Crush barriers and other structural elements play a crucial role in maintaining crowd control and safety at sports stadiums. Stringent testing and inspection are essential to ensure these barriers perform reliably during events and meet the performance standards required by the Home Office.
Guidelines for testing and inspection are given in the current 2008 Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds, published by HMSO. Compliance is normally demonstrated by inspection and load/displacement testing of the barrier’s structural elements
Over the last 30 years, Sandberg has provided a testing service which is in strict accordance with these guides.
Testing is conducted by qualified personnel with experience in this field, using electronic load-measuring cells and linear displacement monitors to measure deflection. The work is carried out for the club itself or its professional adviser.
Before 1997, it was mandatory to conduct an annual load test on a minimum of 25% of barriers. However, the 1997 guidelines revised this requirement, recommending that barriers be selected for load testing based on a risk assessment conducted by a qualified professional.
Barrier testing/inspection would normally cover the following:
- Dimensional surveying & condition assessments to confirm dimensions for test loads calculations and to inspect for mechanical and/or impact damage, corrosion, etc
- Load /deflection testing, based upon the dimensions of the barrier panels and the requirements of the particular standard involved. Specialised equipment is required to provide equivalent uniformly distributed loads along the required number of panels and to monitor the deflection both as the load is applied and after it has been removed.
Stadia in which Sandberg has carried out barrier testing include the following:
- Epsom Downs Racecourse
- Sandown Park Racecourse
- Kempton Park Racecourse
- Newbury Racecourse
- The Oval Cricket Ground
- The Olympic Park, London 2012
- The O2 Arena
- Everton Stadium
- The Madejski Stadium (Reading FC)
- Kingsmeadow Stadium (AFC Wimbledon)
- Wembley National Stadium
- Crayford Greyhound Stadium
