Flintec Load Cells Monitor Structural Loads at Berlin State Opera

At Berlin's historic Staatsoper Unter den Linden, much of what makes a performance possible happens out of sight.

High above the stage are eight roof trusses, carrying not only the roof, but the suspended galleries beneath as well as the production equipment required for each show, placing considerable additional demands on the building’s structure.

To keep track of these loads, the Staatsoper uses a monitoring system that incorporates Flintec technologies. The eight roof trusses are monitored at both ends using our 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 ensure they remain within defined limits.

When the system was commissioned, the fixed weight of the structure was established as a baseline. This is deducted by the control system, allowing it to monitor only the changing forces created by stage operations, together with external factors such as wind and snow.

If the measured load approaches a defined limit, the system generates a warning. If the limit is exceeded, the fly system is disabled and the load must be reduced before operations can continue.

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