Stadium Operators: Make Sure You Know Safety Barrier Regulations
Fan safety should be the number one priority for stadium operators across the UK. History is rife with examples of operators not concerning themselves with safety, and none of the past incidents ended well. It is incumbent upon stadium operators to both deploy security barriers and fully comply with the regulations pertaining to them.
Security barriers tailored for stadiums accomplish three primary goals:
Crowd Control – Security barriers keep fans safer by directing pedestrian flow, managing cues, and keeping unauthorised personnel out of hazardous areas. Crowd control is the first step in maintaining fan safety.
Segregation – Security barriers can also segregate different groups of fans at a single event. For example, keeping home and away fans separate during a football match enhances safety.
Zone Protection – Security barriers erected around stages and VIP areas protect both those areas and any spectators occupying them.
Accomplishing these three goals reduces the risks of fan injury substantially. At the same time, damage to the stadium property itself is more easily managed.
Regulatory Concerns for Operators
Stadium operators are required to use security barriers in key situations. More importantly, they must also always follow all appropriate regulations. Stadiums and their security barriers are regulated in the UK by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA). At the very least, stadium operators can check with the SGSA to learn more about their responsibilities.
Within the realm of regulation and compliance, there are some key things operators should always be aware of:
1. Licensing Safe Standing Areas
Safe standing areas allow venues to increase capacity without having to add seats. However, operators are required to obtain licenses for any such areas. The SGSA issues licences.
To be approved, security barriers protecting such areas must be engineered to prevent crowd movement in both forward and backward directions. Operators must also adhere to strict ‘one person, one space’ policies. They must employ trained stewards to monitor safe standing areas.
2. Design and Construction Standards
Both the SGSA and the Football Association (FA) have established standards for pitch perimeter barrier height. Barriers should be a minimum of 1.1 metres high. In addition, barriers must be properly designed and constructed. Other regulations apply as well.
Pitch perimeter barriers must be inspected on a regular basis. When warranted, they must also be tested to ensure both compliance and safety.
3. Crowd Management
Regulations require that spectators be kept separate from the playing area with crowd management barriers capable of preventing unauthorised access. Stadium operators and clubs are responsible for the barrier systems they choose. They are held accountable for ensuring a minimal risk of crowd surges onto the pitch.
4. British Safety Standards
Finally, all security barriers and handrails in a stadium must comply with applicable UK and international safety standards. A number of organisations are tasked with safety compliance, including the British Standards Institution (BSI).
It is worth noting that all the regulations and safety standards now in place are designed to protect spectators through proper crowd management. When spectators are prevented from moving into areas that are either unsafe or subject to authorised access restrictions, keeping them safer is an easier task.
Choosing Security Barriers
It goes without saying that security barriers should be chosen according to strict criteria. Regulatory compliance is at the top of the list. But what other things should stadium operators consider? Here is a list of key features:
Suitable Materials – Lightweight plastic barriers are appropriate only for limited uses in a stadium setting. More suitable materials, like steel, are a better choice.
Appropriate Design – The best security barriers include a number of design features that make them more suited to purpose. Examples include detachable feet and accordion construction that easily allow for size adjustments.
Mobility – Stadium owners should look for barriers that are easily mobile. Barriers fitted with wheels can be easily moved from one location to another. The same goes for barriers light enough to be carried. Mobility is crucial when rapid reconfiguration is necessary.
Interconnectivity – Security barriers with built in interconnectivity are ideal for containing crowds with continuous runs. Such barriers are built with interlocking systems that prevent unauthorised dismantling during events.
Certain venues may need secure barriers that can be locked and fixed at either end. Such barriers provide security around restricted areas. They should never be used to block egress in the event of an emergency.
Security Barriers Are a Serious Matter
A thorough investigation of security barrier regulations makes it clear that such barriers represent a serious matter. Crowd control and fan safety should never be compromised during any stadium event. To not give it priority is to be negligent, and negligence is not something regulators tolerate.
Fortunately, it is not hard to find well designed and superbly constructed security barriers. Appropriate barriers can be ordered from any number of suppliers throughout the UK. As such, there is no valid reason for a stadium to be ill-equipped.
