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STADIUM DEVELOPMENT NEWS
SPORTS FLOORS
WHERE RED TAPE MAKES SENSE
In most areas of life, red tape and regulations make things
more difficult. But, in the case of sports floor specification,
legislation has made things a lot less confusing, with the
introduction of European Standard EN14904.
U
nlike domestic specifications,
taking place throughout primary and
which tend to centre on aesthetics
secondary schools. Following the publication
and budget, a sports floor needs
of EN14904, Sport England is also advising
to perform to the highest standards too.
organisations to adhere to the new rules and
Numerous other factors also come into the
many other parties are using the Standard to
mix - including accreditation, suitability,
set parameters on the funding of new projects.
maintenance, construction parameters, fire
For companies able to invest in product
testing and environmental impact. In the
development, it’s a great opportunity and a
past, ensuring satisfaction across all areas
rare area of the building sector that is
was a complicated task. Manufacturers were
booming, despite current economic conditions.
able to quote different standards in different
But, for others, it could greatly impact their
countries, and quality information in terms of
future business success.
sports science was fairly thin on the ground.
All sports floors, which previously met
By setting a minimum and consistent
BS7044 part 4 as a minimum standard, now
standard for sports floors, wherever they are
have to comply with the new European EN
located in the European Union, EN 14904
14904 standard. Various performance
makes it easier to compare different types of
characteristics are tested to meet specific
surfaces in terms of their compliance with
parameters. They include: Vertical
minimum safety and performance standards.
Deformation 2.3 - 5mm - to reduce the risk of
And, in today’s market, this is an issue that is
injuries caused by diving and falling; Energy
becoming more and more important.
absorption 55-75% - to reduce injuries caused
A large portion of sports floors are installed
by jarring and Uniform friction - for optimum
in schools and leisure centres, which not only
grip/slip performance across the entire
like Reflex’s Multisport system, feature a ply
accommodate a wide range of school sports
surface; Vertical ball bounce - for a true and
back and header joint which eliminates the risk
and activities, but also host external events to
consistent bounce across the surface;
of breakage during installation. Meanwhile,
create extra revenue. School halls are regularly
Resistance to indentation, rolling loads and
nails used in these applications are often
hired out for a variety of different clubs and
impact; Abrasion resistance, and correct light
slightly flexible, to allow for movement in
classes and, as a result, floors need to be able
reflection, so that both sighted and visually-
timber.
to cope with a multitude of sporting and non-
impaired can clearly see line markings at all
Further design features also promote
sporting activities.
speeds.
performance and easy installation: Resilient
As part of the UK government’s ‘Building
Today, many different wooden sports floors
closed cell foam is often used on the underside
Schools for the Future’ programme, a huge
successfully meet all of these criteria, with
of battens to aid shock absorption and spring.
refurbishment and building programme is
timber now accounting for a large percentage
In addition, for applications with uneven
of the sports floor market. Engineered
floors and varying floor depths, ‘cradles’ can
constructions, in particular, are becoming more
also be used to level floor battens, such as the
and more popular, providing an eco-friendly
Reflex Sports Cradle.
alternative to solid constructions. By using
Meanwhile, ‘all-in-one’ sports floors, like
slow-growing hardwood throughout the top
the EN-approved Activity Floor from Kährs,
layer only, down to the tongue and groove
feature integral shock-absorption and
joint, valuable resources are saved; resources
reinforcement properties, so remove the need
used below this level serve no purpose, as a
for battens and fixings entirely. Kährs’ design
floor can only be sanded down to its joint. In
also features a glueless Woodloc® joint, which
addition, each layer within an engineered
promotes fast installation and allows the floor
board is laid at right angles, producing a ‘criss-
to be dismantled and relayed elsewhere.
cross’ construction that creates maximum
By Richard Darby, Reflex Sports Ltd
FSA
stability and minimal movement.
Within the engineered arena, specifiers have
For more information on sports floor solutions,
a choice of either a traditional sports floor or
including Multisport ‘batten’ floors, cradles and
an ‘all in one’ construction. Traditional ‘tongue
Kährs Activity Floor, please contact Reflex Sports
and groove’ sprung sports floor systems are
Ltd on tel. 0800 345 7085, email
nailed onto battens, using T or L format nails,
sales@reflexsports.co.uk or visit
positioned just above the tongue. Some boards,
www.reflexsports.co.uk
May/June 2009 | FOOTBALL & SPORTS ARENA | 25
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