Awareness | PL-LA Series Rigging Guide

This guide provides information on rigging procedures and best practices for PL-LA Series equipment, enhancing awareness of safe rigging operations.

Updated at October 25th, 2024

Information


This article will cover the various rigging and installation guidelines for the PL Series loudspeakers.

More information may be found in the PL-LA User Manual.

Information about EASE GLLs may be found here.

Attention

The following information should be considered before installation.

Safety

General Rigging Safety Precaution

General Rules for Suspension

  • Consult a professional mechanical or structural engineer, licensed in the jurisdiction of the sound system installation, to review, verify, and approve all attachments to the building or structure.
  • Employ the services of a certified, professional rigger for hoisting, positioning, and attaching the equipment to the supporting structure.
  • Correct use of all suspension hardware and components is imperative in sound system suspension and deployment.
  • Always calculate suspended loads before lifting to ensure suspension components and hardware are used within their respective load limits.
  • Consult local codes and regulations to fully understand the requirements for suspended loads in the venue in which equipment will be suspended.
  • Use only dedicated PL-LA Series rigging hardware as described in this manual for suspending a loudspeaker array. Further details can be found below.
  • Be absolutely certain of the integrity of any structural member intended to support suspended loads. Hidden structural members can have hidden structural weaknesses.
  • Never assume anything! Owner or third-party-supplied suspension attachment points may not be adequate for suspending the loads.
  • Before lifting, always inspect all components (enclosures, suspension brackets, pins, frames, bolts, nuts, slings, shackles, etc.) for cracks, wear, deformation, corrosion, missing, loose, or damaged parts that could reduce the strength of the assembly. Discard any worn, defective, or suspect parts and replace them with new, appropriately load-rated parts.
  • Calculations only include the weights of the Q-SYS Components listed below. Dynamic loading such as wind and seismic that may occur during use of the product are site specific. They are assumed to be variables included in the stated factor of safety.

Shock Loading

When a load is moved or stopped, its static weight is magnified. Sudden movements can magnify the static weight several times. This is called “shock loading.” 

The effects of shock loading can be instantaneous, or it can remain undetected. Proper preparation for shock loading requires careful planning and knowledge of equipment, suspension, and lifting practices. Shock loading is most often the result of lifting and installation, but natural forces (winds, earthquakes, etc.) can create shock loads several times the static load. 

Shock loading poses a danger to equipment and workers. Because of this, structures and suspension equipment must be capable of supporting several times the weight of the suspended equipment.

 
 

PL-LA Rigging 

Rigging Categories

Certification of the PL-LA Series rigging system has been analyzed by an independent structural engineering firm to certify some worst-case configurations. The Categories covered by the certification include the following Array deployments:

  • Array Frame, Loudspeaker without Pullback Bar
  • Array Frame, Loudspeaker with Pullback Bar
  • Array Frame, Subwoofer, and Loudspeaker without Pullback Bar
  • Array Frame, Subwoofer, and Loudspeaker with Pullback Bar
  • Array Frame and Subwoofers only
  • Loudspeaker array with two Pullback Bars

Array Restrictions

  1. The splay angle for each speaker must always be equal to, or greater than the splay angle of the speaker directly above.
  2. Factors of Safeties are based on simply suspended arrays using the available Array Frame pick points to angle or aim the array up or down. Notwithstanding the use of a Pullback Bar, any method or means used to angle the array up or down beyond these simply suspended angles may reduce the FOS.
  3. Q-SYS Loudspeakers are Certified for use with Q-SYS Array Frame and Pullback Bar only. Assembling with another structure is out of scope.
  4. Calculations only include the weights of the Q-SYS Components listed below. The data presented below is based upon the listed component weights in a static load condition. Dynamic loading such as wind and seismic that may occur during use of the product are specific. They are are assumed to be variables included in the stated factor of safety. 

Warning

Do not substitute the Shoulder Bolts included with the Loudspeakers. Replace them only with the Q-SYS part SC-000777-01 or equivalent.

