FEAS

IBILITY REPOR.T/ASSESSMEI\T

OF

KUMASI SPOR"TS STADIUM

CONSULTAN'TSl
Architectural & Engineering Services Limited,
Post Office Box 3969,
Accra - Ghana

FEBRUARY,2OI4.

INSPECTION REPORT

1.

I(UMASI SPORTS STADIUM

INTRODUCflON

The Architectural and Engineering Services

Ltd (A.E.S.L) was engaged by the Ministry ot youth
and
spofts to inspect and submit a report assessinS the
existing conditions of the Kumasi

sports tadium

facility.

The KumasiSports Stadium, also known as Baba yara

Stadium was buih io 1959, renovated in 1978,
and again in 2007, with a seating capacity of
about
40,SO0.

The first stands were constructed in 1971.

part of the preparatory works of the 2008

African cup of Narions rournarnent, the west stand
was demorished and replaced by a two
-tier stand with press, corporate and vrp facirities. T he rest
ofthe stands were aiso upgraded with seats added,
etcetera_
As

2,

DESCRIPTION

The whole fabric

ofstadium is ofReinforced concrete, framed along seating

tiers with block work
fiil forming a three storey strrrcture.

in_

ln_door spaces (rooms for administrative

offices, team changing rooms, shops, access passageways
which connect changing rooms to their respective
dugouts, concourse area with concess ons etci are
all iocated below seating bowlj as such in essence,
the seating bowlcomposed of reinforced
concrete slab, forrned along tiers becomes the roofofthe

indoor spaces.

Several expansion joints have been introduced

to control movements causecJ by expansion and
contraction. These joints dissect the structure at ajl
levels.
The varioLrs l-ovels are however linked by a staircase
at the front of the structLrre.

The 2008 refurbishment works, did see the establishment

of a grand starid which houses t!xury box
s!ites (sky booths and Vlp areas) and their supporting facilities
This is also suppoded on a framing system,
but however cradded with aruminium roor ng ar mosr
sections and Perspex glass at ihe periphery, thus
shading the sky booihs
The immediate surroundings ofthe stadium is
comprised ofasphalt paved and gravels parking tcis
with concrete curbing, and small block work

enkance/tollstructures.

The parking lots have been adequately graded ior drainage.

team of Architects and EnBineers from AESL toured the facility

on the 4th of Jujv 2013
No drawings were made available to aid in the assessment

3. INSPECTION TEAM
G.F Gyamfi

Regional Consultant, A.E.S.L, Kumasi-Ashanti Region

SamuelAmankwah

Structural Engineer, A.E.S.L, Kumasi_Ashanti Re8jon

Frederick Owusu-Addo

StrLlctural Engineer, A.E.S.L, Accra, Greater Accra Regjon

Deborah Boamah

Architect, A.E.S.L, Accra- Greater Accra Re8ion

Walter Semordzi

Assistant Architect, A.E.S.L, Accra- Greater Accra Region

Mark Nathaniel Opoku

Electrical Engineer, A.E.S.L, Accra- Greater Accra Region

SamuelAdu Bediako

Electrical Engineer, A.E.S.L, Accra- Greater Accra Region

Mr. Ansong

AbdulaiShiraz

Quantity Surveyor, A.E.S.L, Accra_ Greater Accra Region

Nana Gyaama Dankwah

Estate Officer, Nationalsports Council, Kumasi_Ashanti

Region

Cephas Fleming

Administrator, Nationalsports Council, Kumasi_Ashanti Region

Oteng Mohammed

Quantity Surveyor, A.E.S.L Kumasi-Ashanti Region

Technician, Electrical Oivision, National Sports Council,

Kumasi-Ashanti Region

Mr Hayford

- Plumber, National Sports Council, Kumasi_Ashanti Region

CIVIL/STRUCTURAL WORKS
The following brinBs

to fore obseruations and the necessary remediation on civir/structurar

works;

4"

OBSERVATION

ln general, the stadium is an relatively good condition.

