” this will help to keep the security certificate in your media block from being lost which would result in being unable to play encrypted content without a new media block.
Exhaust fans should be switched off and any dampers closed. Optionally you may choose to remove any Xenon Lamps and store them in their protective packaging however this is not required.
Lens caps or other protective coverings may be placed on the outside of lenses to keep airborne dust and dirt from settling on the glass.
While you may reduce the temperature settings in your building due to its unoccupied status thermostats in the booth should not be set at less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit in order to protect the sensitive electronics and optics.
Digital Cinema Servers
Leave the server uninterruptible power supply (UPS) energized with the server in “standby” this will help to keep the security certificate in your media block from being lost which would result in being unable to play encrypted content without a new media block. This is especially important for series 1 machines.
Audio & Control Systems
Leave any audio rack or control system uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) energized with any connected equipment in “standby” in order to avoid losing any settings or tuning data.
Film Systems
Film systems may be de-energized. Exhaust fans should be switched off and any dampers closed. Optionally you may choose to remove any Xenon Lamps and store them in their protective packaging however this is not required.
Lenses should be placed in a protective covering and stored in a lens cabinet or other safe place. In the event your equipment utilizes a lens turret the anamorphic lens should remain installed and covered with a lens cap or other protective cover.
MOST IMPORTANTLY MAKE A LIST OF ANY STEPS TAKEN TO AID IN RESUMING OPERATION,
“Standby” is a mode where the power supply is energized but the machine is in a “soft” shutdown state. In the event you are unsure leaving the projector powered with the lamp off, or the server powered with the monitor switched off may be the safest choice.
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