Life cycle of the sports hall floor

DIFFERENT QUESTIONS AT DIFFERENT TIMES

Author and photos ISP GmbH, DE – 48167 Münster, www.isp-germany.com

One of the most important sports equipment is the sports floor. All athletes are in contact with it and usually have different requirements in terms of performance, safety, or appearance. But how does the operator manage to meet all requirements and needs? The ISP Institute for Sports Facility Testing (Institut für Sportstättenprüfung) from Münster, Germany is now the first independent institution to offer a „full service“ for sports floor consulting.

The ISP employees advise cities, municipalities and clubs on the renovation or new planning of sports floors, from the inventory analysis to advice on the creation of a line directory, the holistic construction supervision to the final acceptance.

The right choice The life cycle of a sports hall floor raises different questions. The first step is the selection of a suitable sports floor system, which, in addition to the diverse sports-functional aspects, must also take non-sports use and external conditions into account. There is no such thing as a system that meets all requirements equally. School sports halls differ significantly in their usage concept from large event halls, which must also be reflected in the choice of the right sports floor system. In addition to high loads at events, sports and protective functional properties must be always fulfilled. The tender Once the basic choice has been made, you must choose between different providers. Some systems look similar at first glance but can differ in crucial details. In any case, the provider must be able to prove the suitability in accordance with the applicable rules of technology by means of a test report. In Germany, DIN V 18032-2, among other things, regulates the requirements that a sports floor must meet. In the case of a renovation, the removal of the old sports floor must also be put out to tender, and separate disposal must be observed.

Where it starts The most exciting phase is the construction phase. The construction of a sports floor requires great craftsmanship and the highest precision. A sprung floor system, for example,

stands on support points that are often distributed over the entire sports hall area in a 50 cm grid. If mistakes are made here, this has a major impact on the sport and protection functionality and can no longer be corrected in the further course of construction. The materials supplied should match those from the suitability test in terms of scope and quality to avoid possible defects from the outset.

Control makes sense An acceptance test offers security for both sides. Parameters such as shock absorption, vertical deformation or ball rebound are checked on site on the finished sports floor and give both the executing company and the client the certainty that the sports floor system will withstand future loads and offer the athletes the necessary protection.

The challenges of practice Vaccination centres, emergency shelters or the local rifle festival again present challenges that are not always foreseeable. In addition to protective covers, constant care and maintenance should therefore be carried out during ongoing operation. Suitable cleaning agents have also been tested according to relevant standards and prevent, for example, the surface covering from becoming smooth. Too much dust can rough up and damage the floor, which is a major hazard, especially during events or other non-sports use. For example, maintenance can include regularly opening and closing all device covers. It is also possible to check whether all the seals are intact and prevent moisture from entering the substructure due to cleaning water.

An inventory analysis But what about existing, older sports floors? Many operators have several sports halls in their area of responsibility, for which it is hardly possible to evaluate them by looking at them superficially. While worn lining or damage to the surface layer is visible to everyone, it is usually not dangerous, but damage to the substructure is a source of danger which can encourage a misstep. However, an inventory analysis can also be useful before a renovation because the substructure is often still completely in order, and it is sufficient to simply replace the top covering. The testing of old floors is also carried out according to DIN V 18032-2, is non-destructive and does not affect ongoing operations.