DELIVERING A FIFA-COMPLIANT FOOTBALL FIELD WITH MEGAFLO GREEN

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The original turf at a sports ground in Tauranga, New Zealand, was a grassed football field that was uneven, poorly drained, and required frequent maintenance to remain operational. During winter, when rainfall was at its highest, the field regularly became waterlogged and unplayable, restricting community and competitive use throughout the football season.

To meet FIFA-compliant requirements and ensure year-round usability, Tauranga City Council required a high- performance drainage solution capable of managing significant rainfall while maintaining structural integrity beneath a fully constructed sports surface.

OUR SOLUTION

Megaflo Green socked slotted drain pipe was selected as the drainage solution due to its ability to deliver the compressive strength and high-flow performance required for FIFA-compliant football turf.

Site works began with the installation of Bidim Green A19 non-woven geotextile, rolled out across the prepared surface and overlapped by 200 millimetres. This was followed by the placement of Megaflo Green drain pipe, installed on top of the geotextile and connected in accordance with the design drawings. A 300 millimetre layer of drainage aggregate was then placed and compacted to complete the system. In total, 4,800m² of Bidim Green A19 geotextile and 2,400 metres of Megaflo Green was installed on the project.

Throughout construction, the Geofabrics team also provided on-site training to the contractor, demonstrating how to safely and efficiently unroll Megaflo Green and use the joiners to maximise installation efficiency. Weekly site visits were undertaken throughout the project to monitor progress and provide ongoing technical support.

The works were completed over an 11-month period, with the upgraded football turf used year-round and no longer subject to closures caused by heavy rainfall and flooding. The client was satisfied with the results, commenting, “Quality of the product was consistent and performed as expected. Stock was available on time for the required quantities, and additional fittings were available at short notice. The FIFA governing body approved the turf as compliant.”

PRODUCTS USED

Megaflo® Green Socked Slotted Drain Pipe

• A wide and flat-shaped panel drainage system made from recycled HDPE material and covered with Bidim Green non-woven geotextile
• Up to 4.9 times faster water drainage compared to conventional 100mm round agi pipe due to its ability to effectively remove excess water with its increased in-take slot distribution
• Saves up to 50% installation compared to conventional 100mm round agi pipe
• Range of connection fittings available from Geofabrics, including stormwater connectors

Bidim® Green Non-Woven Geotextile

• A premium non-woven geotextile made with a combination of recycled PET and virgin plastic material, designed for filtration, separation, drainage and protection applications
• Reduced need for quarried fill materials and reduced construction times
• It has a strong three-dimensional structure with high elongation and equal biaxial strength properties in both directions