Specialists in sports construction since 1991, S&C Slatter are experts in athletics field and running track construction. From design and build to ongoing maintenance we are experts in athletics track construction and repairs.
We work closely with our athletics partners Tarkett/Beynon Sports, world-leading manufacturers of track and field surfaces, constructing porous, sandwich and full polyurethane track systems.
Whether you’re looking for an World Athletics Class 1 athletics facility for a global sporting event, an 8-lane polymeric athletics track to UK Athletics Licence Level 2 Competition Grade complete with field athletics, or a 4-lane running track for school sports, we work with you based on your needs, limitations and requirements.
Our all-encompassing in-house departments across design and planning, construction, civil engineering and maintenance allow us to deliver at every stage of the sports construction process.
We are always happy to discuss new athletics facilities and offer a free initial consultation.
Call or email for an informal chat about your sporting needs.
The running track construction process can be broken down into 9 key steps:
1. Design and planning
The initial stage of the process is developing and finalising the design of your athletics track, prior to obtaining planning permission. Once planning permission is granted, technical drawings and specifications are created ready for construction.
2. Environmental considerations
Environmental mitigation is becoming a top priority for many organisations and governing bodies. We can incorporate various measures into the design, such as the management of water run-off and drainage.
3. Health and safety
A thorough plan should be in place to ensure a safe construction site, employing the latest best practice to meet all legislative requirements for running track construction.
4. Earthworks
Groundworks are undertaken to prepare the land and provide that all important foundation for the new track. This will follow the necessary surveys, reports and designs approved in the design and planning stage and includes work such as earth excavation and stripping topsoil.
5. Drainage
The design of drainage will differ depending on the chosen surface type, i.e. whether you are constructing a porous or non-porous running track. Appropriate drainage systems will be implemented to support the chosen track type and ensure that poor weather won’t compromise performance.
6. Sub-base and base
As with the drainage system, the design and materials used in any sub-base or base will depend on the type of track being constructed, for example a porous polyurethane track will generally be laid over a rubber granule base, supported by a a porous aggregate sub-base.
7. Shock absorbancy layer (if applicable)
Whilst many running track surfaces have inherent shock absorbency in the materials used, sandwich tracks utilise an additional EPDM layer, which provides enhanced shock absorbency and life span when compared to porous systems.
8. Athletics track surface
There are variety of surfaces to choose from, such as a porous track system, sandwich track system or full polyurethane (full PU) system. We can advise which is best suited to you based on the level of use, competition requirements and cost.
9. Ancillary equipment
Ancillary equipment includes items like hurdles, hammer and discuss netting, as well as the construction of fencing, floodlighting, spectator areas and pavilions.
Get in touch with us to discuss your running track construction.
There are a variety of surfaces to choose from for your athletic track installation, each suited to different levels of competition performance, durability, cost and maintenance.
Porous running track systems are the most common synthetic track surfaces in the UK. The system comprises of an SBR granular rubber base layer, with a coloured EPDM textured spray applied to the wearing course layer. Durable and economical, it’s understandable why this is the most popular athletics track type and is widely used for recreational and competitive use on a community level – perfect for schools, universities and clubs.
As the name suggests, these tracks are designed so that water will flow through the surface into the drainage system, while allowing moisture to escape.
Sandwich running tracks are non-porous systems that combine elements of both porous tracks and Full PU ‘solid’ track systems, delivering the durability and performance closer to the latter, at a lower cost base.
An EPDM granulate is cast over the SBR rubber granular base, prior to the application of a polyurethane top coating, delivering enhanced shock absorbency and life span when compared to a porous track system.
Sandwich track systems are suitable for international athletics and higher hours of use than non-porous systems, so are perfect for high-level training and competition in clubs and stadia.
Solid PU systems are designed for high level competition, high intensity use facilities to Olympic standard. The base layer consists of a polyurethane elastomer flood coat with cast rubber granulate. A further flood layer of polyurethane with EPDM rubber granulate is then applied to the initial layer to complete the system.
