Stadia
Inclusive Safety for Every Event
Protecting Every Fan When Every Second Counts
Every match day, concert and live event brings thousands of people together for unforgettable experiences. From the roar of a last-minute winner to the anticipation before a headline act takes the stage, stadiums create moments that stay with us forever.
But behind every successful event lies an even greater responsibility: protecting every person who walks through your gates.
Across the UK, millions of people attend sporting fixtures and live entertainment events every year. Stadiums and arenas are high-capacity, multi-level environments where large crowds move through concourses, stairwells and seating areas simultaneously. In an emergency, whether it’s a fire, power outage, lift failure or security incident, those same spaces must enable a safe, controlled evacuation for everyone.
For many spectators, staff and visitors, evacuation is not straightforward. Disabled supporters, wheelchair users, people with temporary injuries, older visitors, contractors, performers and VIP guests may be unable to use stairways independently. When lifts are taken out of service, as they are during a fire, there must be a safe alternative.
In fast-moving situations, panic can spread quickly. Crowds build, noise levels rise and every second counts. Without suitable evacuation equipment and trained personnel, individuals with reduced mobility may face unnecessary delays, increased risk or, worse still, be left behind.
Inclusive evacuation planning isn’t simply about complying with legislation. It’s about ensuring every fan, visitor and member of staff can leave your venue safely, confidently and with dignity.
We help stadiums and arenas create safer, more inclusive environments through specialist evacuation equipment, accredited training and ongoing maintenance, ensuring you’re prepared when it matters most.
Where Stadium Safety Meets Compliance
Your Legal Responsibilities
Emergency evacuation planning isn’t simply best practice; it’s a legal responsibility.
The Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 requires designated sports grounds to operate under a valid Safety Certificate, ensuring appropriate fire precautions, spectator capacity controls and clearly defined evacuation procedures.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (Martyn’s Law) places new legal responsibilities on publicly accessible venues, including stadiums and arenas. Depending on occupancy levels, organisations must implement proportionate emergency procedures, staff training and documented evacuation arrangements, including provisions for individuals requiring assistance.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, amended by the Fire Safety Act 2021, places responsibility on the Responsible Person, typically the Stadium Operator or Facilities Manager, to ensure suitable fire safety measures are in place.
This includes:
- Comprehensive fire risk assessments.
- The implementation and regular review of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs).
- Generic Emergency Evacuation Plans (GEEPs) for visitors, contractors and temporary staff.
- Safe evacuation routes supported by appropriate evacuation equipment.
- Staff and steward training in emergency evacuation procedures.
In addition, the Equality Act 2010 requires stadium operators to make reasonable adjustments for disabled visitors, ensuring everyone can access your venue safely during both everyday operations and emergency situations.
As legislation continues to evolve, inclusive evacuation planning has never been more important. Protecting people isn’t only a legal obligation; it’s fundamental to delivering a safe, welcoming and inclusive venue.
Every Fan Deserves a Safe Way Out
Spectators come to enjoy unforgettable experiences, not to think about emergencies. Yet every person entering your stadium places their trust in your organisation to protect them should the unexpected happen.
Whether they’re attending a football match, rugby international, music concert or community event, every visitor deserves the reassurance that they can be evacuated safely, regardless of their mobility.
An evacuation chair is far more than emergency equipment. It provides stewards and venue staff with the confidence to respond quickly, safely and effectively during an incident, whilst helping reduce manual handling risks and ensuring no individual is left behind.
Effective evacuation planning also protects your organisation. It strengthens operational resilience, supports compliance with evolving legislation, enhances visitor confidence and demonstrates your commitment to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can enjoy your venue safely.
How Evac+Chair Supports Stadiums
For more than 40 years, Evac+Chair has supported organisations worldwide in delivering safe, inclusive emergency evacuation.
Our market-leading range of evacuation chairs has been designed to meet the varied challenges found within stadiums, arenas and event venues. Whether you require solutions for straight staircases, narrow stairwells, heavier payloads or powered ascent and descent, we can help identify the right equipment for your environment.
Alongside our evacuation equipment, we provide accredited operator training, ensuring stewards and venue teams have the confidence to respond effectively under pressure. Our nationwide maintenance services help keep your equipment fully operational whilst supporting ongoing compliance with PUWER Regulations.
This is about more than meeting legislation.
It’s about protecting every person who enters your stadium.
Download Your Free Stadium Evacuation Information Pack
When an emergency happens, every second matters – and every spectator deserves a safe, inclusive evacuation.
Download our free Stadium Evacuation Information Pack to discover how stadiums, arenas and sporting venues can strengthen evacuation preparedness, meet their legal responsibilities and ensure no one is left behind.
From legislation and Martyn’s Law to evacuation planning, specialist equipment, accredited training and ongoing maintenance, this practical guide provides the knowledge and guidance you need to build a safer, more compliant and inclusive evacuation strategy.
Evacuation Chairs
Our comprehensive range of evacuation solutions guarantee safety and preparedness.
View our Evac+Chairs
Book Your Complimentary Evacuation Assessment
Ensuring you have the correct Evac+Chair for your building and personnel is essential, especially with a wide range of options available. Whether your building has multiple staircases or unique features, we’re here to help you find the perfect fit.
With over 16 million disabled people in the UK – more than 4.8 million of whom are in employment – every workplace and public space must be equipped to support the safe evacuation of all individuals.
To support our customers, we offer complimentary evacuation assessments conducted by our nationwide team of specialists. These experts assess the specific needs of employees, existing PEEPs (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans), review GEEPS (General Emergency Evacuation Plans), building requirements and stair configuration – all of which help determine the most suitable Evac+Chair model for your needs.
Booking your evacuation assessment is simple. Just contact us by clicking the button below, calling us on +44 (0) 121 706 7644 or email enquiries@evacchair.co.uk and one of our friendly team members will reach out to arrange a convenient time.
Alternatively, you can use our online Evac Xpert™ to easily identify the model that best suits your needs. Where multiple staircases exist within your organisation, we strongly recommend a complimentary Evacuation Assessment to guarantee the right Evac+Chair at every stairwell – ensuring maximum safety, swift evacuation and peace of mind for your entire organisation.
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