Safety Rails and Upstands

Posted on 29th May 2024  by Tom Green

Read time: 1 minute

THE BRIEF

Twenty20 Engineering was tasked by the client to engineer a robust safety rail and vertical upstands for their LED advertising screens, slated for installation at Norwich City Football Club.

The brief from the client also included:

• Ensure the upstands align each screen and pixel line with its neighbouring screen for seamless integration.
• The upstands and safety rails must endure impact from players and withstand the loading from the crowd.
• Both items must be corrosion-resistant for ten years and finished with a powder coating in RAL 1018 Zinc Yellow for durability and visual consistency.

CHALLENGE

The project's challenge was to integrate M8 fixing points on each screen into the design while allowing for installation tolerance within the upstands to accommodate variations in the concrete slab where they are mounted.

The second challenge was coating these to ensure corrosion resistance for the parts to meet their expected lifetime.

RESULT

In response to these obstacles, Twenty20 Engineering devised a solution by incorporating slotted holes for attaching the upstands to the screens and the concrete slab. This adjustment capability simplified the installation process, accommodating uneven concrete surfaces. We specified a passivated zinc surface treatment before etch priming and powder coating. This multi-layered approach enhances corrosion resistance and ensures a durable finish throughout the anticipated 10-year lifespan, effectively mitigating corrosion risks.