N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 12 §§ 36-3.7

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 50, December 11, 2024

Section 36-3.7 - Grandstands and bleachers

(a) General. This section contains the requirements for the design of grandstands and bleachers of all types both for indoor and outdoor use. It applies to both existing and new structures except as otherwise expressly provided.

(b) Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms will be deemed to have the meanings listed below.

(1) Grandstand. Any permanent or temporary structure intended primarily to support an assemblage of spectators and designed to remain in one specific location. It does not apply to the permanent seating arrangements in theatres and assembly halls.

(2) Portable stands or bleachers. Assemblies of prefabricated units, readily erected, dismantled and transported and used or intended for use as movable or temporary supports for persons. Sectional non-foldable bleachers are included under this term.

(3) Foldable stands or bleachers. Movable types of seating arrangements that may be closed into a compact unit, the seat supporting members being so connected that the unit will fold or telescope into a relatively small space without being dismantled.

(c) Design, construction and maintenance.

(1) Grandstands and bleachers permanent or portable, shall be designed, constructed and maintained to support in addition to their own weight, a uniformly distributed live load of not less than 100 pounds per square foot of gross horizontal projection of the grandstand or similar structure. All seats and footboard members shall be designed for live loads of not less than 120 pounds per linear foot.

(2) Such structures if used outdoors or in tents shall be designed, constructed and maintained to resist, with or without live load, a horizontal wind load of 30 pounds per square foot of all vertical projections of the stand.

(3) Such structures shall be designed, constructed and maintained to resist a horizontal swaying force applied to the seats in a direction parallel to the length of the seats, of 24 pounds per linear foot of seats, and in a direction perpendicular to the length of the seats, of 10 pounds per linear foot of seats.

(d) Railings. Every floor level, seat platform, bleacher seat, deck, stairway, ramp or aisle which is occupied by the public and is more than two feet above the adjacent ground or floor level, shall have at all open sides or sections thereof a protective railing or guard at least 36 inches high.

(e) Seats.

(1) The highest level of any seat platform in a wood grandstand shall not exceed 12 feet above the ground or other surface below it if such grandstand is within a tent, nor 20 feet above the ground or other surface below it if such grandstand is otherwise located.

(2) Seats permanently fixed to such platforms shall not exceed 20 in any row between aisles, nor 10 in any row between an aisle and a railing or wall.

(3) Seats not permanently fixed to such platform shall be used in rows only when arranged in rigid units of five or more and secured against displacement. Such seats shall not exceed 15 in any row between aisles nor 10 in any row between an aisle and a railing or wall.

(4) Step-type continuous seats with or without backs shall not exceed 30 in any row between aisles nor 15 between an aisle and a railing or wall; except, however, that they shall not exceed 20 and 10, respectively, in a place of wood construction.

(5) For continuous benches or bleacher seating without separating arms between seats, 18 inches of bench length shall constitute one seat.

(6) Rows of seats with backs shall be at least 27 inches back to back, if without backs, 22 inches. Clearance between the back of one row and the front of the row behind it shall be at least eight inches.

(f) Aisles and crossaisles in permanent grandstands.

(1) The minimum width of longitudinal aisles with seats on both sides shall be 36 inches and with seats on one side only, 30 inches. Such widths shall be considered as having capacities of 150 and 125 persons, respectively. Every such aisle having an exit at only one end shall be increased in width toward the exit to provide a clear width of at least 12 inches for each 50 persons served. When a means of exit is provided at both ends, such aisles may be of average required width throughout subject to the required minimum width. The minimum width of crossaisles shall be 36 inches and in no case less than 12 inches for each 50 persons served.

(2) The number of rows of seats between crossaisles shall not exceed 20 for the first or a single bank of seats, nor 15 for the second bank. When there is only one crossaisle above or below a bank of seats the number of rows of seats exiting to such crossaisle shall not exceed 15 for any first or single bank, nor 10 for the second bank. No crossaisles shall be required between rows of seats located between an aisle and a railing or wall.

(3) Boxes do not constitute banks of seats but their capacity shall be included in the calculation of aisle and exit widths. Boxes shall have direct access to a crossaisle.

(4) The distance between exits from a crossaisle shall not exceed 100 feet, except that where the length of a crossaisle does not exceed 50 feet it may be served by only one exit.

(5) No step is permitted in any crossaisle.

(6) Steps in aisles shall be the full width of the aisle. No riser shall exceed eight inches in height and no tread shall be less than 10 inches in width.

(g) Portable and foldable bleachers.

(1) Portable and foldable grandstands shall conform to the requirements of this section and also to the following special requirements which shall take precedence in the event of any variance.

(2) Bleacher sections shall contain not more than 24 rows of seats.

(3) Aisles at least 36 inches wide shall be provided if there are 12 or more rows of seats or if the vertical distance between seats exceeds 14 inches.

(4) The open ends of all bleacher sections shall be provided with guard railings at least 36 inches high for that portion of the stand above the fourth row of seats. The backs of all sections which are not placed against a wall shall also be guarded in the same way.

(5) If any bleacher section is set on a platform raised above the floor or ground, a crossaisle and guard railing shall be provided at the front of such section.

(6) Proprietary or patented bleachers of the rollaway, telescopic or fold-up type shall be approved.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 12 §§ 36-3.7