The latest news and views from SAPCA
How the SAPCA Pitch and Track Registration Scheme is helping to improve construction standards
A national scheme to ensure the quality of synthetic sports pitches and athletics tracks is now in place to help facility owners choose contractors wisely and lessen the possibility of poor construction standards and inferior installations. SAPCA takes us through this innovative initiative – which is only available from members of its Pitch & Track Divisions – and explains the key benefits to facility owners
T
here are significant costs involved in purchasing a new sporting facil- ity or refurbishing or resurfacing an existing installation. Whether it’s a
football pitch or an athletics track, the cost is often as crucial as ensuring it is fit for purpose. To protect the investment of facility owners,
the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) introduced in February this year a sys- tem to register, measure and ensure the quality of installations. This follows a successful pilot exercise run over the previous 12 months.
Strict Quality Guidelines The Pitch and Track Registration Scheme is a register of synthetic turf pitches and athletics
tracks which are being installed by SAPCA mem- bers. Its aim is to offer reassurance to facility owners and operators that by using a member of SAPCA’s Pitch & Track Divisions a synthetic pitch or athletics track project is being built to strict quality guidelines. “New, refurbished or resurfaced synthetic turf
pitches and athletics tracks represent a signifi- cant investment by facility owners,” explains Tony Hession, project manager for SAPCA. “We want to help to protect that investment. The Pitch and Track Registration Scheme helps to ensure that any scheme delivered by a specialist SAPCA con- tractor is built to a high standard. “Once the order is placed for a new proj- ect, it is registered with SAPCA by the member
company involved, the client is informed of the registration and given information about the scheme and the opportunity to give feedback. SAPCA undertakes random site inspections to ensure that projects are being constructed to the standards required by the association’s Codes of Practice. Post-project feedback is requested from clients to establish satisfaction levels with con- tractors’ performance and, in the unlikely event of any issues regarding technical quality, SAPCA can provide guidance to resolve the issue and ultimately act as a mediator if required.” The last thing facility owners want is a costly installation that is unfit for play or needs fur- ther work. By registering all synthetic sports pitches and athletics tracks (over 3,000sq m)
New facilities and tracks represent a significant investment for facility owners
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Issue 3 2013 © cybertrek 2013
PIC: © SOUTH BRISTOL LEISURE CENTRE - ABACUS LIGHTING
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