Get Ready for Game Day

Specifying the best high-performance sports floor

By Iannick Di Sanza

For many institutions, the sports hall is about more than just athletics. It is a primary space for recreation, community events, social galas and everything in-between. That’s why when it comes to choosing the floor surface and supplier, there are numerous considerations and questions to ask before making a final decision. This is especially important given these surfaces often have a life cycle of more than 30 years, so what’s purchased and laid will be underfoot for a considerable amount of time. Along with the traditional choice of maple hardwood, there are now a wide variety of materials. Sports vinyl, polyurethane, linoleum and combi-elastic systems offer owners a portfolio of solutions to match their specific needs. Key considerations when reviewing sports hall flooring include ease of maintenance, multifunctional capabilities, indoor air quality, athlete performance and safety, warranty, independent testing, and sports and lines.

EASE OF MAINTENANCE

For facilities in high-demand, it is challenging and costly to close the floor for extended periods due to maintenance. Any cleaning routine should be simple and not add too many expensive procedures down the road. When comparing floor systems, it is key to review the full ownership cost of the surface. While maple hardwood offers a simple annual upkeep, it will need to be sanded and refinished every eight to 10 years. Leading sports vinyl systems are finished with a polyurethane surface treatment, which delivers additional resistance to scratches, scuffs and abrasion. Sports vinyl is also highly resistant to stains and handles drink spills much better than its wood counterpart.

MULTIFUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

As the sports hall is often used for more than just sports, it needs to easily adapt to changing environments and be friendly for the staff. The ideal flooring should offer exceptional resistance to indentation marks and rolling loads. This will allow the surface to safely be used for events and recreational activities that require temporary equipment and furniture to be placed on it.

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Indoor air quality is often overlooked, though it is fundamentally important for athletes’ health. Look for a system and supplier that has the testing and designations to back up any claims like FloorScore, Asthma and Allergy Friendly, and phthalate-free manufacturing certifications to validate an athlete-friendly system.

ATHLETE PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY

Shock absorption, energy return and consistent surface friction should be at the top of the list when reviewing athletic safety and surface performance. The independent standard specification for athletic performance properties of indoor sports floor systems, ASTM F2772, helps compare similar systems. This standard focuses on reviewing four key criteria: force reduction (shock absorption), ball rebound, vertical deformation and surface finish effect (friction). Depending on results, systems are assigned a class. The highest performing systems are indicated by a Class 5 ranking. Recreational systems are often ranked as Class 1 or Class 2. facturer’s warranty to protect that investment. When making comparisons, ask who manufactures the materials in the system, how long the manufacturer has been in business and what the warranty terms are in relation to wear and moisture tolerance. It’s also key to obtain a warranty for both the product (manufacturer’s warranty) and installation (material and labour). Otherwise, the facility is exposed to a high level of risk.

INDEPENDENT TESTING

Ask for independent third-party testing when comparing systems, as well as any reports and project references. Due diligence means speaking with past customers about their experience at the time of installation and post-sale.

SPORTS AND LINES

When planning a facility, questions to ask are: Who will be using the surface? And which sports will they play?

A detailed understanding of the facility’s needs will go a long way to selecting the right system and material for the specific sport requirements. Also, since sports halls are often marked with numerous sports line combinations, proper planning and design will help accelerate the building process.

WARRANTY

It takes a lot of hard work, involvement and dedication to bring a sports facility improvement project to life. The monetary, time and energy investments are significant. So, it’s imperative to partner with a reputable company that offers a manu-

Iannick Di Sanza is director of marketing for Tarkett Sports, a world leader in athletic surfacing that offers a comprehensive portfolio of sports flooring solutions through its brands: FieldTurf, FieldTurf Landscape, Beynon Sports, Renner Sports, Tarkett Sports Construction, GrassMaster and Tarkett Sports Indoor. Tarkett Sports Indoor offers leading surfacing systems for athletic flooring, including vinyl, wood and polyurethane. Designed for performance, safety and easy maintenance, the systems are certified by leading institutions for air quality and sustainability.