Bolton School is one of the oldest schools in Lancashire. The origins of the Boys’ School can be traced back to at least 1516 when the Bolton Grammar School for Boys was recorded as being “a going concern”. In 1644 it was endowed by Robert Lever and so began a long and close relationship with the Lever name.
Sport flourishes at Bolton School and the staff know only too well that keeping fit and focused is a great boon to aid learning. International flooring specialists Gerflor have in-depth sports knowledge and expertise that makes them the market leader and ideally positions them as the preferred sports flooring supplier to the education sector. It’s for this very reason that Bolton School would specify Gerflor’s world renowned Taraflex® sports flooring for their main sports all and their top-performing Tarasafe Ultra for two of the changing rooms.
David Laskey, Deputy Head of Estates, Bolton School said, “After an extensive consultation period with the Heads of Boys’ and Girls’ Sport, which included visits to a number of other schools who have recently had different floor finishes installed, a full tendering process was carried out. Several different flooring types were considered and the decision to use Gerflor was ultimately determined based on the performance and cost comparisons.”
Bolton School chose on this occasion to appoint Stockport-based Recreational Coatings. With over 30 years’ experience of installing sports surfaces in Olympic, Commonwealth, World and European events throughout the UK and beyond, Recreational Coatings are an expert in this field, with all installations undertaken by their own highly-skilled staff. Ross Johns, Commercial Director, Recreational Coatings commented, “Taraflex® Comfort was specified for their main sports hall because it suited the user and activity type at Bolton School. We had to ensure the sub floor was 100% perfect prior to installation. We have been installing Taraflex® for many years and are used to working with this outstanding product.
Taraflex® Comfort is a P3 category sports flooring, ideal for a variety of sport and leisure activities. Offering a high level of shock absorption, minimising the force of impact on the body and reducing long term injury risk. Taraflex® offers a wide range of colours and is suitable for a variety of applications and has been 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 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® also meets the EN 14904 Standard for indoor sports surfaces. Available with the Eco-Fit™ System, ideal for renovation works and the Dry-Tex™ System perfect for new construction with damp subfloors.
Ross Johns added, “This project was very technical and labour intensive. We removed the old timber sports floor, installed a 70mm screed and then the Taraflex® sports flooring. We finished the hall with game lines.”
The changing rooms at Bolton School would need flooring that could deliver safety and be extremely durable to be able to handle the amount of usage envisaged. The Tarasafe Ultra range from Gerflor was specified. Tarasafe Ultra is a specialist slip-resistant vinyl safety flooring inlaid with mineral crystals particles, as opposed to industry standard carborundum giving a brighter appearance. It also comes with a tough PVC wearlayer and meets HSE guidelines. Tarasafe Ultra is reinforced with a glass fibre grid and is suitable for use in all areas of heavy traffic where slip-resistance, durability and hygienic conditions are required. Benefiting from Sparclean® surface treatment for extreme resistance to soiling and staining it is also treated with an anti-bacterial and fungicidal treatment. Tarasafe Ultra comes with a 12-year warranty and is also 100% recyclable. The range has a maximum hygiene rating meeting the EN Standard 22196 for anti- bacterial activity (E. coli - S. aureus - MRSA) (3) returning >99% levels of growth inhibition.
Ross Johns concluded by saying, “Gerflor is our ‘go-to’ supplier for vinyl flooring products, both in sport and gym environments. Gerflor’s products are excellent quality and they provide a great service.” David Laskey ended by commenting, “I’m extremely pleased with the final result as it has revitalised the sports hall and provided us with a modern multipurpose sports complex floor.”
Learn more about Gerflor solutions; ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 01926 622 600, emailing contractuk@gerflor.com, or visit gerflor.co.uk for the latest innovations.
