outdoor surfaces

Feasibility of the synthetic surface

The use of synthetic sports surfaces has grown significantly in the UK since their introduction in the late 1960s, but the misconception remains that they require little or no maintenance. COLIN YOUNG reports.

It is almost impossible to give an

Young: Too little attention paid to running costs.

the costs involved. All too often the focus is given to the capital funding of the sports surface with little to no attention given to the ongoing maintenance, running costs or the provision to replace the surface at the end of its usable life (ie sinking fund provision).

W

The capital investment includes the

ground works, synthetic surface system, floodlights, fencing and maintenance equipment; these costs will be site specific and depend greatly on your requirements.

In future issues:

Design requirements Construction standards Surface types Performance standards Maintenance factors

HEN considering the purchase of a synthetic surface it is very important to fully understand all

accurate guide price as there are so many site specifics to consider. The best advice is to get prices and tenders from several contractors to compare. Whilst the lowest quote may be the most appealing you need to consider if it offers the ‘best value’. If, for example, you get four prices with three of them similar and one significantly lower, ask the questions - why is it so low? are the tenders similar? are they providing like-for-like prices? is the construction specification the same?

Frequent use

The potential benefits of synthetic surfaces are well documented. They provide a good quality, consistent playing surface that can be used more frequently than traditional natural surfaces and in all but the worst weather conditions. Synthetic surfaces can last anywhere between five and 25 years depending on how frequently they are used and how well they are maintained. If the school is responsible for capital funding and/or the ongoing running and replacement costs it is essential these aren’t above the schools budget or the surface may become unusable. When exploring the feasibility of a

surface before installation, it is common to develop a business plan for generating income from the surface to help fund the replacement and running of the facility. In these circumstances, it is essential to understand the local demand for surface hire – assessing other local facilities and establishing how much one can charge for usage. It should be noted that hiring out the facility in the evening and at weekends, will generate income for the

school but will also shorten the life expectancy of the surface.

Dr Colin Young is technical & training manager at SAPCA, the Sports and Play Construction Association.

www.sapca.org.uk

Community use

considerations

• Programming – when will after school activities be offered to pupils, when will access be available to the community and what activities will be offered?

• Marketing – how will pupils and the community be attracted, including hard-to-reach groups?

• Management – how will community access and any additional facilities be managed, maintained and staffed?

• Finances – what will the proposals cost (both capital and revenue) and how will this be financed; (grants, fees and charges and usage assumptions, sponsorship, etc)?

• Monitoring and evaluation – how will performance be monitored and how will the success of the project against its aims be measured and evaluated?

SOURCE: ‘The Win Win Scenario’, Sport England.

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