Blast Protection for a VIP Enclosure at a Major Sports Stadium

Invicta ANARA was approached to design and install a bespoke blast protection system for a new high-capacity sports stadium in Saudi Arabia. A dedicated VIP section was designed to accommodate members of the royal family and other VIP guests during prestigious sporting and public events, requiring protection against the prospect of a targeted attack.

The protection strategy had to account for the possibility of a terrorist attack from either within or outside the stadium. This included the possibility of a bomb detonated in an area alongside the VIP enclosure, or a vehicle-borne device positioned outside the stadium, such as a truck bomb at the building perimeter.

A conventional concrete solution was not considered suitable for the application, as it would have required considerably greater thickness and weight than an equivalent Durasteel barrier system. This would have created additional structural and logistical requirements for the project.

The architectural requirements added another consideration. The suite was planned with marble overcladding for aesthetic purposes, which would add both depth and weight to the partition walls.

The protection system had to extend from the points of ingress on the lower floors through to the viewing area within the stadium stands. The system was required to meet the CPNI C15 classification, in accordance with UK government guidance.

Around the VIP viewing area, protection was provided across the side and rear walls through a three-sided system, while reinforced glazing formed the front elevation to maintain clear views of events inside the stadium. Protection also extended beyond the viewing area to the lower floors, covering the entry points, stairs and lifts leading up to the VIP enclosure.

Doors and penetrations through the blast walls also had to be protected without affecting the integrity of the blast protection system. The complete arrangement had to be accommodated within the physical and aesthetic requirements of the stadium.

Invicta ANARA designed and installed a bespoke Durasteel® blast-resistant partition system meeting the CPNI C15 requirement. The partitions had a nominal thickness of 240 mm and a nominal height of 5.1 m.

The system was blast tested to a maximum overpressure of 269 kPa, with an impulse of 840 kPa-ms. Testing included equivalent TNT charges of 100 kg at 20 m, 200 kg at 20 m and 100 kg at 15 m, with the system successfully passing all three configurations.

The completed installation incorporated the side and rear protection around the VIP viewing area, together with additional protection across the lower-level entrances, stairs and lifts. Doors, penetrations and associated accessories were incorporated into the overall blast protection system.

The system provided the required blast protection in a slimmer and lighter construction than the concrete alternative considered for the project. The system also allowed doors, access points, service penetrations and other required openings to be incorporated into the blast-protected areas. Its reduced partition thickness also allowed the planned marble overcladding and other high-quality interior finishes to be accommodated.

Invicta ANARA delivered a three-sided blast protection system around the stadium's VIP viewing enclosure, together with additional protection across the connected entrances, stairs, lifts and lower-floor areas. The completed system addressed blast threats from both inside and outside the stadium while accommodating the required access points, penetrations and architectural finishes.