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| People trust bleachers
to be a safe and supportive method of public seating. Anyone
from small children to senior citizens rely on bleacher seating
at sporting events, graduations, parades, school assemblies
and at most other outdoor occasions. Due to this fact, bleacher
safety is of the utmost importance. The CPSC has compiled a
list of guidelines to help eliminate the potential for falling
from a bleacher. |
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Update Older
Bleachers: |
| Most bleachers currently
set up today were built or installed before building codes required
guardrails and prevented large openings. What's worse, most
current building codes don't require retroactive changes to
existing bleachers. All of this adds up to an unsafe environment
for everyone, especially children. Though building codes don't
require it, it is the responsibility of a property manager to
make sure their site is safe for everyone, and the only sure
way to do this is by updating older bleachers. Though the CPSC
makes recommendations, property managers need to learn to govern
themselves. It should be obvious if a bleacher is unsafe; and
the method of how to remedy this issue there should be equally
as obvious. |
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Proper Guardrail
Usage: |
It's foolish
to think that any guardrail is sufficient for protecting small
children. The CPSC recommends that "any opening between components
of the guardrail or under the guardrail should prevent passage
of a 4-inch sphere... and should be 42-inches above the leading
edge of the footboard." Any guardrail system that does not
meet these guidelines is only providing a false sense of security,
and is dangerously misleading. If a bleacher system does not
meet the current guidelines for safety, it should be immediately
removed until it is updated- regardless if the CPSC requires
it or not. |
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Retrofitting
Existing Bleachers: |
| Retrofitting old existing bleachers
is a way to update old, unsafe bleachers to CPSC standards.
Though replacing older bleachers is the best solution, retrofitting
is an acceptable way to enhance the safety of a bleacher system.
There are many ways to retrofit a bleacher system, such as adding
additional vertical components to satisfy CPSC requirements
or attaching a chain link fence behind the existing railings.
The chain link method is less desirable because the space between
the mesh needs to be a 1.25-inch square or less, in order to
discourage climbing. CPSC also recommends consulting a licensed
professional or qualified firm to design and install the best
retrofit solution. |
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Follow-Up
Bleacher Inspections and Bleacher Maintenance: |
| One of the most
important aspects of bleacher safety is also one of the easiest
to ignore. The CPSC recommends that bleachers be thoroughly
inspected at least quarterly to identify any structural damage
or degradation that could compromise safety. Without proper
follow-up inspections, even the most equipped bleacher system
can become hazardous. Inspections and maintenance should be
carried out by trained professionals, and safety issues should
be fixed immediately. The CPSC also recommends that bleacher
products and services should be professionally inspected at
least once every two years, and a written certification should
be provided to ensure the bleachers are fit for use. |
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| Bleacher safety is not
an issue to take sitting down. For the good of everyone involved,
every bleacher should immediately be up to current CPSC standards.
Also remember to consult your local building department to make
sure your bleachers meet code. |
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Our budget has been strained, but these bleacher frames were a real money saver.
D.B. - Cheyenne, WY
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Our planks were still good, but the frames needed replacing. Thanks for taking care of us.
G.L. - Minot, ND
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How did something so large ship so fast? Amazing!
S.J. - Anchorage, AK
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The product, price and customer service I received was flawless.
L.D. - Parma, OH
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We have an abundance of bleacher planks available to us, making this frame exactly what our park needs.
W.M. - Independence, MO
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