Artificial Surfaces “


More stubborn materials, such as chewing gum, will need specialist cleaning to remove and, as such, is best avoided in the first place with


appropriate signage discouraging use


intensive use such as evenings and weekends. There is nothing worse than visiting a facility with overflowing bins and detritus on the surface in general. The article gives more information on the specific types of maintenance you can carry out, but the 1:10 rule is useful as a general principle to follow.


Cleanliness is next to Godliness


I have yet to come across a sports surface that is not significantly enhanced by routine cleaning and removal of all organic matter and litter. It is a sense of frustration when one comes across litter strewn over a facility by careless users or in, some instances, the lack of provision of waste receptacles. Organic matter of various guises should be


cleaned off the surface as soon as possible. I know this is difficult in the autumn months, but it goes a long way to maintaining quality and reducing further contamination from moss and algal growth. More stubborn materials, such as chewing gum, will need specialist cleaning to remove and, as such, is best avoided in the first place with appropriate signage discouraging use.


Routine work, including brushing Most synthetic surfaces, particularly those


with infill, benefit from regular brushing as a housekeeping chore, principally to maintain an even depth of sand or rubber. It is accepted, however, that maintenance practice has evolved and it is not unusual for combs or mats to be used instead. The machinery market is awash these days with equipment and it will be important to verify its capacity on site. It is understood that different surfaces will require different maintenance philosophies. What is very important is that any maintenance is planned and appropriate resources put in place.


Specialist Cleaning


On occasions, hopefully on a non-routine basis, specialist surface cleaning will be required. Normally, this will revolve around deep cleaning of the surface and, potentially, the employment of maintenance specialists with exacting equipment. Typically, this work will supplement regular maintenance carried out by onsite staff.


Pitch Testing and Monitoring


It has become more and more common for me to receive requests for formal pitch testing and objective pitch monitoring. To be honest, I am not convinced that formal pitch


testing is required on such a frequent basis as some would specify, even for insurance purposes. Such testing regimes are part of a wider conversation regarding sports pitch testing in general and the test principles that you could apply to both natural and artificial surfaces. Also, a common sense approach has to be


adopted as formal pitch testing is expensive due to the expertise and specific testing implements required. Ongoing calibration and checking of equipment is an expensive process, which leads to expensive testing regimes that can be justified in professional environments but not quite as easily in school environments. There are several recognised test houses in the UK and separate quotations should always be sought for formal testing regimes to governing body standards, if required. We are getting more and more involved in objective pitch monitoring whereby a series of tests will be carried out along with a visual analysis on site and a report prepared, not only to measure pitch performance over time, but also identify any issues and predict replacement dates and lifecycling. This can prove a cost effective and useful tool to site managers if they want to


■ Regular Sweeping ■ 3G Decompactions ■ Infill Top-Ups ■ Vegetation Treatments ■ Machinery & Equipment ■ Demonstrations & Training ■ Specialist Deep-Cleaning ■ Infill Extraction & Replacement ■ Line Marking ■ Repairs


108 I PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016


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