Crush barriers and other structures play an essential part in crowd control and safety at sports stadia. Stringent testing and inspection is therefore essential to ensure that their performance satisfies the Home Office requirements.
Guidelines for testing and inspection are given in the current 2008 Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds, published by HMSO, which details the test and performance requirements.
Prior to 1997, a minimum rolling 25% was required to be load tested annually. The 1997 guide modified this to selecting those barriers for load test by carrying out as risk assessment undertaken by a ‘competent person’.
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 high precision dial gauges to monitor deflection. The work is carried out for the club itself or for its professional adviser.
Stadia in which Sandberg have 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
- The Madejski Stadium (Reading FC)
- Kingsmeadow Stadium (AFC Wimbledon)
- Wembley National Stadium
- Crayford Greyhound Stadium
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