Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers isn’t an ordinary football club. Implementing the Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), they aspire to be the world’s most sustainable football club. The club has an organic pitch, solar panels, charging points for electric cars and have become completely vegan, the first club to do so in the English Football League.
Each department of the club have spent the summer preparing for the prestigious 2017/2018 season that starts in August.
Project
Due to FA league security and safety regulations that the club must adhere to, a new Control Room and IP CCTV system had to be installed at The New Lawn. As proud sponsors of the club, EESI Group Services Ltd were delighted to be asked to design and complete all works in time for the new season.
Challenges
Regular pre-works consultations and great communication between EESI and the club’s management aided in identifying potential problems prior to the works taking place.
The stringent FA requirements had to be met in order for Forest Green Rovers to take part in the upcoming season in League 2. The Control Room also had to be built to strict building regulations and fulfil the security requirements for the staff during match days.
Health and safety for everyone involved in the installation was paramount to the success of the works.
Tight timescales were identified due to upcoming pre-season friendlies taking place at the stadium. The works had to be completed without disrupting the team’s scheduling, and of course, in time for the start of the season in August.
The New Lawn’s organic pitch had to go through regrowth before the season started. This limited the lifting equipment available to EESI, as this could potentially damage the pitch and affect the success of the regrowth programme.
Solutions
An elevated opening was created in the stadium’s East Stand for the Control Room. This allowed for a UPVC fire-rated viewing area extension. The new Control Room followed the ethos of the club with energy saving LED lights and an energy efficient heat pump air conditioning unit. A new false ceiling, vinyl flooring and decoration were also completed by EESI.
A total of 30 IP cameras were installed in and around the stadium. This number included 27 static and three PTZ (Pan, Tilt, Zoom) cameras which satisfied FA requirements. The Control Room was fitted with three PCs, two of which are used by CCTV operators during match days and one to provide CCTV overview on two high level monitors.
As well as the CCTV and Control Room works, additional electrical works were completed around the club. Installing power and data sockets to the kitchens, Press Rooms and offices; high level lighting repairs; and installing fire safety magnetic doors to the Green Man Bar were all completed to EESI’s usual exacting standards.
A dedicated HSEQ Manager was responsible for putting together full construction phase plans which were implemented before works took place to ensure legal health and safety compliance.
Specialist lifting equipment to install the CCTV cameras were required in order to avoid damaging the pitch. This was supplied to EESI by partners GT Access. The pitch continued to grow in time for the new season.
Overlooking the whole project were qualified and experienced EESI Engineers to ensure the efficient completion of works and to meet the tight deadlines in place.
Results
The works carried out by EESI were delivered on time in a professional, efficient manner and within budget. There was minimal disruption to the club’s important preparations for the upcoming season.
The Control Room met building regulations, with a physical view of the stadium to meet security regulations which stipulated that fans and occupants were visible from the room by security staff.
EESI would like to congratulate FGR on their promotion to the Football League and wish them the best of luck for the 2017/2018 season. We would also like to thank GT Access for their continued support in supplying access equipment to many of our valued customers.