austenlewisltd
No matter how large or small your event is, arranging temporary seating for everyone is never simple. Whether you are installing the complete seating requirements for your event, or just need to provide some additional capacity, there are many aspects that you will have to consider to make sure your event is successful and all seating is safe and comfortable.
Here are some of the top things to remember when you install event seating:
For any event with more than 50 seats, particularly when theatre style seating is used, seats should be fastened together in rows of 4 or more and fastened to the floor. For larger events, all seats should be fastened together in rows and sufficiently fixed to the floor. This helps to prevent rows of seats from toppling over and causing dangerous obstructions.
A huge part of helping people to enjoy your event is by providing event seating that allows them to properly see your stage, any big screens, presentations, or at least an event speaker at the front of the room. One of the best ways to ensure that everyone gets a good view is to install theatre or grandstand style seating, where each row of seats is higher than the one in front. This means that people’s views are not blocked or obscured by the people that sit in front. It’s also worth considering the height of a stage or screen to ensure that everyone can see without having to strain their neck or back.
Whilst a minimum seatway of 300mm is suggested, as well as considering whether there will be enough space for people to move to exits or to their seat, you should always think carefully about comfort. For example, if people will be sat for a long time, will there be sufficient leg room so that people can sit in comfort?
The seatway is the distance between the front of a seat and the back of a barrier or seat in front. If a seat is fixed, this distance will be between the edge of the horizontal part of the seat, whereas for a tip-up seat, the distance will be measured from the edge of the seat when it is tipped up. The recommended level of clear space should be at least 300mm for a seatway.
Provide clear gangways that are at least 1100mm wide to allow people to move around safely. However, you should consider that for safety reasons, gangways shouldn’t be wider than exit doors or stairways, as this can lead to a funnelling effect.
It’s important to look carefully at the available seating capacity of your venue. This capacity depends on a number of different factors, most importantly, how many seats can safely fit whilst allowing people sufficient room and easy access to exits. In most cases, once gangways and seatways allowing people to move freely have been properly established, the remaining space for seats will then determine the capacity. This factor should always be carefully considered.
