[Scott Casanova]

Hi Gina,

 

A haze machine creates a finer particle mist for lack of a better explanation.  Pretty much any concert you’ve ever been too in arenas and amphitheaters and even football stadiums use haze to enhance the lighting effects.  It’s what allows you to see the beams of light moving across the space without being so thick as to obscure the action on stage. 

 

Fog machines in general are use to create a thicker fog.  Anytime you’ve seen a low lying cloud on a stage, or someone appear or disappear in a cloud of “smoke”. That’s typically a fog machine.

 

Those are some over simplifications as each type of machine has variations based on the desired application and effect. 

 

We own and use both types of machines in our event spaces based on what the performer/sponsor is requesting.  To do so we request a second fire marshal onsite for the event to silence and monitor the fire panel and communicate with the primary fire marshal who is in the venue overseeing the event.  (We always have one fire marshal at every event).  The officer’s time is billed to us and passed on at cost to the sponsor.  The cost of the fluid is rolled into our event packages so the second fire marshal is the only additional fee for requesting use of them.

 

Our e-sports cluster recently discovered that even haze is detectable by our fire alarm sensors.  Depending on your codes heat sensors wouldn’t be tripped by either but anything measuring particles in the air, or any type of laser sensor would be tripped by fog, and possibly haze too depending on the sensitivity and how high you’re running it. 

 

Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

Scott 

 

Scott Casanova ’99
(Pronouns: he/him/his)
Associate Director
Student Engagement

T 315.443.4458   F 315.443.4617
srcasano@syr.edu

124 Schine Student Center, 200 Waverly Ave., Syracuse, NY 13244
scps.syr.edu

Syracuse University

 

——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 2/24/2025 2:33:00 PM
From: Gina Pudlick-Hendricks
Subject: Haze vs fog and sanitizer stations

Two questions for ya’ll today-

1. Do you allow haze machines or fog machines?  What are the pros and cons to each?  We do not allow fog machines and a group brought in a haze machine instead.  Is there much of a difference?
2. I want to try to encourage people to actually clean up after themselves, like wiping a table or cleaning up a spill they made.  Does anyone have stand alone sani stations?  Maybe next to the trash receptacles that include spray, wipes, and hand sanitizer?  Maybe even kleenex? 

——————————
Gina Pudlick-Hendricks
Operations Manager
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth MN
(218) 726-7167
——————————

[wendy.johnson@wwu.edu]

We sometimes use Haze or Fog for special events like concerts. However, for either we need to have the fire suppression system turned off and have a very expensive fire watch from our university facilities team.?

——————————
Wendy Johnson
Event Services Manager
Western Washington University
Bellingham WA
(360) 223-0006
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 02-25-2025 08:29
From: Scott Casanova
Subject: Haze vs fog and sanitizer stations

Hi Gina,

 

A haze machine creates a finer particle mist for lack of a better explanation.  Pretty much any concert you’ve ever been too in arenas and amphitheaters and even football stadiums use haze to enhance the lighting effects.  It’s what allows you to see the beams of light moving across the space without being so thick as to obscure the action on stage. 

 

Fog machines in general are use to create a thicker fog.  Anytime you’ve seen a low lying cloud on a stage, or someone appear or disappear in a cloud of “smoke”. That’s typically a fog machine.

 

Those are some over simplifications as each type of machine has variations based on the desired application and effect. 

 

We own and use both types of machines in our event spaces based on what the performer/sponsor is requesting.  To do so we request a second fire marshal onsite for the event to silence and monitor the fire panel and communicate with the primary fire marshal who is in the venue overseeing the event.  (We always have one fire marshal at every event).  The officer’s time is billed to us and passed on at cost to the sponsor.  The cost of the fluid is rolled into our event packages so the second fire marshal is the only additional fee for requesting use of them.

 

Our e-sports cluster recently discovered that even haze is detectable by our fire alarm sensors.  Depending on your codes heat sensors wouldn’t be tripped by either but anything measuring particles in the air, or any type of laser sensor would be tripped by fog, and possibly haze too depending on the sensitivity and how high you’re running it. 

