Artificial Surfaces “To ensure
greater accuracy, clients should endeavour to collate
information on the number of players using the surface during these times, and which areas of the surface are used more frequently”
used for rugby at all levels are required by the IRB to be tested every two years, regardless of usage).
The sports performance levels on this same surface type come with a minimum warranty period of eight years, providing weekly usage does not exceed thirty hours; five years if it receives thirty to fifty hours of use; but only three years if weekly usage is above fifty hours. Here, we begin to see the importance of recording hours of usage, as well as hours of maintenance, on an AGP. “Logging both maintenance work and usage is critical to ensuring the longevity of an AGP”, explains Greg Hill, Commercial Director of Technical Surfaces. “Without accurately recording both aspects, it will be impossible to ensure that your surface is being cared for properly. The extent and detail of the information collected is down to each site; however, as a minimum it should give the total hours of usage on the
surface as a whole. To ensure greater accuracy, clients should endeavour to collate information on the number of players using the surface during these times, and which areas of the surface are used more frequently.”
So, why is it useful to log the number of players as well as the number of hours? Well, usage levels alone tell only half the story. If an AGP is hired for three hours of use every night, Monday to Friday, for full hockey or football practice, weekly usage equates to 15 hours x 22 players, or 330 player hours. However, the same pitch divided into three six-a-side areas equates to 540 player hours (15 hours x 3 pitches x 12 players). In this scenario the AGP will be undergoing almost twice as much stress, and so the maintenance taking place on this surface must be adjusted accordingly. This is reflected in the Framework Contract, and puts into context the decision to tie the minimum warranty
Manage your artificial pitch maintenance online with O.T.I.S. – the online Technical Information System new and exclusive to Technical Surfaces!
● Record usage & booking hours ● Log & schedule maintenance work ● View reports & quotes
● Access Health & Safety information
● Utilise online pitch support tools
APRIL/MAY 2013 PC 65
period to the weekly hours of use. Further to this, the use of pitch
rotation is also recommended as good practice. An AGP may be used every night for five-a-side football but, if only the same section of the surface is used each time, then premature wearing will occur in this area compared to the rest of the surface. Human nature dictates that players will always choose the court nearest to the gate, but it is important to rotate court usage where possible, to encourage play across all areas and promote an even rate of wear. Recording information on usage, player numbers and maintenance works to this degree of accuracy can seem like a burden at first but, once a system is in place, it can prove vital in the long-term care of an AGP. Normally, the information required should be able to be retrieved from the booking system in place. If not, a simple paper system or Excel spreadsheet can be used to record
tel: 08702 400 700 email: iinffo@t
@tech hniic lalsu
frfaces.co. k uk
www.technicalsurfaces.co.uk
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