Managing water beneath sports grounds.

In modern urban development sports pitches contribute to climate resiliency by integrating circular on-site water management. Good for the city, better for the environment and healthy for athletes.

Solution

Sports pitches and climate change.

 

Sports have shown a positive development in the past years in becoming an integral part of a healthy lifestyle in a world where over 50% of the world's inhabitants live in cities. This increase in popularity in combination with current urban changes creates a number of challenges when designing sports pitches. 

The increasing membership numbers for field sports require more training and game time, which results in an increased demand and wear of sports pitches. In addition, with the changing climate it's important to think of playgrounds and pitches as part of the solution in creating climate resilient cities for many generations to come. 

Modern sports pitches and playgrounds focus on successful sports and athlete health, combined with the integration of urban sustainable development goals in pitch design, based on natural and circular materials, with full water management as connecting element.

Playgrounds for climate change mitigation.

Process

How does it work?

Sports pitches occupy a significant surface area in cities worldwide. The Permavoid sports systems are based on circularity in both material choice and functionality and are characterized as nature-based solutions. Permavoid brings pitches closer to nature by intergrating on-site water management in its foundation; capture, store and reuse. With stormwater reuse and minimal drinking water consumption we enable natural, hybrid and synthetic pitches to feel, cool and play as if they were all natural grass; optimizing playability and turf quality on top. 

 

System functionality

The Permavoid system is used as a multifunctional subbase for sports pitches, being both high-strength and lightweight. Due to the open surface of the units the pitch drains effectively and reliably over the entire surface, preventing standing water after peak rain events. The shallow construction depth speeds up the installation process, reduces material movements to and from site and the cellular reusable set up allows the creation of temporary and permanent sports pitches.

Benefits

Strong benefits for sports.

The various Permavoid sports systems consist of 85 or 150mm deep, high strength geo-cellular units with a 96% void ratio and create a multitude of benefits for construction, field reliability and water management. From high-end stadium pitches to training fields, smaller-scale sports grounds, MUGA's, playgrounds and schoolyards in dense urban areas. 

Supplemental to providing an optimal subbase for various sports surfaces, both permanent and temporary, the Permavoid sports systems bridge the gap between the current world of sports and the necessity to create circular and water sensitive solutions for sports. 

Approved subbase for sports

The Permavoid subbase is approved for sports pitch applications by NOC*NSF accredited institutes like Kiwa Isa Sport, Labosport and SGS Intron. With system approvals for FIFA Soccer and FIH field hockey, the Permavoid sports systems ensure consistancy and safety on the playground.

Synthetic turf for cooling down

Stormwater can be reused for a myriad of functions, from drinking water generation to grass irrigation or synthetic turf cooling, conserving water, keeping water out of overloaded sewer systems during peak events and at the same time creating a valuable urban cooling effect.

Full water management & water savings

The Permavoid capillary sports system has been tested for years by STRI in Australia, UK and the Gulf region. Water savings up to 60% when compared to tradition pop-up systems were measured. With a 96% void ratio, the system is capable of storing 600.000 to 1.120.000 liters of (storm)water beneath a 8.000m2 pitch.

Shallow, raft construction base

The systems allows for construction over bad ground conditions such as on low load-bearing soils, for example peat, high groundwater tables, landfills or contaminated sites. Because of its construction, no deep excavation for drainage or irrigation main lines is needed. 

We all know playing sports is good for your health. Luckily there's no reason pitches shouldn't be.

Systems

Natural or reinforced, hybrid grass should never experience water shortages, potentially reducing grass health, growth and quality. Full water management in the pitch subbase allows stormwater drainage to be transformed into stormwater retention, and normally discharged water is transformed into a source of valuable naturally available irrigation water. 

The aeration capacity of the system maintains healthy grass roots and air circulation within the pitch subbase helps to prevent the surface from freezing. Permavoid for natural and hybrid grass sports pitches: capture, store, irrigate & grow.

Natural or reinforced, hybrid grass should never experience water shortages, potentially reducing grass health, growth and quality. Full water management in the pitch subbase allows stormwater drainage to be transformed into stormwater retention, and normally discharged water is transformed into a source of valuable naturally available irrigation water. 

The aeration capacity of the system maintains healthy grass roots and air circulation within the pitch subbase helps to prevent the surface from freezing. Permavoid for natural and hybrid grass sports pitches: capture, store, irrigate & grow.

The Permavoid system is used as a multifunctional subbase for synthetic turf pitches, being both high-strength and lightweight. Due to the open surface of the Permavoid units the pitch drains effectively and reliably over the entire surface, preventing standing water after peak rain events. The shallow construction depth speeds up the installation process and reduces material movements to and from site.

The capillary system enables vertical water transportation which, in combination with the BlueLay water retaining shockpad and natural sand infill resulted in a cooling synthetic turf sports system. 

The Permavoid system is used as a multifunctional subbase for synthetic turf pitches, being both high-strength and lightweight. Due to the open surface of the Permavoid units the pitch drains effectively and reliably over the entire surface, preventing standing water after peak rain events. The shallow construction depth speeds up the installation process and reduces material movements to and from site.

The capillary system enables vertical water transportation which, in combination with the BlueLay water retaining shockpad and natural sand infill resulted in a cooling synthetic turf sports system. 

A professional equestrian arena needs to meet the highest standards for the riders and horses to run their courses safely. Moisture content in the sand is essential in maintaining a consistent surface performance. With the Permavoid system beneath the (temporary) equestrian arena, the system of sub-surface capillary irrigation naturally maintains the desired soil moisture content, while during rainfall excess water is quickly drained. After rain the event can be resumed quickly and during drought extra water can be added to the system, without the use of surface spray irrigation systems. Indoors and outdoors. Permanent and temporary. 

The Permavoid system has been used at the highest level, from the equestrian arenas in Greenwich Park for the 2012 London Olympics to a temporary arena in New York’s Central Park.

It comes into its own for gallops, arenas and canter tracks for professional dressage, show jumping and racing yards, but is equally valuable for commercial arenas such as riding schools, livery yards and colleges.

Indoors, and outdoors too.

More and more large sports events require temporary playing surfaces only for the duration of the event or tournament without making any concessions to the quality of the pitch and player safety. With Permavoid subbase it is possible to create any desired sports surface, on existing surfaces, for a specific amount of time.

It is possible to create temporary, fully tested natural grass, synthetic turf pitches and equestrian arenas without changing the existing surface: favourable economically and saving time.

More and more large sports events require temporary playing surfaces only for the duration of the event or tournament without making any concessions to the quality of the pitch. With Permavoid subbase it is possible to create any desired sports surface, on existing surfaces, for a specific amount of time.

It is possible to create temporary, fully tested natural grass, synthetic turf pitches and equestrian arenas without changing the existing surface: saving time and money!

Inspiring projects

We have built a reputation

Find your local distributor nearby.

Permavoid source control ensures that no precious water goes to waste by catching, storing and reusing stormwater for irrigation, evaporation and infiltration. Find your local Permavoid distributor here to learn more about the technology and become part of the international movement.