 

Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

Scott 

 

Scott Casanova ’99
(Pronouns: he/him/his)
Associate Director
Student Engagement

T 315.443.4458   F 315.443.4617
srcasano@syr.edu

124 Schine Student Center, 200 Waverly Ave., Syracuse, NY 13244
scps.syr.edu

Syracuse University

 

Original Message:
Sent: 2/24/2025 2:33:00 PM
From: Gina Pudlick-Hendricks
Subject: Haze vs fog and sanitizer stations

Two questions for ya’ll today-

1. Do you allow haze machines or fog machines?  What are the pros and cons to each?  We do not allow fog machines and a group brought in a haze machine instead.  Is there much of a difference?
2. I want to try to encourage people to actually clean up after themselves, like wiping a table or cleaning up a spill they made.  Does anyone have stand alone sani stations?  Maybe next to the trash receptacles that include spray, wipes, and hand sanitizer?  Maybe even kleenex? 

——————————
Gina Pudlick-Hendricks
Operations Manager
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth MN
(218) 726-7167
——————————

[Brian Schreckinger]

Hi Gina,?

We tried using a fog machine in one of our large, but enclosed event spaces and it triggered the fire alarm to go off. Needless to say, we banned them from being used in those spaces. Unfortunately, we have not tried a haze machine.

With that we learned it was best to check in with Campus Safety who oversees the fire alarm sensors on our campus before using like devices again.

Hope this helps,
Brian Schreckinger

——————————
Brian Schreckinger
Director of Operations, Driscoll & Community Commons
University of Denver
Denver CO
(303) 871-7978
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 02-24-2025 14:33
From: Gina Pudlick-Hendricks
Subject: Haze vs fog and sanitizer stations

Two questions for ya’ll today-

1. Do you allow haze machines or fog machines?  What are the pros and cons to each?  We do not allow fog machines and a group brought in a haze machine instead.  Is there much of a difference?
2. I want to try to encourage people to actually clean up after themselves, like wiping a table or cleaning up a spill they made.  Does anyone have stand alone sani stations?  Maybe next to the trash receptacles that include spray, wipes, and hand sanitizer?  Maybe even kleenex? 

——————————
Gina Pudlick-Hendricks
Operations Manager
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth MN
(218) 726-7167
——————————

[mmckinney]

Hi Gina,

We do not allow fog machines or hazers from RSOs or other customers. The Department has a hazer for lighting and is careful not to overdo it because it can set off smoke detectors if it’s too thick. CAB uses a fogger for their? “Fright Night” event, but it is monitored by our tech team.

Haze machines produce a finer mist or “haze” than fog machines, allowing the particles to hang in the air and disperse quickly. Fog machines’ thicker output will hang closer to the ground. Fog machines are generally louder than haze machines and need to be activated more often to sustain the fog effect. Fog or haze “juice” can be water or oil-based, and both are messy if care is not taken. These machines should be set up away from electronics or other items like furniture where finish damage can occur.?

Hope this is helpful.

——————————
Matt McKinney
Assistant Director, Operations and Facilities
University of West Florida
Pensacola FL
(850) 474-2406
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 02-24-2025 14:33
From: Gina Pudlick-Hendricks
Subject: Haze vs fog and sanitizer stations

Two questions for ya’ll today-

1. Do you allow haze machines or fog machines?  What are the pros and cons to each?  We do not allow fog machines and a group brought in a haze machine instead.  Is there much of a difference?
2. I want to try to encourage people to actually clean up after themselves, like wiping a table or cleaning up a spill they made.  Does anyone have stand alone sani stations?  Maybe next to the trash receptacles that include spray, wipes, and hand sanitizer?  Maybe even kleenex? 

——————————
Gina Pudlick-Hendricks
Operations Manager
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth MN
(218) 726-7167
——————————

[cburpee]

You’ve gotten some good answers already.? And I think from a smoke detection perspective, it’s probably best to ban them all, unless you have a fire marshal approved way to bypass the system.? But you can sometimes get away with using it in a controlled manner, without setting off alarms.

