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a number of maintenance procedures are required to retain the characteristics of the artificial pitch. Other types of artificial pitches such as sand filled/dressed or water-based pitches call up some, or all, of the same procedures. One of the businesses providing services that aim to prolong the life of a pitch is Replay Maintenance. The company specialises in maintaining synthetic sports surfaces – such as 3G pitches – and has seen an increasing number of facilities who are appreciating the value of maintaining their sports surfaces. According to Garry Martin, Replay’s director, an artificial pitch which is constantly in use has different maintenance needs to a natural grass pitch, which can only take a few hours’ use a week. “Artificial turf pitches, over time,


become contaminated and compacted,” Martin says.


De-compacting and increasing the porosity of a 3G pitch will create a safer surface for the players


“Playing on the pitch becomes more difficult and more dangerous, particularly if there is surface water on the pitch that won’t drain away. “The types of services we offer not only


improve the playing performance but will create a safer surface for the players by


de-compacting the surface and increasing the porosity of the pitch.” The intensity of use and footfall is by


far the most critical factor to take into account when considering how much and what type of maintenance a pitch will require. Other factors, however, are important – for example, the quality of the turf product can have a significant affect on how a pitch responds to maintenance. Further, contamination and aging will affect pitch maintenance especially as the pitch reaches maturity.


The following formula characterises the maintenance requirements of a pitch:


Aging [a] + Contamination [b] + ability to sustain use [c] x intensity of use [d] = maintenance factor [e] a = age in years 1-10 b = level of contamination 1-5 c = quality of product 1-5 d = 10–60 hours of use The maintenance factor MF [e] is expressed in units of 100s. The MF indicates the approach to maintenance and whether low of high frequency intensive maintenance is required.


sportsmanagement.co.uk issue 4 2014 © Cybertrek 2014 71


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