A client recently contacted me after attending his son’s soccer match. He was concerned about the poor condition and stability of the bleacher seats inside the soccer stadium and asked me if there are any periodic inspection requirements for bleacher seating.

Listed below are the outdoor grandstand inspection requirements as described in the NFPA 101^® Life Safety Code^® – 2009 Edition:

Maintenance of Outdoor Grandstands (Note: Existing Assembly Occupancies)

The owner shall provide not less than annual inspection and required maintenance of each outdoor grandstand to ensure safe conditions.

At least biennially, the inspection shall be performed by a professional engineer, registered architect, or individual certified by the manufacturer.

Where required by the authority having jurisdiction, the owner shall provide a copy of the inspection report and certification that the inspection required by 13.7.10.2 has been performed.

After performing some research, my client determined the bleachers had never been inspected. A subsequent inspection revealed numerous problems requiring correction.

Jon