During the inspection, it was noticed that some ofthe expansion.ioints were restrajned
during the 2008 refurbishment/renovation works.
Expansion joints running through floor slabs were terminated in front of newly introduced
columns and wall partitions. Cracks had developed through plaster in the face of such
columns and walls.
ln oiher areas, the expansion joints were either plastered or tiled over, thereby restrainiag
those joints.
Well visible cracks had developed in sLrch situations, running from the ground floor to the
third floor ofthe facility.
One of the inspected rooms at the ground floor level (shop no. 11), had severe dampness
on
portion of it wall. The situation is so severe such that, the dampness had caused
the wall
plaster to breakdown, crack and some painted sections to widely peel off.
Other portions ofthe damp room also had severe btack spot mould and mildew sporing on
the damp walls.
The cause was traced to the sealant used in sealing the expansion joints, formed along
transitions of the seating tiers and within the stadium arena.
The finishing sealant had weathered ;n most sections.
Further inspection also revealed that, most of the sealant used in sealing the expansion
joints within the whole stadium bowl had weathered in some sections oftheir leneths.
Sealant materials typically have a service life of 5-7years.
The broken down surface of these joints exposes them, thereby causing rainwater to seep
through, penetrating adjoining block work and further staining internal block work
partitions of rooms below.
For ihe seating bowl expansion joints, we could only observe the topside condition.
Well defined medium cracks, were also observed to be running along risers of tiers. The
open spaces, created by these cracks present a path for rainwater to enter into fabric of
structure below.
Along the seatjng arena some guard barriers are loose, and these must also be proper{y
flxed into position. Changes in temperature cause expansion and contraction ofthe rail at
different rates than the concrete holding it.
The differential movement, over the length, results in stresses on the concrete. as well as

the railto concrete interface resulting in concrete cracking. Consideration should be givell
3

to introducing joints within the guardrail that will allow

for thermal expansion and
contraction without inducing cracking level stresses on
the cgncrete.
A thorough inspection ofthe whole facility also revealed
deterjorated in_fill materialto
some expansion joints. These must be .e_opened and
treated.
Rainwater seeps into sky booths on the third floor.
Ihis occurrence was traced to some
P.V.C pipe/ metal roof gutter joints at the roof
level.
Sealants have been used in sealing such joints (pVC pipe
and metal gutter joints). The
sealant often weathers with time, thereby allowing water
to leak from joints. Observing the
rooffrom the seating arenar one can also identify one ofthe Perspex glass
in roof. to be
missinB.
The missing glass allows driving rain into one

ofthe

sky booth.

At the ground floor level, within the corridors as well

as in the changing rooms, d
distinctive "tide mark,, can be captured along the faot
of walls, a ty;ic; di;g;ostic feature
of "rising damp; the presence of ground water at the level
of whi.f,'tiu sirGuru f,u, O""n
sited. The dampness on the walls make it cold to touch
and reveals deteriorating and loose
wall plaster, with the peering of painted work at a depth
ress than a metre from tne root or
the wall. Most of the observed semicircular damp patches
however barely eiceeas +oomm
from the ground, along most lengths ofthe observed walls.

It however comes up, about 1m high in few areas. As such,

the condition is generaliy less
severe but may become more severe during the raining
season where the naturai ground
water is expected to rise.
The floor to the buildings however did not show any
si8n of dampness; an jndication which
does suggests that a damp proof course might have
been praced, p.io. to the .onstrr.t,on.
The DPC material then may have failed to work properly
in some areas, might have been
inadequately jointed or perhaps alternatively, it might have
been brtdged.
An.inspectjon, conducted in the pumping room at the basement
of the facirity, arso reveared
lea_kage from plumbinB systems (defectjve pipe jojots).
This courd be crearry s;en at the
soffit of rhe slab of the changing rooms.
Stored Water Ieaks from the underground service reservoir
as well. The leakage, which is
from a developed crack in wall of reservoir, can also be detected
from the pumping room
(basement).
Some settlement cracks were also observed on walls ofthe
main structure at the ground
floor level. The observed cracks were usually vertical or diagonal,
often interrupted by
window or door openings.
Aside these, all other cracks, observed where either between
beam/block work joints,
column/block work joints, strinBer of tiers/block work joints
or shrinkaBe cracks in walls
which can be safely sealed.

