Theme park and attraction safety is paramount to the entertainment world—and paramount to BRPH as architects and engineers for some of the world’s most beloved theme parks and attractions. Structural engineer Chris Copeland, EIT, serves as co-chair of the loads and strengths group of F24 Amusement Rides and Devices Committee for ASTM International. In this leadership role, Chris works with industry professionals from all over the globe to help to write ride safety standards and regulations, and brings this in-depth technical knowledge back to his colleagues at BRPH.
As Chris heads to the next F24 committee meeting this week, we sat down with him and his supervisor, Bernie Manuel, Group Leader and Sr. Structural Engineer, to learn more…
Q: What is “ASTM International Committee F24 for Amusement Rides and Devices” and what does the committee do?
Chris: ASTM F24 is a committee that writes the safety standards for amusement parks, rides and attractions all over the world. The standards cover rides from bumper boats to trains to roller coasters and everything in between. It also covers testing methods, performance specifications, maintenance, operations and best practices for rides and devices.
Q: What happens at the committee meetings?
Chris: The committee consists of more than 1,000 members from all over the world, from all areas of the attractions industry—architects, engineers, regulators, manufacturers, government officials and other technical experts. We come together twice a year to develop and discuss safety standards to ensure that attractions and rides are both functional and safe, and to ensure that families can have fun, make memories and have no concerns about their safety.
Q: Why did you choose to become involved?
Chris: I’ve been involved with ASTM since college, starting out as a student volunteer and now as a junior engineer.
I’ve been heavily involved in the loads and strengths part of the committee where we discuss the strength and mechanical design elements of the industry to ensure the standards are well written. More recently I’ve been named co-chair of the group. I’ve really enjoyed being able to contribute to the industry and I look forward to continuing to serve on the committee.
Q: Chris, where did your passion for the attractions industry come from?
Chris: Growing up in Florida, I’ve always enjoyed the theme parks, the fantastic places they can bring you and the thrilling rides you can experience. I always knew I wanted to be an engineer, but in college I started to realize I could be an engineer and work on theme parks, marrying these two passions.
Q: Bernie, why is it important that BRPH has representation on this committee?
Bernie: BRPH is a leader in the design of entertainment attractions and facilities. It’s important for us to be a part of ASTM F24 to be a part of the team that’s writing the codes and standards that affect the safety of amusement park attractions and rides.
Q: What value does ASTM participation bring to BRPH clients?
Bernie: Our clients have peace of mind knowing that we’re part of a team that makes these decisions. When they hire us to design a facility, they know we have experts in house that speak the same language as the ride designers. They know that we have the knowledge and the history of standards, we know how they’ve evolved over time and how to apply them to our work.
Chris has a real passion for the amusement park industry. We’re happy he’s serving on the committee not only for his own professional development but also for the personal relationships he’s able to make with the other committee members. His technical acumen is a benefit to us and it’s definitely a benefit to the committee and to our clients.
ABOUT BRPH – BRPH is a technically focused, creative AEC firm dedicated to solving clients’ most challenging problems through architecture, engineering, design, interior design, construction and mission solutions. The firm partners with mission-driven clients in the aerospace, defense, manufacturing, commercial, education, entertainment and hospitality markets to identify gaps in their program delivery, then plans, designs, manages and constructs facilities and solutions that get the job done – beautifully and intelligently. Founded in 1964 to support America’s space program, BRPH is consistently ranked among the nation’s top firms and has completed a wide range of projects across the United States and throughout the world. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, BRPH operates regional offices in Jacksonville, Orlando and Boca Raton, Florida; Atlanta; Charleston, South Carolina; Huntsville, Alabama; Seattle; Phoenix; Santa Barbara and Palmdale, California. For more information, visit brph.com.
