Examining Large Temporary Structures
Since the summer of 2011, with the disasters of Indiana State Fair, Pukklepop, Ottawa Blues Fest, Flaming Lips at Tulsa Oklahoma and a concert by Ivete Sangalo at Sao Paolo in Brazil, public safety at events has become a talking point for the events and music industries. Special Structures Lab of Sheffield UK, are holding a two day seminar on examining large temporary structures taking place at the Royal Victoria Hotel in Sheffield on the 28th and 29th March 2012.
In this intensive two-day seminar, attendees will learn about the essential elements of design, construction, and installation of temporary structures. In particular, the seminar will focus on manufacturing techniques, ground anchors, rigging, lift motors and gearing, and the importance of erection in varying wind and ground conditions. Discussion will take place on the load bearing capabilities of temporary structures and in particular lateral stability of large loads. The seminar highlights the failures that can occur when proper design is not completed, or when field modifications to designs are introduced without a full understanding of their implications. This includes unlawful and reckless removal of side guys and structural bracing on tents and stages. Current techniques employed in the inspection of temporary structures are also covered.
In addition, Professor Aleksandar Pavic, the Head of the Vibration Engineering Section of the University Of Sheffield and Managing Director of the Full Scale Dynamics Ltd who is co-hosting the event, will show new in-situ structural monitoring procedures which are state-of-the-art worldwide and measures which may have an impact on the temporary structures industry in the future.
The questions that many industry insiders ask are, “How could this affect my event and what can we do to prevent it happening here?” The answer is simple, having an improved awareness of the issues surrounding the inspection and monitoring of temporary structures at festivals and other events will allow the event organiser or safety officer to make more informed judgements.
The seminar will interest event organisers, consulting engineers, structure hire companies, event contractors; local authority and inspection engineers; construction health and safety inspectors and consultants; design and construction engineers from industry who work on new construction, users of temporary structures for events and suppliers of construction equipment for scaffolding, forms, stages and work platforms.
Contacts : Rudi Enos – 0114 257 7755, Alan White – 0141 354 6579, Alex Pavic – 0114 222 5721
Rudi Enos, one of the senior designers of portable structures in the event industry comments, “The industry is already highly regulated in the UK, and does not require more. The necessary experience and expertise is already in place. What we need to do is let the knowledge ‘trickle down’ into general use at the level of examining officers and event safety teams. The seminar will provide a good start to that process”.
New developments in monitoring of temporary structures are always of interest to event safety professionals. Professor Pavic said, “Full Scale Dynamics is a high-tech spin-off company of The University of Sheffield specialising in vibration serviceability, dynamic analysis, testing and monitoring of large civil engineering structures such as bridges, footbridges, ground and suspended floors, grandstands, staircases, dams, and any type of tall and long structures. The technology we have developed can also be used to provide live monitoring of a temporary structures performance under load, including suspended accessories. The 2012 seminar will help us explain these developments to industry professionals”.
The seminar will include live demonstrations of formfinding and analysis of tension membrane structures such as tents and stages. The advanced software can show the wind load distribution pattern over the roof from differing angles and the effect it will have on the structure.
Alan White, a leading structural engineer says, “The ability to understand temporary structures and works provides a good underpinning for sound inspection techniques. Lightweight structures have the same engineering challenges as traditional structures but have portability and varying site issues to contend with as well. Anyone attending the seminar will be more informed on these issues in future”.
Interested parties can register for the seminar here
If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Rudi, Alan or Alex, call Rudi on 0114 257 7755 or email