Plaster spalls along edges of some jdentified beams on the ground floor. ln some areas,
render breaks awaV from block wall. This defect is largely due to incompatibilities between
render and background or may lie with the render speification.
Observing the tartan tracks, it was also noticed that the existing surface has worn-out
making it uneven in most areas. The red surfaces as well as the white markangs have faded,

with water stains evicient in numeaous places. The worn out surface makes the track more
firm. However, it is in a fair condition, and can still be used.
During the 20C8 re-construction works, more seats were also added to the facitity, especially
in the VIP areas (between 2500 to 3000 seats). However, no additional septic system was
incorporated to take up with the added number. This has led to an increase in the desludging rate from septic tanks serving the Vlp lines. As such, to take up the deficit, a new
septic tank should be sized and reconstructed to take that number.
Some broken cover slabs

to distribution boxes/manholes linking the exist;ng septic system

also needs to be replaced.

5. RECOMMENDATION FOR REMEDIAL WORK

A)

TREATMENT OF THE EXPANSION ]OINTS

1)

ln walls and slabs where expansion joints have been restrained and have not been
allowed to continue, the designed joint (25mm) should be created, and filled with an
approved flex-cell material. This should then be pointed with approved non,
hardening mastic to a depth of about 25mm to seal.

2)

For all expansion joints with deteriorated in-fill material, joints must be opened up,
re-filled with flex-cell and then pointed with approved non-hardening mastic to the
same depth of 25mm.

3)

Remove all metal plate fixed over developed crack in plaster of columns. Remove
also plaster from joint surfaces of columns and seal with s;milar material.

4)

To curb the

effe.t of rainwater entry into .ooms through expansion joints, the joints
must be made watertight and properly sealed through it transitions along the
seating tiers ofthe stadium arena.
As such;

1)

Remove all failed sealant and c,ean with grinders to remove old sealant residue.
Remove also; plaster applied over all expansion joints, found a ong the seatinB tlers

within the stadium arena.

2)

Re-seal all expansion joints then, in the seating areas, with special attention to

providing watertight transitions.

As the joints tollow a series of steps or risers, a compression type gland that
incorporates locking surfaces should be used, ensuring continuity of seal through
treads and risers as well as changes in plane and direction.
Some expansion joint system preformed from manufactures also includes a systent

which is locked to the joint faces by means of;

a)

Backpressure of an impregnated foami b) an epoxy adhesive, and c) an injected

silicone sealant band at joint face to foam and silicone bellows interface (see lig 1)
For such systems, in order to ensure water tightness, lay down cover plate

(aluminium) and screw/rivet into central spline along the transitions of the expansron
joints.
Cover plare rivered inro

FigL; system with covet pldte riveted dlong centrcl spline

3) Hackall medium cracksin risers oftiers, re-cast sections, render and paintto
finish (plaster 1:3,

4)

co

nq ete 7t 2y,: 2%)

Mould growth on walls in rooms at the ground floor should be removed usrng
antimicrobial solutions, such as chlorine bleach containing hydrogen peroxide or
using trisodium phosphate. (ln a ratio of one part of bleach with three parts of water
in a bucket) a vigorous scrub will remove mould growth from walls.
For tough mould-infested areas, the solution should be allowed to remain on wall for
about 2Ominutes before attempting to scrub.

B ) (i) TEAKAGE OF RAINWATER INTO SKY BOOTHS FROM P,V,C PIPE/ROOF GUTTER

lolN rs
The use of sealant at these P.V.C pipe/ metal Butter joints will le.k with time. A more
lasting solution is to attach a metal pipe (75mm long) by welding to the existing metal

gutters. The pipe should be formed from a lomm thick metal plate and should be fixed
to the metalgutter as shown in the figure below. The p.V.C pipe can then be fitted
around the protruding 75mm lon8 metal pipe. NB. The attached metal pipe used must
be coated

with an antirust paint.

p

Omm vreld all round mer.l

ipelmtal sutter joi ni

75mfr lon8 x lomnr th,ck protr!dine

fretal pip vrelded to meral eutror

Fig2

proposed correction to P.v.C pipe/metdl joints.

b) Further, replace missing Perspex glass in roofto curb driving rain entrV into sky booth

C)

RtslNG pAMp oN wALLs tN ct-iANGtNG RooMS

To reduce the effect ofthe observed dampness;

1)

Remove affected internal piasterwork and additional plaster to a height 300mm above
the levelto \.,hich water is observed to have risen.
Brush and clean area

2)
3) Applydampproofcreamcrpaintontheexposeds,,rrfacingofwall
4)

5)

silicooate solution)
Re-plaster uslng an undercoat of 1:3 cement
proofing compound.
Follow wrlh a plaster finishing coal.

