Artificial Turf and Seating Installation

at the University of Malta Junior College

Feasibility Report on the Installation of an Artificial Turf Surface on the 5-a Side Pitch.

5 a-side Pitch Dimensions

42 meters in length by 21 meters in width.

Structural Work

Flooring

Currently the surface is made out of cement, thus no other layers would be needed under the turf carpet. Apart from minor

Introduction

Artificial turf football pitches are nowadays being installed in institutions across the board, whether educational or not. Surely this is an improvement to the previous system; that of installing pitches made of either gravel or cement, as is currently found on Junior College grounds. Naturally, due to the lack of practicality and safety, this kind of infrastructure is nowadays being put aside, and institutions are opting for artificial turf installation on football grounds, which provide more safety and comfort to play on.

This is why the Kunsill Studenti Junior College, hereinafter referred to as KSJC, is putting forward this feasibility report, focusing on the possibility of installing an artificial turf surfacing on the Junior College five-a-side football pitch. This report will also focus on the possibility of renovating the seating structure in the same pitch.

works to seal any cracks and damages in the floor, no further infrastructural work is required for the particular size of the pitch no slope is needed. The ground is already level in all areas and therefore there would be no need for construction work apart from rolling the turf carpet to fit in place.

Turf

The area of the pitch that is needed to be covered, with artificial turf is that of 882m2. Without taking into consideration the variation of the price of artificial turf per square meter due to varying offers by tender submitters, the average price per square meter is that of €30.

This includes:

a) the turf carpet itself, b) all extra materials required for the proper installation (including sand which has to be imported from foreign countries such as Jordan), and c) recycled rubber granules. This is also inclusive of labour costs. The Value Added Tax (VAT) must, however, be added to the global price.One must point out that the sand and rubber granules are used in order to improve playability on artificial grass. Infill provides grip, slide comfort, stability and energy restoration. Also, the rubber infill allows the blades of synthetic grass to stand upright giving the grass a natural appearance;

provide a cushioned surface to play on similar to that of natural grass; make the artificial grass surfaces be capable of withstanding higher than normal stresses. The sand’s weight also helps the artificial turf carpet to stay in place.

Costing

As the pitch’s area is that of 882m2 the total price at €30 per square meter would be that of €26,460. Including the VAT at 18% to the sum of the full expenditure would approximate €31,222.80.

Maintenance

The maintenance for the artificial turf is needed for its longevity,

playing performance, safety and aesthetics. Artificial turf demands less of an initial investment and lower maintenance costs and also can be used for many more hours than real turf. Artificial turf would need to be cleaned every 12-15 hours due usage. The same equipment used for the maintenance of the 11 a-side pitch is usually also used for the maintenance of 5-a side pitches. This means that the Council would not have to invest in extra equipment. After heavy rainfalls it is generally advised to check the infill as it would be most probably unevenly distributed along the pitch’s surface.

Expected Lifetime

Should the project be carried out and completed, the lifetime of the pitch is expected to last 8 to 10 years, given that all normal circumstances pursue throughout the leap of time.

Required Permits

The only authorisation required for the undertaking of such project is that issued by the Junior College Administration. No third-party permits or authorisations are required.

Timeframe

No structural work on the ground itself is needed and therefore the

Conclusion

The driving principle behind this report is KSJC’s firm belief that the infrastructure at Junior College should be of a standard which respects the students’ right to enjoy their free time in a more secure, practical and safer manner. To sum up, over 822m2 at €30/ sq metre, would approximate to €32,000, with a life expectancy of around 10years. A 2 stepped seating structure would cost 7,500, while a 3 stepped seating structure would cost €11,000 with an additional €660 needed for seating on each step.

estimated time for completion of the project is that of 2-4 weeks, given that all works are carried out without disruption.

Feasibility Report on the Renovation of the Seating Structures in the 5-a Side Pitch

Seating estimate prices vary depending on the structure builtA 3 step concrete structure, 100m in length would cost approximately €28,000, 40m in length- the necessary size needed for the ground, would therefore amount to approximately €11,000.A structure with 2 steps instead of 3 would cost approximately €7,500.Each seat would need 0.6m of space hence over 40m, 132seats

on a 2 stepped structure, or 198seats over a 3 stepped structure; 66 plastic seats per step would fit comfortably.Costing €10 per seat, and having 66 seats per step, would add €660, per step to the €7,500 costings of the structure should a 2 stepped structure be built or €11,000 should a 3 stepped structure be built.- Required time for construction would be that of 2 weeks.- An alternative to this would be wooden benches similar to the ones placed already on the site. These cost €180 each and accommodate 4-5 people each. This report was

reviewed by MFA Infrastructure Manager Mr. Emanuel Cassar.