§ 15.19. Special requirements.
(a) Railings shall be provided along the back of the grandstands if the rear seat is more than 4 feet above the ground, along those portions of the ends when the seats are more than 4 feet above the ground, and along the front if the front footrest is more than 1 foot, 6 inches above the ground. Railings along the rear and ends may be not less than 3 feet high above center of the nearest seat. When railings are required along the front, they may be not less than 3 feet high above the front footrest. The maximum dimension of a clear vertical opening in a railing may not be greater than 18 inches. This subsection shall be complied with by a mid-rail, wire fabric or other suitable means. Railings shall be capable of safely sustaining a vertical load of 80 pounds per linear foot and a horizontal thrust of 25 pounds per linear foot. When grandstands are used adjacent to a wall or fence, railings may be omitted from those portions where the wall or fence affords equivalent protection, if the gap between seat or foot rest and wall or fence does not exceed 6 inches. When the topmost seat of a stand is greater than 15 feet above the ground, the maximum dimension of a clear vertical opening between the rails of the back rail may not be greater than 12 inches.
(b) A grandstand having a railing along the front shall be provided with aisles so located that no portion of a seat is more than 25 feet, 6 inches from the nearest aisle. A grandstand having seats with backs shall be provided with aisles, so located that no portion of a seat is more than 18 feet from the nearest aisle. Aisles so provided may be not less than 3 feet wide, except that where an aisle is divided into two parts, one on each side of a portal, column or other obstruction, each part may be 2 feet wide. When the entrance to an aisle is elevated above the ground level, each aisle shall be provided with a stairway or ramp, whose width is not less than the width of the aisle. An aisle may not be immediately adjacent to the end of a portable or foldable grandstand. Stairs shall have a maximum slope of 10 degrees. Ramps shall have nonslip surfaces. Where aisles are provided adjacent to the end of permanent grandstands, the width of the aisles shall be a minimum of 2 feet wide.
(c) Footrests shall preferably be located above the stringer to avoid tripping. The width of footrests in permanent grandstands shall be the full open space between two rows of seats. The width of footrests in portable grandstands is preferably the full open width between seats. In no case may the width be less than 9 1/2 inches. The width of seats may also be not less than 9 1/2 inches.
(d) Seats shall be securely fastened to their supports in such a manner that they cannot accidentally be displaced. Footrests shall be so supported that they are not accidentally displaced a sufficient distance to endanger the occupant of the grandstand. Footrests which are lapped shall be provided with some positive means to prevent displacement of one piece on the other.
(e) The horizontal distance back to back of seats may not be less than 22 inches. When the same level is used for both seats and footrests the levels may not be less than 22 inches in width.
Source The provisions of this § 15.19 adopted August 15, 1933; amended through July 1, 1968.
Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 15.11 (relating to applicability).
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