freestanding wall between sports pitches

[tchconsulting]

Looking for guidance with regards to lateral loading of 1.2m high division walls between indoor football(soccer) pitches in a large sports hall ........... at present am intending to consider as conventional balustrade in a commercial building, but has anyone more experience of this less common application of a freestanding wall.
many thanks,

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I am assuming it will be open to the general public use and therefore ABUSE.

While a guardrail needs only hold 200-250 lbs of force in any direction - I think you would be wise to load this much more heavily - maybe even 200 lbs/ft...

Just a thought

 

[tchconsulting]

phew, thats a much larger loading that the 1.5 to 3kN/sq.m (30-60lbs/sq.ft) I had in mind. The problem I have is that the wall is already built and the sports facility are looking for an OK from me that is ok, Have a feeling that as with many "un-designed" walls, it probably won't work with either figures. thanks anyway for the comments

 

[MiketheEngineer]

If it is just a half-wall like you might see in a bar or restaurant - your loading may be acceptable. But I have seen what kids behaving rather normally actually can do to walls. Just kicking soccer balls constantly will do its share of damage. People body checking each other is a whole new problem. 30 kg kids can do a lot of damage

 

[a2mfk]

Indoor soccer facilities in the US usually use hockey boards and plexi-glass. Surely there have to be some standards somewhere, but unlike hockey there are no checks (allowed anyway) into the boards but they will get some lateral forces for sure!