June 2006 - Downloads Rocks with Mojo Barriers

The most successful Download festival to date attracted 65,000 fans to see bands including Metallica, Guns n’ Roses, Tool and The Prodigy.

Mojo Barriers UK office supplied 578m of their barrier system between the three stages and for the first time provided their Aluminium Barrier Load Monitor System on the main stage to record the pressures exerted on the pit barrier by the exuberant crowd.

Mojo’s Jim Gaffney said:
“The topography of the ground in front of the main stage sloping stage right to stage left and into the stage has led to us designing a ‘finger barrier’ configuration.
“We modified the curve from the finger to front line so that it was a shallower curve with a gentle run off to stage left and right this year to reduce the pressure on the audience.”
“This was our second year working at Download and we introduced the aluminium barrier and evolved the barrier design to reduce all pinch points to create a safe front of stage area for the audience and working personnel. I’m happy that this year we have overcome all of the problems highlighted on this sight in previous years.”

Mojo’s Gordon Forrest monitored the pressures through-out the weekend, he said:
“As expected there have been some fairly significant readings, particularly on the right side of the stage where the crowd enter the arena from stage 2. We’ve seen higher readings at other festivals, but we’ve certainly topped the 3kN pressure level and peaked at 5kN. The readings will be analysed in conjunction with BCUC (Buckingham & Chiltern University College) as part of the ongoing research into crowd dynamics.”