Are your bleachers SAFE?
Are you making safety a priority at your event? Don’t forget to consider bleacher safety!
Having bleachers that don’t meet building codes may cause injuries. Have you evaluated the seating your provide?
What are some of the major things to look for when assessing bleachers for safety?
Structural Integrity
This seems obvious, but we see old bleachers all the time that are still being used, where the structure is no longer strong and safe. The bleacher frame, the seat boards and the planks that people walk on should be inspected regularly to ensure the metal isn’t rusting and the wood isn’t rotting. This is a major cause of bleacher collapses and injuries/ deaths on bleachers.
Stairs with handrails
In most places, this is a building code requirement. Stairs with handrails make your bleacher seating safer and more accessible, especially for children and seniors.
Learn more: https://youtu.be/te2IJcye7Dw?feature=shared
Back and side rails with vertical spindles
Once you are more than 30″ off the ground, back and side rails are required. Vertical spindles are the safest option, as they cannot be easily climbed.
Learn more: https://youtu.be/HvUsd_HYYjM?feature=shared
No gaps over 4″
The building code states that a 4″ sphere should not fit through your bleachers. Think about back and side rails, under/ between the rows of seats, etc. This is to avoid falls through/off the bleacher seating.
Learn more: https://youtu.be/VNlhLHYEJeQ?feature=shared
Enclosed risers & seat boards
This is to cover the above point: you need to have enclosed risers and seat boards to fill in all the gaps around the rows of seating. When this is missing, it creates a huge risk for people (especially young children) to fall through the bleachers.
Bleacher safety checklist:
- Ensure your bleacher seating meets the International Building Code, as well as any local building codes.
- All bleachers (mobile or permanent) should be inspected annually.
- Check your bleachers for safety using our checklist, which you can access here:
Learn more about Bleacher Rentals, and FAQ when it comes to renting bleachers: https://bleacherrentals.com/faq/
If you have questions about bleacher safety, we are happy to chat! 800-436-0416
