Getting Technical

The annual SAPCA Technical Meeting took place at the University of Nottingham on 13 November

This year’s SAPCA Technical Meeting was a historic one, as it was the first one held outside Loughborough University since the event’s launch in November 2010. The new surroundings at the East Midlands Conference Centre, which is part of the University of Nottingham campus, provided a fresh look for the one of the sports facility construction industry’s most popular gatherings.

Be future ready

With a record number of 223 delegates in attendance, the 2024 edition was kicked off by former Microsoft technology leader, Allister Frost. Frost delivered a thought-provoking keynote on the importance of having a future- ready mindset. His core message was that change is inevitable in every area of life – and it is down to us to help manage it and benefit from it by being prepared for it.

“If you’d sit down with a notepad and write down your predictions of all the things that could change around you – either in business or in your personal life – you will quickly realise that there are plenty of things that will change,” Frost said. “The acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) is just one which could result in huge changes in technology, society and a number of other areas.

He highlighted how, for many, change can be a scary prospect – because change is often associated with risk and the ‘unknown’. “Because we don’t always know the outcome of change, we sometimes fear change,” Frost said.

“Change can also be challenging because it often takes us out of our comfort zone. And by our comfort zone I mean a psychological area in which we feel at ease and in control.

“The problem, however, is that the comfort zone is also a creative dead zone. I often use pizzas as an analogy. If you go to a pizza restaurant, the different fillings, crusts and styles mean that there are thousands of different combinations available. Yet how many of us always order our favourite – which was probably chosen after trying just two or three options?

“Why is that relevant? Because it’s highly likely that we’ve never tasted the perfect pizza for us, as a result of us picking the one we know about – which is in our comfort zone.”

Frost encouraged delegates to have an open mind to change and to constantly ask ‘why’.

“How often do you ask ‘why’? Do you ever challenge the status quo? Do you question why you – or your business – is doing things in a certain way? If you begin peeling away the layers, there are so many things in our work lives that don’t make any sense any more. Be future-ready and don’t just do something because ‘you’ve always done it’ that way.”

Sustainable practices

The keynote was followed by a session offering delegates an update on the European Commission’s Product Environmental Footprints (PEF) initiative and its category rules (RL) – and their possible impacts on the UK.

PEF is based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method, which evaluates the environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire life cycle. This includes every stage from raw material extraction to production, use, and final disposal.

The PEF CR for synthetic turf has two sub- categories: sport and landscape. It assesses environmental performance across 16 key Environmental Impact Categories – as prescribed by the European Commission – and also the potential for microplastic migration from a surface. The higher the score, the more “bad” the surface is deemed to be for the environment.

During the session, Prof. Alastair Cox, Technical Director of EMEA Synthetic Turf Council (ESTC), explained how the environmental footprints are calculated and how each individual PEF study needs to be externally verified by independent lifecycle assessment experts.

“The aim of PEF is for it to accelerate the development of environmentally sensitive turf systems,” Cox said. “For synthetic turf the focus is on the overall PEF score and the 7 biggest impact categories. These categories provide a comprehensive view of a product’s environmental impact, helping companies and consumers identify the most environmentally compatible products.”

Sustainability was also at the heart of another session, which focused on recycling – in particular synthetic turf carpet – and the future challenges faced in the UK. Adnan Zeb- Khan, Project Manager at Carpet Recycling UK, urged industries to work together, especially when communicating with the government.

“As an industry, we need to engage with the Environment Agency and DEFRA,” Zeb-Khan said. “Because they are the ones enforcing legislation, but their knowledge about the products the industry produces is limited.”

Standards

Tennis was well-represented at this year’s event, with the return of two sessions hosted by the SAPCA Tennis Division. The double session featured some lively discussions around topics such as climate change, water attenuation and draining within tennis court design and construction. Also on the agenda was the future direction – and priorities – of the Tennis Division.

Another session which dealt with a current topic was one looking at the current standards for shock pads in Europe. Delivered by Martin Laidler, International Sales Manager at Trocellen, the sessions offered delegates insights into how the minimum performance and durability requirements for shock pads – used within synthetic turf systems – are measured.

In particular, there was a detailed look at EN 15330-4 adopted by The European Committee for Standardization (CEN). The standard describes how the performance of a shock pad or elastic layer shall be measured and the results classified in a common format.

The standard is designed to enable developers and other buyers of sports surfacing systems to select the most appropriate shock pad or elastic layer for their intended sports surface. It ensures that shock pads, which comply with the new norm, have been extensively tested on performance, longevity and to the toxicology and environment compatibility – and also comply with international rules and bodies such as FIFA (football) and FIH (hockey).

Other sessions included a look at the latest research in sports surfacing and the work of the CEN working group. The day also included a meeting of the Women in SAPCA networking group

Networking

With a record-breaking attendance and new venue, the SAPCA Technical Meeting not only provided a comprehensive programme of seminars and workshops, but also an invaluable opportunity for networking. The educational programme was followed by a networking dinner, during which SAPCA members and other delegates raised £1,340 in aid of the Be More Laura Foundation, which helps to fund and support research specific to Glioblastoma. The foundation has been SAPCA’s dedicated charity for 2024 and the total raised by members during the year totals £7,280.

“Since its launch in 2010, the SAPCA Technical Meeting has grown to become a crucial date in the industry calendar, providing an unparalleled programme of seminars and workshops on the most important technical topics of the day,” says Colin Corline, SAPCA’s Technical Lead.

“Networking is also a big part of the event and it was great to see so many colleagues from across the sports and play industry, representing national governing bodies of sport and other key sector organisations.

“I think the new venue worked really well too – the planning for next year’s event starts now!”