Demountable grandstands are increasingly in demand to provide satisfactory spectator viewing of a wide spectrum of events. In the UK alone there exists a temporary grandstand seating capacity in excess of 100,000 seats. Single events can employ 20,000 seats with individual units of 10,000 seats. Whilst they may be erected for a single event safety standards should necessarily be identical to permanent stands. It is relatively recently following spectator fatalities that legislation concerning crowd safety has concerned temporary seating and this aspect is reviewed. The accepted loading design value relating to a dense crowd of people has been 5 kN/m2 (100 psf) for over 150 years. This value is commonly found in numerous loading codes of practice throughout the world. The value for seated accommodation is 4 kN/m2. The 'live' spectator mass is much higher in comparison to the dead structural mass than is the case for a conventional structure. As a consequence of this spectator mass dynamic considerations are shown to be necessary. A number of commonly used systems are described. The evolution from common structural scaffolding and prefabricated modular scaffolding is seen; in purpose built systems some structural flexibility is sacrificed to gain economic advantage. The work includes experimental dynamic observations in field service conditions. This in conjunction with comparative analysis clearly demonstrates necessary dynamic considerations for this structural form.

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