At Berlin’s historic Staatsoper Unter den Linden, much of what makes each performance possible takes place out of sight.

High above the stage are eight roof trusses, which carry not only the roof itself, but also the suspended galleries beneath and the production equipment required for each performance.

This places considerable additional demands on the building’s structure.

Monitoring structural loads

To keep track of these forces, the Staatsoper uses a monitoring system incorporating Flintec technology.

The eight roof trusses are monitored at both ends using Flintec RC3 150 t compression load cells, paired with Flintec analogue amplifiers.

The system allows the Staatsoper to continuously monitor the forces acting on the building and make sure they remain within defined limits.

Establishing a baseline

When the system was commissioned, the fixed weight of the structure was established as a baseline.

This value is deducted by the control system, allowing it to monitor only the changing forces created by stage operations, together with external influences such as wind and snow.

Warning and shutdown protection

If the measured load approaches a defined limit, the system generates a warning.

If that limit is exceeded, the fly system is disabled and the load must be reduced before operations can continue.

The Staatsoper provides a strong example of how load measurement can be integrated into a sophisticated structural monitoring system, helping a historic building meet the demands of modern stage production.