HomeSafety at sports grounds
Sports grounds in Belfast with a capacity of 5,000 people or more must have a valid safety certificate. Under the Safety of Sports Grounds (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, we are responsible for issuing these certificates, which help to ensure the reasonable safety of spectators.
To apply for a certificate, you must supply details about the venue and the sports played there, as well as the name of a principal contact person for the ground and a 'qualified person'.
A qualified person is defined as 'a person who is likely to be in a position to prevent a contravention of the terms and conditions of a certificate'.
They should hold a position of authority within the management of the venue and may include a chairman, chief executive, secretary, sports ground manager or director, depending on the ground or club.
It costs £100 to apply for a safety certificate.
Apply for a safety certificate
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Apply for a safety certificate for a designated sports ground |
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Who can apply?
Under the Safety of Sports Grounds (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, 30 sports grounds in Northern Ireland, with capacities of 5,000 people or more, have now been designated by Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) as needing valid safety certificates.This includes eight grounds in Belfast:
- Solitude (Cliftonville Football Club)
- Seaview (Crusaders Football Club)
- Donegal Celtic Park (Donegal Celtic Football Club)
- The Oval (Glentoran Football Club)
- Windsor Park (Linfield Football Club)
- Casement Park (Antrim Gaelic Athletic Association)
- Corrigan Park (St John’s Gaelic Athletic Club)
- Ravenhill (Irish Rugby Football Union).
What happens when a venue applies for a safety certificate?
Once a sports ground has been designated by DCAL as having a capacity of 5,000 or more, the venue must apply to the local council for a safety certificate.It is an offence to admit spectators into the ground until a certificate has been applied for but, once a completed application form has been received, the venue can continue to operate as normal.
Once we receive an application, our health and safety officers will assess the ground’s physical characteristics and safety management arrangements using the the Northern Ireland Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds.
We will then determine a safe capacity for each part of the ground. This capacity, or capacities, will be stated on the safety certificate, along with any terms and conditions.
We will consult with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service about the terms and conditions of the certificate before issuing it to the ground.
More information
If you want to discuss your application with our health and safety team, call us on 028 9027 0428 or email safesport@belfastcity.gov.ukMore information about fees for safety certificates is available from the Office of Public Sector Information website
The Northern Ireland Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds is available from TSO bookstores.