 
 
 
 
 

PL-LA8 Factors of Safety & Working Load Limits (WLL)

Factor of Safety (nb. Loudspeakers vs. Total Splay)

The following tables give the worst-case Factor of Safety for all Frame Angles possible, which is a function of the number of Loudspeakers to Total Splay Angle.

Warning

When using a pullback bar use the following rules :

  1. The load angle of the Pullback Bar with the vertical at the attachment point should be between 0°  and 45° 
  2. Use only pick-point numbers #6 on the Array Frame.
  3. Frame Angle between 0° and 45° down-tilt.
 
Total Splay

12°

24°

36°

48°

60°

72°

84°

96°

108°

120°

132°

144°

PL-LA8-AF + PL-LA8 (free hanging, no Pullback)

≤11 boxes

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

 

 

12

10

10

10

10

10

7

7

7

7

7

7

 
13

10

10

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

14

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

15

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

PL-LA8-AF + PL-LA8 + PL-LA8-PB (With Pullback Bar)

≤11 boxes

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

 

 

12

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

7

 
13

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

7

7

 
14

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

7

5

 
15

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

7

5

 

PL-LA8-PB + PL-LA8 + PL-LA8-PB (double Pullback Bar)

6 boxes

10

10

10

10

10

             

PL-LA8 WLL

Working Load Limits (WLL)

Model

Individual Component Weight

7:1 Safety Factor

10:1 Safety Factor

Notes

PL-LA8-AF 13.6 kg / 30 lbs      
PL-LA8-AF + PL-LA8 Array 12.4 kg / 27.3 lbs 217.7 kg / 480 lbs 169.2 kg / 373 lbs Max total Splay of 62.5°
PL-LA8-PB Pullback Bar 1.6 kg / 3.4 lbs 173.7 kg / 383 lbs 121.6 kg / 268 lbs See “Safety Precautions when using a Pullback Bar”
PL-LA8 M10 Pullback Point Built into rear of product 92.1 kg / 203 lbs 64.4 kg / 142 lbs  
 
 
 
 

PL-LA12 Factors of Safety & Working Load Limits (WLL)

Factor of Safety (nb. Loudspeakers vs. Total Splay)

The following tables give the worst-case Factor of Safety for all Frame Angles possible, which is a function of the number of Loudspeakers to Total Splay Angle. 

Warning

When using a pullback bar use the following rules:

  1. The load angle of the Pullback Bar with the vertical at the attachment point should be between 0° and 45° 
  2. Use only pick-point numbers #6 on the Array Frame.
  3. Frame Angle between 0° and 45° down-tilt.
 
Total Splay

12°

24°

36°

48°

60°

72°

84°

96°

108°

120°

132°

144°

PL-LA12-AF + PL-LA12 (free hanging, no Pullback)

≤10 boxes

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

 

 

 

11

10

10

10

10

10

10

7

7

7

7

   
12

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

 
13

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

5

5

14

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

5

5

5

15

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

5

     

PL-LA12-AF + PL-LA12 + PL-LA12-PB (With Pullback Bar)

≤8 boxes

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

         
9

10

10

10

10

10

10

7

7

       
10

10

10

10

10

10

7

7

7

5

     
11

10

10

10

10

7

7

7

5

5

     
12

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

     
13

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

     
14

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

       
15

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

       

PL-LA12-PB + PL-LA12 + PL-LA12-PB (double Pullback Bar)

6 boxes

10

10

10

10

10

             

PL-LA12 WLL

Working Load Limits (WLL)

Model

Individual Component Weight

7:1 Safety Factor

10:1 Safety Factor

Notes

PL-LA12-AF 14.5 kg / 32 lbs      
+ PL-LA12 Array 19.5 kg / 43 lbs 300.3 kg / 662 lbs 214.1 kg / 472 lbs Max Total Splay angle of 70°
PL-LA12-PB Pullback Bar 2.1 kg / 4.6 lbs 161.9 kg / 357 lbs 113.4 kg / 250 lbs 12 PL-LA12 at FoS 10:1
See Restriction in “Pullback Bar”
PL-LA12 M10 Pullback Point Built into rear of product 80.3 kg / 177 lbs 56.2 kg / 124 lbs  
 
 
 
 

PL-SUB18 Factors of Safety & Working Load Limits (WLL)

Factor of Safety

In this case the PL-SUB18 are deployed in Column under the PL-LA12-AF Array Frame. Frame tilt is limited to +/- 5° for Column > 3 PL-SUB18.

