Ten years doesn’t seem that long, but in truth it’s a short lifetime for most of us. There’s not many products out there that would stand the test of time delivering performance year on year and to the highest standards. Everything from cars through to smart phones all seem to wear out or give up the proverbial ghost at some point. However, when The States of Guernsey in the Channel Islands wanted to source 500m2 of sports flooring for The Guernsey Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre that would be future proof they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to provide the solution with their world-class, uber performing Taraflex® Evolution sports flooring for their main sports hall.
The school itself can trace its history back to 1863, with the current school being the result of the amalgamation of the old Girls’ and Boys’ Intermediate Schools which was opened in 1985. The Sixth Form Centre was opened in 2005. It was built to accommodate the rising number of students wishing to continue their education after GCSEs, studying for AS and A Levels. So, legacy and history play a huge part in the school’s past together with influencing the present and the future. Relying on quality refurbishments that are both future proof and fit for purpose is a key element of any educational buildings requirement.
Chris Dyer, Building Maintenance Manager, Education Services, States of Guernsey commented, “at the time, the previous flooring was approximately twenty-three years old and not fit for purpose in relation to health and safety. After research in to multi-use flooring and receiving samples from various companies I ascertained that Gerflor was the most practical for our needs.” He went on to add, “we were absolutely delighted, as the installation back in 2007 went very smoothly and created a fantastic transformation. This was the first time we had used Gerflor products. It was at the time, a big decision to replace a new modern sports flooring for us. Subsequently we have used Gerflor products on numerous projects as the quality of the materials they use is of the highest standard.”
The States of Guernsey would appoint local installer Greg Forino Flooring Ltd (GFF) to handle the fitting of the project. As a local, family owned business established by Greg Forino in 1997, GFF Flooring is synonymous with the supply and installation of top quality flooring products with a friendly and efficient customer focused service, using 12 of their own highly trained in-house fitters.
Greg Forino, Managing Director, GFF said, “we had used Gerflor products before on many school and hospital projects. The technical advice and support was really good for their sports flooring range.” He added, “we were extremely pleased with the result. This project using Gerflor’s Taraflex® sports flooring was the first installation of its kind in the Channel Islands. It looked fantastic then and still looks great today.”
Commenting on the uniqueness of the Guernsey Grammar School project Greg Forino also said, “we had to make up 20mm in Ardex self leveller as an old Granwax floor had been lifted and we only had a few weeks to complete including all the line markings. Taraflex® has an excellent construction and wear layer, plus we followed Gerflor’s fitting and laying recommendations to the letter to ensure a high-quality finish.”
Gerflor have more than 70 years of experience with their Taraflex® sports flooring. It offers a wide range of colours and is suitable for a variety of applications. Taraflex® sports floors have been made since 1947 and used by the largest international sports federations (volleyball, handball, badminton, table tennis) for decades. Through partnerships with these federations, Gerflor has been present at the Summer Olympic Games since 1976. It’s an Olympic pedigree stretching back over an incredible 42 years.
Taraflex® is available in 17 colours and three wood-effect designs. The all-new Evolution product is now safer, higher performing and offers even more protection than before. The greater protection has been obtained due to a total re-engineering of the CXP-HD™ foam technology in the Taraflex® Evolution. There’s no doubt that Gerflor’s Taraflex® Evolution continues to be the market benchmark in sports floors with optimal durability, comfort and protection offering a P1 category shock absorbency 25% to 35% and a new 7.5mm thickness. The latest double density CXP-HD™ foam technology means improved comfort and protection for users, and the new D-Max surface re-enforcement with its fibre glass grid now delivers 20% increased comfort and better durability. Taraflex® is also recognised for providing durability, safety and comfort without impairing performance. The range also offers greater than 45% force reduction, making it unrivalled in the marketplace in terms of offering comfort for users. Taraflex® meets the EN Standard of 22196 for anti- bacterial activity (E. coli – S. aureus – MRSA) (3) returning >99% levels of growth inhibition. The product is also treated with Protecsol®, which renders polish redundant and is triple action meaning no polish is ever required, it contributes to easy maintenance and is anti-friction burn and slide/grip. Taraflex® has a double density foam backing and with another bonus, it’s environmentally friendly. Taraflex® Evolution from Gerflor also meets the EN 13501-1 fire classification. It is also ideal for renovation works and is available with the Dry-Tex™ System perfect for new construction or refurbishment projects with damp sub-floors.
Chris Dyer concluded by saying, “the many positive comments from school staff and pupils at the time made this investment very worthwhile.”