Crowd Barrier Testing
Specialist Technical Services (U.K) Limited offers a wide range of services in the stadium and barrier control testing area, undertaking testing, assessments and giving advice on all matters of crowd control.
Following past disasters strict guidelines have been put in place to ensure all sports stadiums, and any other arenas that attract large crowds, conform to set standards to protect the general public.
Crowd/crush barriers play a key part in crowd control and safety for a vast array of situations, crowd control barrier that require testing include, but not limited to are:
- Football & Rugby Stadiums
- Athletics Tracks
- Indoor Arenas
- Festival Crown Control
- Motorsport Tracks/Arenas
- Temporary Barrier Protection
Load testing and inspections are an essential part for ensuring that the systems in place is fit for purpose. Testing undertaken by STS-UK Group can confirm that the systems are appropriate and safe; part of the service offered also inspects and advises if any systems are not acceptable for the task.
With regards to sporting stadiums The Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds published in 2018 - this document is the up to date reference guide for testing requirements within in sporting grounds, and the likes-of, where any public crowds may congregate.
The Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) is the UK Government’s advisor on safety at sports grounds and a world leader in safety. They provide independent, expert advice, based on over three decades of experience in making football in England and Wales a safe and enjoyable experience for spectators. They use experience to advise and support other sports and related industries in the UK and internationally.
Following an assumed successful trail period, the UK Government announced the introduction of safe standing areas within stadiums for the 2022/23 seasons, onwards. STS-UK were proud to be involved with the exclusive third-party on-site installation testing of such new safety designs, undertaking the testing for and on behalf of the initial adopters within some of the top clubs of the first two divisions of football in England and Wales.
For the requirement of such testing, and maintenance a recent publication of The Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds, Supplementary Guidance 01: Safe standing in seated areas - Second edition. Published in July 2022, now outlines the main criteria under this scope; and as such any stadium wishing to install such areas, must apply for an appropriate license from the Sports Ground Safety Association (SGSA). Along with ensuring the criteria outlined within the above document has been adhered to.
One of the criteria’s, refer to the action of the barriers being able to demonstrate that the structural design and the methods of fixing of all new independent barriers or seats incorporating barriers, meet the loadings set out in Figure 14 of the “Green Guide”, before spectators are admitted to the area in question. Thereafter, all such barriers should form part of both the management’s planned maintenance programme, and its schedule for structural inspections and testing. (Further Information - SG01 2.3, Figure SG01 2, Figure SG01 3 and SG01 2.3h).
STS-UK Group has vast experience in testing of sporting stadiums and crowd control systems. Competent experienced Technicians, using high accuracy electronic load and displacement devices to ensure that all testing is undertaken to an extremely high standard, working with the client to ensure the safety of any persons using the facilities.
For further information or a quotation on Crowd Barrier Testing please Contact Us.