10:1 Up to 8 PL-SUB18 (with a maximum of 3 in REAR facing cardioid mode)

7:1 Up to 10 PL-SUB18 (with a maximum of 4 in REAR facing cardioid mode)

PL-SUB18 WLL

Working Load Limits (WLL)

Model

Individual Component Weight

7:1 Safety Factor

10:1 Safety Factor

Notes

PL-LA12-AF + PL-SUB18 Column 46.3 kg / 102 lbs 477.2 kg / 1052 lbs 384.6 kg / 848 lbs Max Tilt Angle +/- 5°
 
 
 
 

PL-SUB18 + PL-LA12 Factors of Safety & Working Load Limits (WLL)

Factor of Safety (nb. Loudspeakers vs. Total Splay)

The following tables give the worst-case Factor of Safety for all Frame Angles possible, which is a function of the number of Loudspeakers to Total Splay Angle. 

Warning

When using a pullback bar use the following rules:

  1. The load angle of the Pullback Bar with the vertical at the attachment point should be between 0° and 45° 
  2. Use only pick-point numbers #6 on the Array Frame.
  3. Frame Angle between 0° and 45° down-tilt.
 

1 PL-SUB18

Total Splay

12°

24°

36°

48°

60°

72°

84°

96°

108°

120°

132°

PL-LA12-AF + 1 PL-SUB18 + PL-LA12 (free hanging, no Pullback)

≤9 boxes

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

 

 

 

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

7

7

   
11

10

10

10

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

 
12

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

13

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

5

5

14

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

   

 

15

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

   

 

 

PL-LA12-AF + 1 PL-SUB18 + PL-LA12 + PL-LA12-PB (With Pullback Bar)

≤8 boxes

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

       
9

10

10

10

10

10

10

7

7

     
10

10

10

10

10

10

7

7

7

5

   
11

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

 
12

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

 
13

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

 

 

14

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

 

 

 

15

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

 

 

 

2 PL-SUB18

Total Splay

12°

24°

36°

48°

60°

72°

84°

96°

108°

120°

132°

PL-LA12-AF + 2 PL-SUB18 + PL-LA12 (free hanging, no Pullback)

≤8 boxes

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

       
9

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

 

 

 

10

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

   
11

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

 
12

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

5

 

13

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

5

 

 

14

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

     

 

15

5

5

5

5

5

5

       

 

PL-LA12-AF + 2 PL-SUB18 + PL-LA12 + PL-LA12-PB (With Pullback Bar)

≤7 boxes

10

10

10

10

10

10

         
8

10

10

10

10

10

7

7

       
9

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

     
10

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

   
11

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

 
12

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

13

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

   

3 PL-SUB18

Total Splay

12°

24°

36°

48°

60°

72°

84°

96°

108°

120°

132°

PL-LA12-AF + 3 PL-SUB18 + PL-LA12 (free hanging, no Pullback)

≤6 boxes

10

10

10

10

10

           
7

7

7

7

7

7

7

 

 

 

 

 

8

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

 

 

   
9

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

 

 

 
10

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

 

 

11

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

 

12

7

7

7

7

7

7

5

5

5

5

 

13

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

     

 

14

5

5

5

5

5

5

       

 

15

5

5

5

5

5

         

 

PL-LA12-AF + 3 PL-SUB18 + PL-LA12 + PL-LA12-PB (With Pullback Bar)

≤6 boxes

10

10

10

10

10

           
7

7

7

7

7

7

7

 

