Seating & Access Contracts Limited
Solid Polycarbonate - Marlon FSX
St Andrews, Scotland
Commentary Box at the Open Golf Championships
In 2015, the British Open Golf Championships at St Andrews required a unique solution for the BBC commentary box. The challenge was to provide the commentators with an unobstructed, clear view of the golf course while ensuring their protection from potential hazards such as rogue golf balls. The chosen material for this task was the 6mm clear Marlon FSX polycarbonate sheet, supplied by Access Plastics.
Material Requirements:
- Good Optical Quality: To ensure the best possible view for both commentators and high-tech cameras, the material had to offer glass-like transparency without any visual distortions.
- Impact Resistance: The material needed to be robust enough to withstand impacts, such as stray golf balls, while maintaining its structural integrity.
- Cold Curving Capability: The sheet needed to be flexible enough to be cold curved on-site to fit the unique half-round design of the window.
- UV Resistance: To ensure long-term clarity and durability, the material required a UV protective layer to prevent weathering from prolonged sun exposure.
Why Marlon FSX Polycarbonate Was Chosen:
The decision to use Marlon FSX polycarbonate was clear from the start. The product’s ability to provide exceptional optical clarity, comparable to glass, was crucial for the BBC’s filming requirements. The 7.7-meter long half-round window had to be installed as a single, joint-free piece to ensure an unobstructed view. Marlon FSX met this need perfectly, with its excellent light transmission and smooth, distortion-free surface.
Additionally, Marlon FSX’s high impact resistance offered the necessary protection for the commentary box, safeguarding both the commentators and the equipment from potential impacts. Its flexibility allowed it to be cold curved on-site, accommodating the unique design requirements of the half-round window without compromising strength.
Access Plastics highlighted that Marlon FSX was the ideal choice due to its combination of optical clarity, impact resistance, and on-site cold curving capability. Tall Order Structures, experienced in building commentary boxes for major networks like the BBC and ESPN, found Marlon FSX to be the only material that could achieve the required curves while withstanding harsh weather conditions.
Outcome:
The strategically positioned commentary box at St Andrews provided an unparalleled viewing experience for the BBC’s commentators and cameramen. The clear, undistorted view facilitated by Marlon FSX polycarbonate ensured the best possible coverage of the golf championship. The successful application of Marlon FSX in this project led to its subsequent use for the commentary box at the 2019 Irish Open in Portrush, Northern Ireland.
Marlon FSX’s co-extruded UV protective layer on both sides not only prolonged the lifespan of the sheet but also maintained its clarity and performance under various weather conditions, making it an excellent long-term solution for such high-profile installations.
About Seating & Access Contracts Limited:
Established in 2009, Seating & Access Contracts Limited is the leading provider of event media services in Ireland, Europe, and the United States. They specialize in the bespoke design, supply, and hire of media platforms, stages, broadcast studios, temporary site services, crowd control and scaffold systems, temporary access, and broadcast centers. With a commitment to Hard Work, Innovation and Creativity, Social and Environmental Responsibility, Flexibility, and Quality, Seating & Access Contracts Limited continues to set the standard in the temporary site services market, delivering expert media infrastructures worldwide.
