scope:

Introduction

In May 1989 the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) issued a report entitled Safety considerations for the design and erection of demountable grandstands. This was the first guidance document issued in the UK to address the dynamic response of demountable structures and to contain advice relating natural frequencies to the proposed use of the stand. In March 1992, BRE began a research programme sponsored by the then Department of the Environment (DOE; now DETR) looking at the dynamic response of retractable and demountable seating. This was partly due to the concerns raised by the Standing Committee on Structural Safety. The collapse of a temporary grandstand at a soccer stadium in Bastia, Corsica, in May 1992 killed 17 people and injured over 2500. This tragedy was a timely reminder of the potential consequences of dynamic crowd loads on flexible structures.