Mojo Barrier
Encyclopedia
Mojo Barriers are a type of temporary fencing
commonly used at public events such as concert
s and festival
s. They are specifically used for separating the area open to the public from the stage
. These barriers were developed in the 1980s
by Dutch
event organisor Mojo Concerts
. Several types of fencing (especially regular crowd control barrier
s) were used before, but these can lead to suffocation.
Distribution of these barriers is now organised by a company called The Mojo Barriers, which now has offices in De Meern
(Netherlands), London
(UK) and Colorado Springs
(USA). Although several other companies now produce a similar type of fencing, the name "Mojo Barrier" has become a worldwide standard.
Mojo Barriers were developed to protect visitors of events. Their height prevents visitors from suffocation
or crushing in case a venue should become overcrowded or if all visitors move towards the stage. At the side of the stage the barriers include small steps allowing security guard
s to safely lift people out of the audience (e.g. when visitors require medical attention). The barriers can be flat-packed and then stacked onto dollies
.
Regular Mojo Barriers are made of aluminium
or steel
. Other types of barriers include:
Several elements can be added to the regular barrier lines, such as:
Temporary fencing
Temporary Fence is used where building a permanent fence is either impractical or unneeded. Temporary fencing is used when an area needs barriers for the purposes of public safety or security, crowd control, theft deterrent, or equipment storage. Its most common use is as construction hoarding for...
commonly used at public events such as concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s and festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
s. They are specifically used for separating the area open to the public from the stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
. These barriers were developed in the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
by Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
event organisor Mojo Concerts
Live Nation
Live Nation is a live-events company based in Beverly Hills, California, focused on concert promotions. Live Nation formed in 2005 as a spin-off from Clear Channel Communications, which then merged with Ticketmaster in 2010 to become Live Nation Entertainment....
. Several types of fencing (especially regular crowd control barrier
Crowd control barrier
Crowd control barriers , are commonly used at many public events. They are frequently visible at sporting events, parades, political rallies, demonstrations, and outdoor festivals...
s) were used before, but these can lead to suffocation.
Distribution of these barriers is now organised by a company called The Mojo Barriers, which now has offices in De Meern
De Meern
De Meern is a former town in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the city of Utrecht, and lies about 5 km west of it. In 2001, it became together with Vleuten, a city part of Utrecht called Vleuten-De Meern....
(Netherlands), London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(UK) and Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
(USA). Although several other companies now produce a similar type of fencing, the name "Mojo Barrier" has become a worldwide standard.
Mojo Barriers were developed to protect visitors of events. Their height prevents visitors from suffocation
Suffocation
Suffocation is the process of Asphyxia.Suffocation may also refer to:* Suffocation , an American death metal band* "Suffocation", a song on Morbid Angel's debut album, Altars of Madness...
or crushing in case a venue should become overcrowded or if all visitors move towards the stage. At the side of the stage the barriers include small steps allowing security guard
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
s to safely lift people out of the audience (e.g. when visitors require medical attention). The barriers can be flat-packed and then stacked onto dollies
Dolly (tool)
A dolly is the name given to a category of tools used in shaping sheet metal. In general, a dolly is a solid piece of metal, small enough to hold in one hand, with a curved or shaped face...
.
Regular Mojo Barriers are made of aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
or steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
. Other types of barriers include:
- bar barriers sections that are usually made of plasticPlasticA plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
(with a counter top), - sections including gateGateA gate is a point of entry to a space enclosed by walls, or a moderately sized opening in a fence. Gates may prevent or control entry or exit, or they may be merely decorative. Other terms for gate include yett and port...
s (with or without turnstileTurnstileA turnstile, also called a baffle gate, is a form of gate which allows one person to pass at a time. It can also be made so as to enforce one-way traffic of people, and in addition, it can restrict passage only to people who insert a coin, a ticket, a pass, or similar...
s), - Pitstop Barriers, British designed steel barriers with wider steps for security guards (industry standard in the UKUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
),
Several elements can be added to the regular barrier lines, such as:
- curves/corners to allow for several types of fencing design,
- security walkways: back-step extensions fitted onto the back of the barriers creating more working space for security guards,
- barrier padding: a foamFoam-Definition:A foam is a substance that is formed by trapping gas in a liquid or solid in a divided form, i.e. by forming gas regions inside liquid regions, leading to different kinds of dispersed media...
cover for the tops of the barriers offering additional comfort to crowds against the barriers, - sightline kills: panels on the top of barriers blocking the crowd’s view at certain points preventing pressure building up at e.g. the side of stage areas.