According to NFPA 160, what testing is required for flame effects?

Performance testing to demonstrate safety during operation is essential according to NFPA 160. This standard emphasizes the need for rigorous testing of flame effects to ensure that they are safe for use before an audience. The performance testing involves assessing how the flame effects operate under various conditions, including how they respond to potential hazards. This testing phase is crucial in identifying any safety issues during operation, ensuring that flame effects can be performed without posing risks to the audience or performers.

Visual inspections alone are not sufficient because they do not assess the operational safety of flame effects when actively used. Similarly, while post-performance reviews can provide insights into what occurred during a show, they do not contribute to validating the safety of the effects before they are used. Testing for acceptable noise levels, while it may be relevant in certain contexts, does not address the specific safety aspects of flame effects as outlined in the NFPA 160 standards. Therefore, performance testing is pivotal in ensuring that flame effects are reliable and safe throughout their operation.