From a health perspective, it is generally suggested to use haze and fog machines that use water based fluids, instead of oil based.? One great resource for evaluating atmospheric effects is Actor’s Equity.? This union sets requirements for for haze and fog use around their actors.? https://www.actorsequity.org/resources/producers/safe-and-sanitary/smoke-and-haze/

Not all hazers and fog machines use the same type of fluid, and the fluid type can make a significant difference in the visual effect and the side effects.? One popular hazer company, Hazebase, makes 4 different formulations of their fluid.? The quicker dissipation fluids can be better for localized effects, and dissipate before reaching your fire alarm sensors.
Base Q?? Quick dissipation of less than 15 seconds
Base M?? Medium dissipation of around 60 seconds
Base L?? Long lasting effect of around 3 Minutes
Base XL?? Xtreme Long Lasting for maximum effect

Fog machines are similar, there are different fluids for different applications.? Again, go with water-based fluids.? Often cheap party store foggers are the worst violators, and the hardest to control.? More expensive theatrical machines are better for most applications.

It’s also worth noting that there are two ways of making low-lying fog.? The modern methods use a fluid-based fog machine like the above, but use a built-in or add-on refrigeration unit to cool down the fog before output, which keeps it low to the ground for a period of time until it warms to the temperature of the surrounding air.? Older style low-lying fog machines use dry ice, which when dunked into warm water creates a CO2 and water vapor-based fog, with no additives needed.? This also comes out naturally cold from the dry ice, so it’s quieter than the refrigerated option.? This is typically a very safe option for people, and also safe for fire alarm purposes.? Just be careful when using in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, since dry ice fog is carbon dioxide gas and can cause oxygen displacement.

——————————
Christopher Burpee
Director of Student Centers
University of Chicago
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 02-24-2025 14:33
From: Gina Pudlick-Hendricks
Subject: Haze vs fog and sanitizer stations

Two questions for ya’ll today-

1. Do you allow haze machines or fog machines?  What are the pros and cons to each?  We do not allow fog machines and a group brought in a haze machine instead.  Is there much of a difference?
2. I want to try to encourage people to actually clean up after themselves, like wiping a table or cleaning up a spill they made.  Does anyone have stand alone sani stations?  Maybe next to the trash receptacles that include spray, wipes, and hand sanitizer?  Maybe even kleenex? 

——————————
Gina Pudlick-Hendricks
Operations Manager
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth MN
(218) 726-7167
——————————

[Brian Wallace]

Hi Gina,?

It looks like you’ve been given answers on the difference between the two, Scott had a good broad answer, and Chris got into the details.?

I’ll just share that because we have various levels of detection in our venues that we have an all out ban using haze and fog. As someone who enjoys good lighting effects this hurts me to say, but just because I and my student techs could responsibly use haze, I can’t trust other groups not to be equally responsible.

We do allow use of either outside, but again it needs to approved by me and be the centers supply of haze juice to ensure it doesn’t leave a residue everywhere.?

Expecting students to clean up after them selves while also maintaining the comfort and welcoming nature of the student center is a conversation that comes up mostly during winter with salt ends up on all the tables form people using them as foot rests. But, now we are in spring so that thought will disappear till next year.?

Best,?

——————————
Brian Wallace
Assistant Director, Collis Student Center
Dartmouth College
Hanover NH
(603) 646-0077
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 02-24-2025 14:33
From: Gina Pudlick-Hendricks
Subject: Haze vs fog and sanitizer stations

Two questions for ya’ll today-

1. Do you allow haze machines or fog machines?  What are the pros and cons to each?  We do not allow fog machines and a group brought in a haze machine instead.  Is there much of a difference?
2. I want to try to encourage people to actually clean up after themselves, like wiping a table or cleaning up a spill they made.  Does anyone have stand alone sani stations?  Maybe next to the trash receptacles that include spray, wipes, and hand sanitizer?  Maybe even kleenex? 

——————————
Gina Pudlick-Hendricks
Operations Manager
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth MN
(218) 726-7167
——————————