Artificial Surfaces
“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”
the day to day activities, before collating weekly or monthly reports. It is always worth asking your AGP installer or manufacturer if they provide a method of recording this information as part of the terms of their warranty. Alternatively, if you employ the services of a specialist AGP maintenance provider, they should be able to supply you with a suitable means of logging this information. For example, Technical Surfaces has developed a unique Online Technical Information System (OTIS) for its clients, which not only details all works completed as part of their maintenance contract, but also allows clients to detail their own maintenance and even record usage levels to whatever degree of complexity they require - from a straightforward log of booking hours through to detailing the number of players, the type of use (i.e. training, full match play) and how much of the surface is being used. This information is then stored online for clients to observe - in graph form - AGP usage levels week to week or month to month. Furthermore, using OTIS, actual hourly usage can be measured against projected hourly usage, to determine whether or not the maintenance programme in place is appropriate for the level of use the AGP is receiving. The system can also be set up to send automatic notifications if projected hourly usage levels are exceeded, effectively alerting all relevant parties (client, manufacturer, maintenance provider) to a potential disparity between the maintenance in place and the maintenance required for the surface to meet designated performance standards. For AGPs installed within the Framework Contract, access to such information could mean the difference between fulfilment and non-fulfilment of the manufacturer's warranty. As we have seen, it has become
increasingly common for a suitable maintenance programme to be tied to the terms and conditions of an AGP manufacturer’s warranty, with a
66 PC APRIL/MAY 2013
requirement for maintenance to be implemented as soon as installation is complete. To that end, necessity dictates that an open dialogue exists between manufacturers, installers and maintenance specialists to help clients preserve the warranty of their AGP. Research into AGP maintenance, over the past decade or so, has helped maintenance providers work with manufacturers and installers to formulate programmes of work tailored specifically to a particular surface type and the amount of use it receives. Within the terms of the Framework Contract, AGP manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the performance standards of their AGPs are adhered to. A key element of this is ensuring that the data collected in the maintenance logs is used to modify and advise the club/end user of any adjustment to the routine weekly maintenance, and to further advise the club/end user of specialist maintenance requirements, so as to ensure full compliance with the manufacturer’s warranty requirements and award terms and conditions. So, logging the hours of maintenance, usage levels, and the type of use taking place on an AGP, plays a crucial role in ensuring that the correct maintenance is being completed. This is a practice that we encourage all owners and operators of AGPs to undertake, whether your surface is used for community play, school lessons or competitive matches. As well as providing important marketing information for promoting bookings on your AGP during periods of low usage times or in the evenings, understanding the degree of maintenance required on your AGP will go a long way towards extending its usable life, preserving the performance standards you expect from your surface, and delaying the inevitably high cost of resurfacing.
If you would like to discuss the maintenance of multiple synthetic sports pitches, call Technical Surfaces now on 08702 400 700 and ask to speak to a Technical Manager.
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