Gradus get the ball rolling for Tranmere Rovers FC

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Nearly a year in the making, the Solar Campus development will see both the first team and academy training at the same venue for the first time. It has a total of eight football pitches – five professional pitches for the club’s use and three for community use. The three-story facility onsite is equipped with seven changing rooms, as well as a state-of-the-art gym and physiotherapy suite. The second floor is dedicated to Tranmere College and has three large classrooms available for use.

To ensure safe access for all building users, GXT51 aluminium stair edgings were installed. Part of the XT range, the stair edgings feature an insert that extends around the leading edge of the profile to ensure that foot contact is always made with the slip-resistant element, reducing the risk of slips, trips and falls at the training ground.  To further increase safety on the stairs, Xtra-grip inserts were chosen which offer increased surface roughness to reduce the risk of slip particularly where the stair edgings may become wet.

Peter Shaw, Chief Operating Officer at Tranmere Rovers, said: “The safety of our staff and visitors is of utmost importance to us, therefore it was essential we installed quality products that meet the latest building standards and regulations. As such, Gradus stair edgings were a perfect fit. Not only do they look great, but we have the added reassurance that they have been manufactured by a company with over 50 years experience.”

Latour carpet tiles and Boulevard 6000 secondary barrier matting has also been installed at the new training grounds. Boulevard 6000’s patterned design helps to disguise the effects of soiling and incorporates a heavy scraper for optimum dirt removal for any debris tracked in from the pitches and around the site. Not only does this help reduce maintenance costs, but also prolongs the lifespan of surrounding floor coverings.

Anthony Roberts, Product Manager for Gradus, commented: “The Tranmere Rovers facility required a package of products designed to withstand a large amount of footfall and provide safe access in a building where flooring contamination is common. The products specified work in conjunction with each other to help prevent dirt and debris being tracked around the building and ensure slip accidents are reduced.”