(waterbased

san.i, to vJhich is added an integral water

D)

TO REPA'R LEAKAGE OF WA'TER FROM THE UNDERGROUND SERVICE RESERVOIR;

a)

Cut out line of crack

to

a distance say 75mm on each side of craak by power

operated wire brushes or sand blasting etc

b)

Remove 6rit from prepared sul.faae and brush inio the crack /prepareC area, a
flexible sealant ia minimum ofihree coats of lov,/ epoxide resia u/hich must be

formulated lo bond to damp concrete).

Ur'ith these epoxicie and polyurethane resiit coatings, a rninimunr of O.5mm is

recofimended, and this sho! d take about 3 co;ts.

Other flexible materials; such as rubber bitumen, polyurethanes, and other naturai
and
art;ficial rubber latexes can also be used. Sealant used must however not support
bacteria
groMh. Further, seal inslde face of the tank by gunite to supplemenr surface
seajing action.
The cement used in gunite can be either portland or High alumina.

Water/cement ratio

0.35, Equivalent 28 day cube strength of about 5ON/mmz

Concrete. if hand applied, in the absence of the gunite should be of rich mix and
of good
workability {strength - 35N/mmr}.
Add Super plasticizers in mix, in order to achieve high strength concrete.
OTHERS;

1)

2)

Make good all detached rendered surfaces to the stadium facility with a richer
specification of mortar; 1: 3 cement - sand.
Spalling plaster from beams must also be corrected for, using similar mix.
To the observed diagonal settlement crackj

cut cracks, remove grit on the surface (say 75mm) by wire brushinB wash the area
,
with
water and then place mesh {as shear/flexural reinforcement) in the iocation of repairs_
The mesh reinforcement must be nailed or tacked/stitched into place by drilling
small holes of size 6 to lomm on both side of the crack, cleaning the holes and
anchoring
legs of stitch.
The mesh used must be coated with sufficient polymer mortar to protect it frofi
corroding.
The polymer mortar may include a coat of portland cement grout; two parts OpC
to one
part of styrene butadiene (SBR) or acrylic latex, by weight.
This must be well brushed into the area which have been wire brushed and applied
evenly
to the n"esh to ftn is h.
3) Seal all hair cracks, shrinkage cracks and line cracks between beam

/wall, column/wall
with cement latex grout/poly fillers su ch as; Resene Brushoble
Crack Filler or any other approved crack fillers o. the niarket, and pa int to flnish.
4) Hack and re-cast in square patches all identified damp and spalled concrete from
slab
as observed in the pumping room
and stringer of tiers/wall

Trace and repair all defective pipe.ioints as we,l.

N.B; if exposed reinforcement is corroded, wire brush, add additional reinfo.cement
12mm bars, providing a lap of 3OOmm. Coat with grout plus S.B.R admixture before
re

casting of sections.
(Concrete Mixforrepai -7:2%12% Cefient fsand fiorta r for ren der 1:3i p!us an
admixture containing a styrene butadiene (SBR) or acrylic latex, by weight).

5) All Loose fixing to guard barriers along the perimeter of the seating
arena should also be
properly fixed, and in doing thrs consider int.oducing joints within
th; guardrair that

wi
allow for thermal expansion and contraction without inducing cracking level
stresses on the
concrete.
Hack and re-cast Con
ete (Mix - l:2 %t 2 % Cement /sand mortar for render _ 1:3)

6)

For the estimated deficit of about 3OOO addjtional seats added during
the 2OO8
re-furbishment works, provide an additional septictank ofcapacjty;6Omito serve Iines
from the VIP area (required leach field - about 210m2 incorporating leaching lines
and

pits (gravel filled), and make replacement to all broken cover slabs of existing
distribution boxes, which links to the existing sep c tanks.

7)

Re-surface the 4OO-meter tracks and various runways for events such as long
and triple
jumps etc by installing new tartan layer (12-18mm) on the
existing synthetic tracks; and
remarking all white markings.

