Extended height fence for Football Field ???

[tbz]

Hello all,

Have a fellow fabricator that is being asked to build a fence to building code guard requirements and the fence is being used for crowd control like in baseball fields for backstops and that I am guessing. I haven't a clue were to look in the code for this can anyone direct me. I know fence over 72" has to be engineered and I also know that an architect can request anything they want as long as it meets the minimum requirements of the code, but I am not sure were to look in the 2009 or 2012.

His question to me is below.

Thanks for all the help

Tom

We’re on a project that has a fence to force high school football fans through gates so they can charge them. The GC is calling for us to meet railing loads on them. The community follows 2009 IBC.

Can you tell me the loads that fences are required to bear? How does that code define a fence? How does it define a barrier? Do barriers have load requirements?

 

[cda]

How high does he want these ???

Seems like six foot or so would do

And I take these are at the entry to the ballpark?

 

[fatboy]

1607.8 for guards if that is what he is wanting to design it to a guard standard as far as loads.

 

[tbz]

The ones I normally see are 8 feet high, 6ft are easy jumps, but it could be just that I will need to check with the fabricator

 

[tbz]

Fatboy,

The fabricator does not want to design to guard loads because it will require the unit to be fabricated very heavy and costly, which is why he is trying to find out were in the code this would be regrulated.

Thanks

 

[fatboy]

Sorry, misunderstood the OP.

I don't see where it would be regulated anywhere in the code.

 

[north star]

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tbz,

From the `09 IBC, ...if the proposed fencing is not over 6 ft. in height,

no permit is required ( RE: Section 105.2, Exception # 2 )..........If the

proposed fencing IS over 6 ft. in height, then it will need to be

engineered ( in conjunction with Section 312.1, Type "U" Occupancy

Group ).

If the contractor is trying to build it to "building code guard

requirements", then Section 1607.8 is the section to refer & build to.

For other types of engineered fencing, most likely it will be an ASTM

Standard.



~ $ ~ $ ~

 

[cda]

"""""We’re on a project that has a fence to force high school football fans through gates so they can charge them. The GC is calling for us to meet railing loads on them. The community follows 2009 IBC."""""

Maybe clarify what he wants

 

[mark handler]

Florida has sections for chain link fencing in their code

http://www.wiltonmanors.com/DocumentCenter/View/423

 

[ICE]

The GC wants a fence that is strong enough to hold back a throng of people. If the fence were to fail due to a bunch of people shoving against it, injuries could result. It seems to me that a substantial barrier would be standard practice when corralling animals.

 

[fatboy]

To me, seems like the fabricator is making this more than it should be............actually in the 12 codes, I think you can get to 7' max with a non-permitted fence.

 

[north star]

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FWIW, ...here is a link to the Chain Link Manufacturers Institute [ CLMI ]:

IMO, ...it is a good read.

http://www.longfence.com/upload/chain-link-product-manual.pdf



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[tbz]

thanks for the good input everyone,

From my understanding, and remember I am a middle man here with the question, the GC informed the fabricator that the fence is required to meet the 2009 guard code, it is also my understanding that the specs did not list it that way in the documents received by the fabricator.

however, the fabricator, as you all know, understands that fence on level ground is different than guards on a open sided walking surface. The material sizing for guards increases when you go from 36" high to 42" high, thus going from 42" high to 72" high also increases drastically what would be needed to meet that.

Chain link at 6ft high is nominal at 6ft centers were 42" high guards are normally averaging 48" centers and the guard material is normally larger than the chain link material.

Thus the fabricator would like to be accommodating, but you can't spec a Dodge Charger and say no that needs to be a Mercedes S500 either.

What the fabricator is trying to do is understand what the code really requires, which is minimal since only 6ft now I am told, compared to what a guard would be required to meet if it was fabricated to a height of 6ft.

You all are very informative and helpful as I expected. Thanks for the response have a great Christmas if I don't get back to the M.B. before then.

Regards

Tom

 

[steveray]

1604.2 Strength. Buildings and other structures, and parts thereof, shall be designed and constructed to support safely the factored loads in load combinations defined in this code without exceeding the appropriate strength limit states for the materials of construction. Alternatively, buildings and other structures, and parts thereof, shall be designed and constructed to support safely the nominal loads in load combinations defined in this code without exceeding the appropriate specified allowable stresses for the materials of construction.

Loads and forces for occupancies or uses not covered in this chapter shall be subject to the approval of the building official.

Is the BO calling for more or designer or just the GC? Maybe if he is a prepper he is making sure all of the fences are zombie proof?...If it is just what the GC "wants" then the fabricator needs to compromise to maybe work with them in the future, or tell him to pound sand (to at least 95% compaction) and plan on not working for or with him in the future...