Whilst more costly than sandwich and porous track systems, the benefit of solid tracks is that they provide optimum durability and elasticity, requiring less maintenance, weathering heavy spike use and delivering performance required and expected of athletics facilities used for elite international competition, such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championships.
Both sandwich track and full polyurethane systems are non-porous athletics tracks, meaning that the water does not penetrate the track and is instead removed by gravitational flow and slope through to the surface drain system. It’s crucial to the performance of these tracks that both the design and installation is correct with appropriate drainage and base aggregate to remove water from above and below the surface.
Once the project has progressed through the design and planning stage (usually the longest part of the project’s progress) a bespoke construction program will be agreed.
The typical length of time on-site to construct a new 8-lane 400m running track is generally between 10-12 weeks, with resurfacing in the region of 6-8 weeks.
Full PU (polyurethane) solid track systems are the preferred surface choice for elite athletics.
Sandwich ‘hybrid’ track systems are however suitable for international competition.
The most common problems found on athletics tracks stem from excessive wear and user damage, though vandalism, poor repairs or a poor initial installation can demand more comprehensive maintenance.
A track maintenance programme should be implemented based on the surface type, location and hours of use. Failure to maintain an athletics track properly can lead to cracks, separation, delamination, surface bubbling and separation – all of which can become major safety hazards for those using the facilities.
Moss and plant growth can also be a common issue with porous tracks, so it’s important that these are treated regularly to prevent growth.
Our dedicated maintenance division work with over 600 sites nationwide and can create a bespoke maintenance program for your surface, carrying out expert repairs when required.
Contact us to discuss your maintenance needs.
World Athletics, formerly the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) is the international governing body for the sport of athletics.
There are two types of World Athletics Certifications available for eligible outdoor athletics facilities, Class 1 and Class 2, with a third classification available for indoor facilities.
This is the highest level of accreditation achievable by an athletics facility – and is required for facilities to host major international competitions. It is mandatory for hosting the athletics programme of the Olympic Games and any competitions included in the World Athletics Series. An example of this type of facility is the World Class 1 Athletics Facility we constructed at the Alexander Stadium, built to host the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games athletics programme.
It is also recommended that any outdoor international competition in points 1.2 to 1.10 of the International Competition definition be hosted on Class 1 facilities, where available.
Class 1 facilities require on-site testing by a World Athletics accredited independent laboratory in addition to a track and facilities measurement report. The track surface must be a World Athletics certified track with valid Product Certificate.
Where Class 1 facilities are not available, Class 2 facilities may host international competition under paragraphs 1.2 to 1.10 of the International Competition Definition, which includes the athletics programme of area, regional or group games not confined to participants from a single area, where World Athletics does not have exclusive control.
In-situ testing by an independent laboratory is not required for Class 2 certification, so long as the surface has a valid Product Certificate (accredited World Athletics product) and where the facility conforms to ‘the stringent requirements for accurate measurement contained in World Athletics Rules and Regulations.’ A track and facilities measurement report is required.
The cost of certification for an athletics facility is $10,000 USD for Class 1 standard, in addition to the independent laboratory test. It costs $2,000 USD for a Class 2 facility. To extend an existing certification, it costs $1,000 USD.
A new facility is certified for 5 years, with maximum validity decreasing for older facilities (whether newly tested or re-tested). Tracks more than 8 years old are not certifiable.
We work with trusted and accredited partner laboratories and can incorporate facility testing into your overall project cost. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
With 30 years’ experience in sports construction, S&C Slatter are expert running track contractors. We design, construct and maintain athletics facilites, including porous and non-porous athletics tracks, natural turf infields, throws cages, long-jumps and sprint straights, from community to elite level specification.
For more information call 01635 34521 or email enquiries@slattersportsconstruction.com
