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What lies beneat Key considerations for 3G pitch spe
With cost, permeability, and performance all key contributing factors in the construction of 3G pitche by carpet manufacturers, choosing the most appropriate sub-base can prove to be a challenging pro alike. Here, Tim Edwards, Technical Sales Manager for Tarmac’s Topsport product line, explains the im sub-base system for an artificial pitch.
Once solely found at state-of-the-art professional sports clubs, 3G pitches are a synthetic surface option that have rapidly grown in popularity across a variety of applications over the last decades. Now they are just as likely to be installed at a school as they are a Premier League Academy. This has largely been attributed to the
enhanced usability of an artificial installation, as they can be used in most weather conditions. Not only does this lead to year- round playability, but for those sites that hire out their facilities, it can lead to improved revenue streams too. However, while the playing surface, or carpet, is often the main talking point of an
installation, the sub-base is arguably just as – if not more – important given it provides the ‘feel’ of a pitch and aims to help mirror the playability of a full grass installation. It also determines the ability of a pitch to both hold the optimum amount of water within the surface, and ensures any excess is able to freely drain away. As such, it can be very expensive and time consuming to correct if done wrong. 3G pitches are typically installed over one
of two types of base – dynamic or engineered – with budget often being the main factor when commissioning an installation. Dynamic bases offer a more accessible route for the likes of schools and amateur sports clubs, as engineered bases are likely to be more suited to professional installations given their relatively higher cost. An engineered base tends to consist of a
Type 3 stone sub-base, topped by a porous open-textured asphalt layer and shockpad. This ensures long-lasting performance and excellent stability, and is likely to operate effectively for a number of carpet cycles. However, given the cost of installing an engineered asphalt base, it is frequently used by elite sport teams rather than by club teams or schools, simply due to expense. A dynamic base is a more accessible way for those clubs and schools with smaller
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