Pencoedtre High School is a large new build high school in Barry, Wales. When this busy school required a brand-new world class flooring surface for its main indoor sports hall, they simply wanted only the best! HLM Architects would specify 700m2 of Taraflex® vinyl sports flooring in ‘Maple’, from international flooring specialists Gerflor. A high-profile project of this nature required an Olympic pedigree solution, Taraflex was the perfect for this prestigious and iconic project.
Pencoedtre High School, formerly called the Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School, is located in Merthyr Dyfan on the outskirts of the town of Barry near Cardiff in Wales. It was opened in 1971. Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School was an 11-19 girls’ comprehensive school for approximately 1,300 students.
The main contractor for the project, the Bouygues Group would, as part of the Phase Two element of the development demolish the old school buildings, after the removal of asbestos. Following this, they created additional on-site parking areas plus landscaping and sporting facilities that included a four-court sports hall which is where the all-important choice of sports flooring would prove to be a crucial decision.
Commenting on the project Tony Thorne Gerflor, Sales & Specification Manager South Wales said, “The sports floor was originally specified by HLM Architects in Cardiff. We offered the client the opportunity for a free waterjet logo of their school crest within the sports floor which they happily accepted. The Architect and school were very happy with this as it really sets the sports floor off.”
HLM Architects has built a reputation for design excellence and expertise across various key sectors with a focus on solving their client’s challenges and mindful of the impact that design can have on people, communities, and society. Places of education that inspire, healthcare environments that nurture, homes that are part of thriving communities, and infrastructure that is sustainable in every sense. It is this sense of social purpose that drives HLM on and is at the heart of everything they do.
On specification and the overall project Angela Sheppard Part II Architectural Assistant at HLM Architects said,” A key part of the brief was to provide extended hours activities for pupils, and community hire. The sports hall would be one of the key spaces used here, so would need to support multiple functions and near-constant use.”
The Interiors Team at HLM Architects said at the time, “Gerflor are our go to for a vinyl sports floor, they are affordable, multi-use and meet the necessary regulations and slip resistance which we have to consider in these situations. Alongside this their customer service is excellent and they have a great range of finishing options.”
Angela Sheppard went on to further comment, “We selected the Maple colour to suit the sports hall to contrast clearly with the multi-sport markings and sit alongside the sports-recommended blue walls.”
The need to install the specified Gerflor flooring to the very highest standards would be a crucial element in delivering a high-quality final outcome for the school. Established over twenty-five years ago Port Talbot-based Craftsman Flooring would be appointed to undertake the full installation of the Gerflor Taraflex® sports flooring.
Gareth Lewis, Commercial Director Craftsman Flooring stated, “We completed the project with two to six fitters which included sub-floor preparation over a two-week period. The Gerflor Taraflex flooring was extremely easy to lay and went down without any trouble at all.”
Tony Thorne further commented, “This was one of my more enjoyable specifications due to the excellent organisation by the architects HLM, and the main contractors the Bouygues Group, together with Kevin Lewis at the installers Craftsman Flooring.”
Tony Thorne ended by saying, “It was really pleasing to get this over the line as it now means that both new high schools in Barry benefit from the High Impact Protection and P2 Shock absorption afforded by their Taraflex Performance sports floors. I’m really proud to add this facility to more than one hundred different Taraflex sports floor installations we have in South Wales alone.”
Gareth Lewis concluded, “We are particularly happy with the Gerflor sports flooring as the sports marking applied on top looks stunning. As far as we know the client is very delighted with the finished result and the floor is performing really well. We would definitely specify Gerflor products again.”
Product overview of Taraflex Performance Sports Vinyl Flooring
Taraflex® sports flooring has been fitted at every Olympic Games since 1976. Approved by many National and International governing bodies as a world class indoor sports surface, it is also widely installed within the education, community, leisure, health, and fitness sectors. Taraflex® is ideal for new build projects and refurbishments and is extremely durable and cost effective to maintain.
Over six million children everyday enjoy the benefits of Taraflex® sports flooring, which can be used for various multi-specialist sports and leisure applications.
Taraflex® Performance is available in 17 all over colours and 4 wood-effect designs as standard, with an addition of 110 solid colour options available. It offers a P2 category shock absorbency of 35% to 45 and has a Triple Action Protecsol® surface treatment so that no polish is ever required for the lifetime of the floor and makes it easy to clean and maintain.
Taraflex® Performance offers maximum hygiene with bacteriostatic and a fungistatic treatment and comes with the Triple Action Protecsol® surface treatment which provides easy maintenance, friction protection and ‘intelligent’ sliding coefficient.
The surface reinforcement which delivers durability and abrasion resistance is provided by a unique D-Max fibreglass grid.
Taraflex® sports floorings are available with a complete range of shock absorption P1/P2/P3 ratings, so that the right solution can be specified every time, whether it is for exercise or play or both and for all ages and ability. The family of Taraflex® sports floorings are sustainable solutions thanks to their unique product construction:
Indoor air quality – Meeting ISO 16000 standards, some of the lowest. VOC emissions on the market.
Energy saving – A colour selection with high light reflectance values assists with lighting energy saving.
Reduced maintenance costs – the Protecsol® surface treatment is the most durable on the market. It ensures minimal maintenance and exceptional sustainability of the product.
Proactive post manufacturing waste management – Use of recycled content in product design and the PVC is also 100% recyclable.
A second life programme for post installation waste – Re-use of post installation waste and redundant materials is possible/
Selected and responsible raw materials – NO heavy metal, NO solvent, NO formaldehyde, NO substance potentially subject to REACH* restrictions
*REACH is the European regulation on registering, assessing, and authorising chemical products within the European Union.
Learn more about Gerflor solutions, ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 03332 412901, emailing contractuk@gerflor.com, or visiting gerflor.co.uk for the latest innovations.