24. Campsites

<strong><em>General </em></strong> 24.1 The holding of a pop festival will involve a large number of people seeking accommodation in the area for a number of days. The surrounding areas may not have the facility to absorb such an influx of people and temporary arrangements must be made. A large number of these patrons usually require accommodation for tents. In these circumstances, it will be necessary for the promoter to arrange for the provision of temporary campsites. If campsites holding many thousands of people are required, special standards must apply. Guidelines for such campsites are set out hereunder. Even small campsites should have regard to these guidelines, where appropriate. <strong><em> Site Suitability </em></strong> 24.2 The proposed campsite should be dry, reasonably level and well drained with a mature grass surface capable of withstanding heavy traffic for the duration of the event. The grass should be cut as short as possible prior to the Event and grass cuttings should be removed in order to reduce the risk of fire. <strong><em>Boundaries </em></strong> 24.3 Large campsites should be sub-divided into sections/corrals, e.g., A1-A16, B1-B16, etc., to control the numbers allocated within each corral and to allow easy identification of each tent on site. An emergency route should he maintained between the corralled sections and should be clearly defined by timber posts and luminous tape strip. The boundaries to each corral should be similarly defined with each corral having a prominent sign indicating its identification letter/number. No part of a corral should be more than 25m from an emergency route. <strong><em>Sanitary Accommodation</em></strong> 24.4 Washing facilities should be provided at a minimum ratio of one wash hand basin per sanitary unit provided. Sanitary accommodation should be provided to the standards outlined in Chapter 20 in an area not prone to flooding. This is likely to entail the provision of a large number of chemical toilet units. These should be installed in separate blocks depending on the nature and size of the campsite. It is desirable that toilets are sectioned by barriers at each block, to separate male from female units. There should also be a 24 hour security presence on each toilet block. The sanitary accommodation should not be less than 15 metres and not more than 60 metres from any tent. 24.5 Water outlet units fitted with an adequate number of taps for drinking should be provided at each of the sanitary block locations. The level of these facilities should be agreed with the Local Authority and the Health Board. A suitable non-slip surface, adequately drained, should be provided at each location. 24.6 Toilets should be cleaned and serviced as often as necessary but at least once every 8 hours. 24.7 There should be regular inspections of toilet blocks by service personnel who should work under a Supervisor designated by the Promoter. Access should be provided for Health Board personnel at all times. <strong><em> Refuse Collection </em></strong> 24.8 A reliable and frequent refuse collection service should be provided. The site must be maintained in a clean condition during the festival and left clean and tidy after the event. <strong><em>Site Lighting </em></strong> 24.9 An adequate lighting installation should be provided on the site to enable patrons to see their way to their designated corral and to move about the site safely. The installation should, in general, achieve normal street-lighting levels, with enhanced levels in the areas of the site entrances, the toilet blocks and the site marquee. (Further guidance on electrical installations is given in Chapter 21). <strong><em>Staffing</em></strong> 24.10 Supervisors should be appointed for Campsite Build-up, Campsite Operations, and Campsite Sanitary Services. <strong><em>Admission</em></strong> 24.11 On checking in to the site it is suggested that campers should be issued individually with a ticket indicating their designated corral. They can then be directed to the appropriate corral and be instructed to keep this identification ticket/wristlet for the period of the festival as a means of recalling their location on site. Each corral should be well sign- posted to facilitate its identification. <strong><em>Security Arrangements </em></strong> 24.12 A large number of stewards should be provided at the site 24 hours per day during the period that the site is occupied. The number should be in accordance with the standards outlined in Chapter 13 of this Code. Stewards should be adequately briefed on their duties before the event. Stewards should patrol each section of the campsite on foot, supported by stewards in mobile patrols. It is essential to provide foot patrols at night when patrons are asleep in tents. They are highly vulnerable to fire and criminal activity and will be completely dependent on such protection. <strong><em>Site Notices and Instructions to Campers</em></strong> 24.13 Instructions to campers should be issued with each campsite ticket sold. These instructions should also be clearly posted (in enlarged print size) at each of the campsite entrances, at each toilet block and at other strategic locations. It would also be advisable to mount an appropriate version of the campsite plan at these locations. A ‘you are here’ indication, together with the corral marking system, should be shown. <strong><em>First-Aid/Medical Facilities </em></strong> 24.14 The Promoter should ensure that first-aid cover is provided at the site either by the Health Board or by arrangement with the Voluntary Aid Organisation(s) on a 24 hour basis. This is likely to entail the siting of ambulance(s) on the site at the discretion of the Health Board and is particularly necessary on very large sites. It may also be necessary to provide an off-site Medical Centre where there is no acute hospital within a reasonable distance. <strong><em> Emergency Access to all Parts of Site </em></strong> 24.15 It is desirable to keep a number of four wheel drive vehicles on the site to facilitate security patrolling of the entire site using the designated emergency access route. This is necessary because, in the event of heavy rain, no other transport will be effective on grass. 24.16 While these will be primarily for the use of the security personnel they should also be available to first-aid/medical personnel and other emergency services if they require access within the site. Cine of these vehicles should be fitted out with a bank of fire extinguishers. Such fire extinguishers will then be available to designated security personnel (trained in the use of fire extinguishers) to deal with any fire outbreak on the campsite in advance of a fire brigade response. The level of provision should be decided following consultation with the Local Authority. <strong><em>Food and Refreshments</em></strong> 24.17 It will be necessary to have suitable food outlets on the site and these should conform to the standards set out in Chapter 22 of this Code. <strong><em>Entertainment</em></strong> 24.18 As campers will be on the site for long periods suitable entertainment is desirable. This should he only arranged after full discussion with the Gardaí. <strong><em>Plan of Campsite</em></strong> 24.19 A suitable plan indicating all the above facilities, layout of corrals, etc., should be provided and made available to the emergency services and all concerned with the running of the event. <strong><em>Communications</em></strong> 24.20 A communications system, including telephone and other methods, should link all stewards and other personnel with campsite headquarters. There should also be a link with Garda Headquarters, Promoter, Health Board, Local Authority and Central Control on the concert site. Stewards on duty in the campsite should each carry a personal radio hand-set. A base control unit should be manned by a Supervisory Steward on the campsite to control the radio system and co-ordinate stewarding. <strong><em>Emergency Arrangements </em></strong> 24.21 There should be a planned system in force to deal with any emergency that may arise and the supervisors should be aware of the Major Emergency Plans of the Gardaí, Health Board and Local Authority. The planned emergency procedures should include procedures for the action to be taken in the event of a fire, crowd disturbance, need for evacuation, or other such emergency. <strong><em>Safe Holding Capacity</em></strong> 24.22 A safe holding capacity for each campsite should be determined with the Local Authority, Gardaí and Health Board. This safe holding capacity should take into account the above guidelines and also the provision of a minimum space of 3 metres, in all directions around each tent or other temporary dwelling. The number of persons permitted should not exceed 600 per hectare. 24.23 Dormitory style accommodation in large tents or marquees is not recommended. <strong><em>Vulnerability</em></strong> 24.24 Camping equipment is as varied as individual tastes. Safety standards of tents, etc., are similarly varied. If patrons are under the influence of drink or drugs they can be highly vulnerable in an emergency situation. In addition, such patrons have far greater potential to create hazards such as fires, etc.. Account should be taken of this by the Promoter or those who have responsibility for the campsites.