Sport England’s recommended dimensions for sports halls are 34.5 × 20m, and many schools have sports halls built to the older recommended dimensions of 33 × 18m, and before that 32 × 17m. So the run-offs around the courts, particularly for netball and basketball, are much smaller than now advised.
The Softwall anti-shock systems, produced individually for every project, have been used in 5000 sports halls all over the world and help provide protection against injuries. Softwall is a point elastic wall panel, 19mm thick, particularly suited to improving safety in older school sports halls. It consists of a 15mm thick polyethylene foam layer, homogeneous and permanently elastic, onto which a 4mm textile material is bonded by a special heat process in the factory. The panels have been tested, with results showing an impact reduction of over 50%. It is often necessary to first line your walls with 15mm tongue and groove plywood to give a level surface to glue the Softwall panels to.
Foam specification
This 15mm thick foam layer, weighing 600g per m², is responsible for the excellent shock absorbency. Even under high deformation the closed cell structure is not damaged, giving continuous elasticity and excellent ageing. Because the PE foam is produced free of chlorofluorocarbons, its manufacture is less harmful to the environment.
Textile top layer
This 4mm thick textile layer has 450g per m² of soft fibres with a 150g per m² 100% polypropylene SBR latex backing. It plays an important role in sound reduction and design possibilities, with a choice of 6 classic colours. It is highly resistant to mechanical wear and tear, giving a long life span. Cleaning is very easy: you can wipe the material with a wet cloth or use a vacuum cleaner.
Our experience, your advantage
We have installed Softwall in the UK since 2008, in partnership with Europe’s leading company, which has over 30 years’ experience in manufacturing anti-shock protection systems for the walls of sports halls and gymnasia. Softwall is individually designed, as every sports hall is unique, and installed to the highest standards.
There is a deep satisfaction in covering not just the walls but the doors, and cutting out for all the sockets and details.
