SAPIA RELEASES NEW CODE OF PRACTICE FOR PLAYSPACE CONSTRUCTION
27 Jul 2023
The Sports & Play Industry Association (SAPIA) is the peak body for sports, play and recreation construction in Australia. Its members are specialists in the areas of design, construction, installation, maintenance, manufacture, supply and testing of sports and play facilities.
SAPIA authors Codes of Practice for the industry, in order to provide prospective clients and specifiers with guidance on the basic construction requirements and specifications currently employed in building sports and play spaces. The standards outlined throughout the SAPIA Codes have been recognised and supported as the minimum level for the construction of these facilities in Australia. The documents call on the experience of their member companies, who have constructed a wide range of installations for a variety of clients over many years. The requirements of the various sports’ governing bodies and the relevant Standards organisations are incorporated, where appropriate, in the documents.
The SAPIA CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, SURFACING AND MAINTENANCE OF SPORTS COURTS was released in July 2022 and has been described by a leading sports construction expert as ‘The Bible’.
In 2023, a new Code has been released: THE SAPIA CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE OF IMPACT ATTENUATING SURFACING SYSTEMS FOR PLAYGROUNDS. This Code incorporates instructions relating to common play space under-surfacing systems including Wet Pour Rubber, Artificial Grass, Natural Turf, Loose Fill, Unitary Products and Multi-Layered Unitary Systems, as well as up-to-date information on infill migration mitigation, construction best practice, shade requirements and end of life options.
Both these documents are available free of charge in PDF format on the SAPIA website’s Technical Guides page. Printed copies are also available at cost price.
SAPIA is a not-for-profit association, established to promote the best construction standards and business practices for the benefit of both members and their customers, as well as to contribute to the safe sporting pleasure of participants who use facilities constructed and/or serviced by members of SAPIA.
The Sports & Play Industry Association operates through its own full-time administration. For further information, including technical advice, recommended contractors or suppliers, or to enquire about becoming a SAPIA member, please contact SAPIA here.
