20 feet high pole

Hipopette started this discussion · 2/4/2012

Hello, I would like to start training somewhere where the ceilings are very high. About 20-22 feet high. There is no pole there yet. I will need to install one and the problem is I need to take it down everyday and put it back up every next day. I would like to know if anyone has any suggestions about installing such a high pole. I have read on xpole us website that it is better, safer and more solid to purchase a block mount and fix it to the ceiling and then attach the pole to it. What kind of block mount should I purchase? Also does anyone have comments regarding the extensions? I think I am going to purchase about 3 or 4 "1000" mm extensions to reach the ceiling height plus the pole itself. Is it better to buy the largest extensions or a lot of the smallest? As far as safety is concerned is there anything else I should know? ... ANYWAYO! I really appreciate your help! Thanks in advance. NLB

22 replies

Veena · 2/4/2012
I would contact xpole and explain your a studio and tell them what you're looking for. I have the block mount and love it!
Hipopette · 2/4/2012
Thanks Veena. However I have already contacted xpole about a month ago with that question and have received no anwers so far... Which is why I turned to you guys! I think the block mount would be a good solution too. Do you have a vaulted block mount or a regular one? Thanks!
Veena · 2/4/2012
Vaulted :)
chemgoddess1 · 2/4/2012
I do not think that XPole will even sell a pole for that height. When you are talking about something that tall you need to have it reinforced or it wll bend on you.
Hipopette · 2/4/2012
chemgoddess: I know xpole doesn't sell poles for that height! I have the intention of buying a regular xpole that goes to 9feet and then 4x1000mm extensions or more to reach the exact height. Now the reinforcement you are tallking about is interesting. How do you reinforce a pole? Veena: do vaulted mounts also work for flat ceilings?
nymphdancer · 2/4/2012
removable poles of that height are going to be dangerous. I think 14 is the highest recommended for removable. I'm getting my high poles from poledanzer and they line them for reinforcement.
Dancing Paws · 2/4/2012
That is a really dangersous height. LizzyLiz810 tried x poles at around 15' (I think that was the height) and they came down on her on a fireman spin. She has a blog about it on her page. You should look at it. At that height, permanent poles are the safest. Talk to platinum stages about it or pole danzer. I do not recommend going with a multi piece at that height (nor will they.)
chemgoddess1 · 2/4/2012
There were other issues with the XPoles that Lizzy had installed. When PS came in they built special mounts for her ceiling which she did not have for her X's. She was trying to use the standard X pole on a recessed ceiling. I don't know much about recessed ceilings but I do not think the recessed part has a joist behind it.
Veena · 2/4/2012
No, I wouldn't go that high with a removable either. I should have been more clear. I meant, call x pole and talk about options for example, you could do an x stage pole instead. Yes you can use the vaulted on a regular ceiling, makes putting the pole up super fast. I hear great things about the pole danzer poles if you can do a permanet mount.
Dancing Paws · 2/4/2012
Just a side note: you should REALLY listen to the height restrictions that the pole companies advise on. They know the max height for the poles. If you were to put up a pole out of that range it can (and very likely will) come down and could seriously hurt you. If someone else tried the pole and it came down and hurt them, you could get sued bit time.
poledanceromance · 2/4/2012
Please please listen to this. If a pole at 20' comes down, that is absolutely and definitely enough weight to instantly shatter bones on whoever it hits. Felix Cane herself very recently almost died because of a rigging failure and has taken months to rehabilitate. If a company says their product would not be safe in your space, listen to them.
Hipopette · 2/4/2012
thank you very much for all your comments. safety is my priority. i think i might look into just a regular xstage, sound be simpler. otherwise theres another room in that center that has much lower ceilings, about 14 inch. so that should be okay?
Mary Ellyn · 2/4/2012
First of all the basic X-Pole which reaches 9 feet is composed of two sections of approximately 1000mm plus a 250 plus a 125mm. Now you wish to add to more 1000mm sections. Every place where two pieces join is a weakened area of connection. Smaller pieces and more connections is going to make for a very unsafe pole even if it is block mounted. Even at 20 feet most permanent poles are not very steady but I cannot imagine a removable pole of any type which would be safe at that height. The reinforced poles are lined with steel so that they have a double wall. Again, you need a permanent mounted pole for this sort of stabilty at this height. I agree with Veena...consider a stage pole.
LizzyLiz810 · 2/4/2012
@chemgoddess The xpole dome fit inside of the square molding. It wasnt placed on the molding. The ceiling and floor are concrete. Im not sure where your comment about Platinum stages making me a special mount came from. I had wood cut into blocks at LOWES, and then bolted into the ceiling, because the permanent poles would not fit past the molding. They are bolted to the floor and ceiling, so there was no way to shimmy it thru. They are pretty much an exact fit. The ceilings were too high to have the semi permanent pole, which just attaches to the ceiling. I would have been able to shimmy that type into place by the bottom, and not use any wood blocks. **Also, i had sent pictures of my ceiling to xpole before i even signed my lease to make sure it was ok, and they said yes. @sensual- My ceilings are 12'2.
Anjel · 2/4/2012
You can get a Platinum Stage pole to go that high. I perform on one that height every weekend in Hollywood and it's stable. They are custom made at that height, and I haven't had any problems.
studio409 · 2/5/2012
You should come at Studio 409 Goddess ;)
chemgoddess1 · 2/5/2012
Liz, I remember reading somewhere about the problems that you had with opening the studio and your xpoles and you stated that you had to get permission from your landlord about special mounts or something you were going to do to the ceiling to be able to put your PS poles up. This is where that comment came from.
LizzyLiz810 · 2/5/2012
@chemgoddess Ok yes i know what you are referring to. The building has really nice molding on the ceilings, and they didnt want me to drill holes in it, so that is why i originally got xpoles. It was in my lease not to damage the ceiling. However, once i made them aware of the situation, they graciously allowed me to drill the permanent poles in. Platinum stages didnt make any special mounts for me. I did it myself.
TrixieLovett · 2/5/2012
Please beware of the attachment point. I was looking for the same thing. I found a studio space with 23' ceilings, but landlord would not let me do a perm mount. I had a structural engineer come in and look at the trusses and he said they would have to be reinforced to withstand the torque of such a tall pole. I actually got a reinforcement quote and EEK!! So please just be aware that an okay from the pole manufacturer may not mean its all good. Be safe sister. ;)
Hipopette · 2/6/2012
thank you trixie!
Platinum Stages · 2/6/2012
We make poles that go that high but only permanent poles NOT removable. We do not recommend using a removable 20 foot pole. Our removable poles only go up to 12 feet. A free standing pole might be the best option unless you can somehow permission to install a permanent pole. If you can - then we make poles tall enough. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at 1-866-85-POLES Thanks, Erica Verner
Hipopette · 2/6/2012
Hello everyone and thank you for being so many to have responded to my question. Fortunately I have found a second room in the place I want to train where the ceilings are much lower. About 12 feet high to 14 feet high, havn't measured yet. Which will be perfect with the platinum stage pole that I have. Thanks again, and hope to fly with you soon! NLB