How To Anchor Aluminum Bleachers

Bleacher systems, aside from bearing gravity, must be able to withstand different loads: its intrinsic weight (dead load), the weight of the occupants (live load), and environmental loads such as wind uplift load and sway load. For safety purposes, bleachers must be securely anchored to support these loads, avoid shaking and bending under the weight of the crowd, as well as avoid being overturned by the wind. 
 

Bleacher anchors should be part of the planning and design

Governing building codes state the minimum load requirements. Codes and standards, along with the owners’ requirements, are the guidelines in designing a bleacher system. Check this link to see a sample of a bleacher system specifications document. Load requirements for structural frames, decking system, handrails/guardrails, and seat boards are provided by the client.

Here are samples of design load requirements:

1.   Structural – Framing Members

- Dead Load: 6 PSF

- Live Load: 100 PSF

2.     Decking System

- Dead Load: 6 PSF

- Live Load: 100 PSF

- Sway Load: 24 PLF per row parallel to seat, 10 PLF per row perpendicular to seat

3.     Wind uplift load 250 PLF at 150mph

There are two ways to anchor bleachers depending on the bleacher type:

• Use of concrete foundations 

Bleachers can be anchored on concrete slab under the entire bleacher or on a concrete strip under each bleacher frame. Holes are drilled into the concrete and wedge anchors are used to connect and secure the bleachers. This type of anchoring is used in bigger bleacher systems such as in stadiums and baseball fields.

• Auger type earth anchors

In places where it is not possible to use concrete foundations such as asphalt, soil, gravel, or grass, auger anchors can be steered into a hole in the soil and then fastened to the bleacher frames using hold down straps. Be sure to check on the quality of the soil. Avoid selecting heavily compacted soil for anchorage because it can hinder auger anchor installation and can lead to insufficient load resistance. Ground anchoring is commonly used with portable and temporary bleachers.

Whether the bleachers will be anchored to a concrete slab or on soil, make sure to plan the design thoroughly and in compliance with the latest versions of the applicable codes such as Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI. 318) and ICC 300 “Standard for Bleachers, Folding and Telescopic Seating, and Grandstands” to ensure public safety. In the case of retrofitting existing bleachers, ground anchoring should also be inspected and if needed, redesigned according to the Guidelines for Retrofitting Bleachers released by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. 


Sturdy-Lite Sports is a U.S. manufacturer and distributor of aluminum Bleacher products which comply with all provisions in ICC 300-2007 and 300-2012