N.Bt Before this, it will be necessary to sdnd dawn ond cleon the wedr loyer
of the existing
surfoce. The Poly lJtethone (puR) pimer con then be opplied by instd ing the self te\relling,
seomless PUR coating into which the coloured EpDM gronules ore embedded.

Prepa.ed Byj
Frederick Owusu-Addo (lng.)

{Civil/Structural Engineer)
AESL

APPENDIX

Fig-

Fig.

- A (PHOTO OOCUMENTATION)

foiled sedldnt ond coulk in stodium expdnsion joints, ds obserued dlong tiers in the

the exposed surloce ol joint dltows ruinwotet

down to rooms ot the ground flaor level

10

to

seep

throuqh wdlt, oll the wdy

Mould gtowth observed on wdlls in one of the shops (,haq nu,nber 11)
on the grcund floot oI the rdcility' fhe dompness hod developed due to the ed ier cited
continuous wefting ol wolls by ruinwdtet seeping through the expdnsion ioints.
Fig.

Fig.4 Anothet cdptarc of the developed mould growth on wolls,with peeled olf pointing
work.

11

Fig.5

plaster applied ovet expdnsion

ioint, on otternpt to ptettent rcinwdtet ingrcss

into rcoms

fig. 6 well defined mediun

ctdcks in

into rooms underthe sedtinq bowl,

11

ise6 ol

tierc" o good sowce oI ruinwdter

entry

Fig.7 Oock developed

in

portition woll due to the restroined expdhsion ioint

Developed odck io floor tiles loid ocross the expdnsion ioint. The crack
continues through the wdll pldstet qll up to the sedting tiers
Fig.

:T3

,"!
.:

I.

Fig.

9 Cootinudtio! of the oack ds obseNed Irum the graund floor to

Iloor level

Fig.

14

L,i.

70

projeaion ol the crock ot the fi,st ltoor levet

the frrst

Fig.77

crock devetoped ih

plostetotone of the twin .olumns on

The obseNed cruck does not penetrdte through the

the

fistftoot.

colufin but runs olong the expdnsion

joint.

Fig.

te

72

metol plote lixed over the developed crock. The expdnsioh

nindted dt the point where column hove beeh cited.

should be mdde to go roundthe cited column.
hove been

15

The

joint

ioint in the slob

Fig.

rig.

16

74

73

Crock ot beom/btock work

joint

Developed crack ot column/block

work

joint

fig. 75 oeveloped crock between reinlorced concrete stringer ol

joint" The other unsightly shrinkoge crdcks are in rcnder

Fig"

1,7

76

o much ctoser cdpture ol the obserued c.ock

tiers ond block work

fig. 77 leokoge of rainwdter into

pi pe/roof gutter joints.

sky booths on the

floor

wos troced

Fiq.78: Missing Pebpex gloss in roof dllows driving rain into

18

to these

sky booth

fig.

79

obseNed diagonol settlement crock foming oround o window opening dnd

larther olong the entire height ol a wd ot the ground floor level

rig.20 antinuotion of the settlement ctuck

19

fig.

27

tide ma* along foot of wotls to chdnqing rooms, do indicdtion

of

ddmp dt the qround floor level.

Fiq.
less severe

20

22

r,ost of the obserued ddmpness 'rses to d height not more thdn :nornfi, d

titudtion then,

fig.

23

a typical instance with ground wotet rising to d height of ohout lm ds

ohsetued onthis column,ledving behind hygroscopic solts on the interior sutfdce

woter teokoge ftum delective pipe joint into sldb ds observed dt the
soffit ol sldb of the chahging rcorn. The dbove imoge wos tdken in the pump room dt the
ground tloor level.
Fig.

21

24

rig.25

onother instonce of the wdter ledkoge

fiq.26

22

spolling ol pldster trcm the edge oI d beon on the third floor

fig.
this

moy

tie

fig.28:

oaochment ol rcndet Ircm wdll surfdce ot the ground floor' The cduse of
with the render sPecificotioi or the bdckground stobility'

27

leakoge ol woter from the seNice rcservoit os obserued from the pumpinq

rcom (at the bdsement of the fdcilw)

23

rig.29

Cra*ed ond spdlled concrete ot bdse ol roiling

Fig.30: worn-out sutfoce o! tofton trdcks

24

Fig.

25

37:

Broken edges of covet sldb to monholes