 

 

 

 

8

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

 

 

   
9

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

 

 

 
10

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

 

 

11

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

 

12

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

 

PL-SUB18 + PL-LA12 WLL

Working Load Limits (WLL)

Model

Individual Component Weight

7:1 Safety Factor

10:1 Safety Factor

Notes

PL-LA12-AF 14.5 kg / 32 lbs      
PL-LA12-AF + PL-SUB18 + PL-LA12   377.8 kg / 833 lbs 296.2 kg / 653 lbs Max 1 SUB rear facing
PL-LA12-PB Pullback Bar 2.1 kg / 4.6 lbs 161.9 kg / 357 lbs 113.4 kg / 250 lbs 12 PL-LA12 at FoS 10:1
See Restriction in “Pullback Bar”
 
 
 
 
 

Spare Parts

Any spare parts can be purchased from the QSC Spare Parts web store or QSC Customer Care.

Q-SYS Ref. Designation  
CH-008429-01 REAR LINK
CH-008430-01 Y-LINK
CH-008428-01 STRAIGHT LINK
SG-000728-01 INPUT COVER FOR IP65
(includes gasket, screws and label)
CO-000981-01 CONNECTOR 4 POLES
SC-000814-01 SCREWS FOR INPUT COVER M4-10mm screw 
SC-000777-01 RIGGING SHOULDER BOLTS M6-6.5mm screw with M8 shoulder L=10mm class 12.9
 
 

Torque Values

Auto Locking SHOULDER BOLTS require to be torqued adequality

RIGGING SHOULDER BOLTS 11.3 N∙m (100 lbf∙in)
Side panel screws  1.35 N∙m (12 lbf∙in).
Extension Bar 135.6 N.m (1200 lbf.in)
 
 

Flown Deployment

The sections below give examples for flying PL Series loudspeakers.

Attaching PL-LA to the Array Frame PL-AF

Downtilt (Normal Frame)

Pick-point #1 pointing forward

Uptilt (Reverse Frame)

Pick-point #11 pointing forward

 
 

Attaching PL-LA to PL-LA

Note

Do not fully torque the screws before the array is mounted and angled, as it will prevent the free rotation needed so gravity can set the angle as needed.

 

 
 

Attaching a PL-SUB18 to the PL-LA12-AF Array Frame

When Attaching a PL-SUB18 to the PL-LA12-AF, the PL-LA12-AF is reversed (pick-point #11 pointing forward).

 
 

Attaching a PL-LA12 under a PL-SUB18

 
 

Attaching a PL-SUB18 under a PL-SUB18

 
 

Pullback Bar

Double Pullback Bar

Safety Precautions when using a Pullback Bar

  1. The load angle with the vertical at the attachment point should be between 0° and 45° (the greater the angle, the safer).
  2. Use pick-point number #6 on the Array Frame. (#1-6 allowed when deploying the PL-LA12).
  3. Frame Angle between 0° and 45° down-tilt.

 
 

Pullback Point

The integrated M10 Pullback Point can be used up to 4 Loudspeakers with a Factor of Safety of 10:1.

 
 

EB3082 Extension Bar

Warning

To determine factor of safety of the assembly, refer to the factor of safety of both sub-assemblies.

 

 
 

Ground Deployment

The sections below give examples for ground/stacked installations for PL Series loudspeakers.

Stacking two PL-SUB18

 
 

Stacking a PL-LA on a Array Frame

Note

See “Flown Deployment / Attaching PL-LA to the Array Frame PL-AF” for details on assembly.

 

 
 

Single Loudspeaker Deployment

The sections below give examples for single speaker installations for PL Series loudspeakers.

LA-KIT-I Accessory

  • Use the LA-KIT-I to integrate up to three PL-LA12 or four PL-LA8 without using the array frame.
  • Included bridled angle to be 90° or less.

 
 

Flying a single PL-SUB18 without Array Frame

Attach four 1/4 in. shackles with an 8 mm pin shaft to the Straight Links in a straight position.