A NEW, state-of-the-art facility in London has been fitted with Junckers solid hardwood sports flooring. With the aim to encourage more participation in sport, Hackney Council’s new community facility, Britannia Leisure Centre, is part of a wider, mixed-use development in an inner-city environment.
Junckers Beech SylvaKet floor with a Nordic finish was installed over Junckers’ UnoBat 45 undercarriage system in the sports hall by Approved Contractors PICA Floorings. The generously sized six-court hall has line markings for multiple sports including basketball, volleyball, badminton, and netball. The floor provides a high level of performance and a safe and responsive surface which is suitable for a multitude of sports. The pre-finished floor is durable and resilient and easy to maintain for staff – perfect for a busy sports centre.
Says Junckers: ‘With a reputation for the highest quality, a Junckers solid hardwood sports floor is one of the most durable surfaces available for multi-purpose sports use. All Junckers’ sports floors comply with EN 14904 with a choice of Category A3 and A4 area elastic systems. An area elastic floor has high levels of shock absorption and vertical deformation making it a safe surface for sports, PE, dance, performance, and multiuse, allowing freedom of movement and protection from injury. ‘Users of the floor can perform at their best as they will have good ball control and consistent ball bounce. Area elastic floors, as recommended by Sport England, Sport Scotland and The Education and Skills Funding Agency which is responsible for funding for the education and training sector, offer the best in terms of safety, longevity, performance, and cost.’
The company continues: ‘The lifecycle cost of a Junckers floor is second-to-none; it can be sanded and re-finished eight to ten times during its life. With 12-year intervals between sandings, a typical lifespan of 60 years will comfortably be exceeded, a claim that probably no other type of sports floor can match. Compared with a typical 15-year life of a synthetic or engineered floor there really is no comparison. Taking advantage of Junckers’ Approved Contractors maintenance scheme ensures periodic inspections of the floor are made. The client will also receive regular advice on care and cleaning using Junckers’ comprehensive range of high quality, professional maintenance products. This will keep the floor in optimum condition throughout its life.’
Having the facility to use retractable seating in a sports hall can be an attractive proposition to management and building owners. Hosting events, competitions or using a sports hall as a hire facility to the wider community brings the potential to earn a substantial income.
Says Junckers: ‘Junckers’ flooring systems are perfectly suited for use with retractable seating; hundreds of examples in the UK alone are testament to this fact. Junckers floors can be strengthened in a simple way to cope perfectly with very high seating loads, while leaving the sprung quality of the floor unaffected. A solid hardwood floor won’t be marked or damaged by the wheels, and surface ‘tracking’ or rucking, commonly seen with synthetic surfaces, is non-existent with a Junckers floor.’
A hardwood floor is one of the most environmentally friendly sports flooring finishes you can find. Junckers’ timber is, the company says, from properly managed forests with FSC and PEFC chain of custody certification. Timber is harvested from carefully managed forests which are constantly replanted. ‘Junckers floors are A+ rated in the BRE Green Guide and have EMAS 111 and ISO 14001 Environmental Management Certification.
‘In addition, Junckers’ products have low (E1) formaldehyde emissions under EN 14342. All Junckers floors are very easy to recycle, in contrast to materials made from fossil fuels. It’s not uncommon for a Junckers sports to be lifted and repurposed after its long life in a sports hall. Solid Beech is one of the most durable timber species there is, ideal for use as flooring. A professional sand and seal will render the floor looking good as new, ready to take on a new lease of life.’
01376 534700
sales@junckers.co.uk
www.junckers.co.uk
