SAPCA comment


Getting the bases right


SAPCA’s new Code of Practice on the construction of bases will ensure they are designed and constructed to the standards required by UK sports governing bodies.


SYNTHETIC turf sports pitches and athletics tracks must provide a safe playing environment, the correct performance characteristics and withstand heavy usage and weather. They must also be able to maintain their stability and playing characteristics over their lifetime. Getting the construction of the base right


is paramount. If the base is not correctly designed and built, the facility is unlikely to meet the requirements set by sports governing bodies and could even become hazardous and unusable. A number of international sports governing


bodies set standards for the surfaces on which their sports are played. They do not, however, provide guidance on the design or performance of the bases on which the surfaces are laid. This is primarily due to the different climatic and geological conditions around the world, which require a wide range of differing base solutions. SAPCA has therefore drafted a Code of


Practice on the construction of bases, which will be published this year. The code sets out the processes which ensure that bases – whether for synthetic turf sports pitches, athletics tracks or multi-use games areas – are designed and constructed to the standards required by UK sports governing bodies. The code covers every stage and detail of the


journey to a successful pitch project – from basic design principles and draining to the specification of asphalt to be used. Here are three important steps needed for a


perfect base.


1. Primary investigations Understanding the ground conditions is fundamental to ensuring a stable, durable construction. Investigation of the conditions is also crucial in terms of budgets – engineering a highly complex site could prove too expensive to be developed as a sports facility. Essential proprietary work includes a


topographical survey, showing the levels of the site. A separate site survey should also display boundaries, trees and existing fences as well as site access. The survey will also need to show surface features relating to drainage and services such as ditches, manhole covers, and underground and overhead lines.


2. Drainage design All sports facilities should have a drainage system to remove rainfall from the playing surface to prevent excess water building up and restricting the use of the facility. Most synthetic sports facilities in the UK


have a permeable playing surface, through which surface water flows. The water then percolates down through the base construction. It’s common to install a sub- surface water collection system to augment any natural drainage. There are a number of innovations in


drainage, and a recent development is horizontal drainage. In this case the water flows vertically down through the playing surface and into a cavity structure – such as plastic crates or shockpads with channels – which allow the water to flow to perimeter drains.


SAPCA is the recognised trade association for the sports and play construction industry in the UK. Its role is to foster excellence, professionalism and continuous improvement throughout the industry, in order to provide the high quality facilities needed at all levels of sport, physical activity, recreation and play. For details on the above stories and more visit www.sapca.org.uk


40 pactfacilities.co.uk


3. Sub-base design The primary purpose of the sub-base layer is to protect the weaker formation soil from excessive loads that may lead to deformation and instability. The sub-base layer also needs to provide sufficient stability to resist the effects of swelling, shrinkage or freezing. Ensuring the depth of the sub-base is


adequate is critical to ensuring the long-term suitability of the base - the greater the depth, the smaller the chance of frost penetrating into a frost susceptible sub soil. In the UK, a sub- base depth of 300mm depth has historically proved adequate for most sports facilities constructed on stable formations. It’s important that the sub-base is designed by a civil engineer to suit the load bearing capacity of the sub soil which may sometimes result in the need for ground improvement techniques, geogrids or capping layers.


www.sapca.org.uk


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