Hard wearing floor for the SSE Arena
The SSE Arena is an indoor multi-purpose venue at the heart of Belfast’s iconic Titanic Quarter which welcomes over 800,000 visitors every year to see international performers, sporting events, exhibitions, and conferences.
Customer Name:
SSE Arena
Business Sector:
Stadiums, Arenas, Events, and Entertainment
Products:
Stonclad GS, Stonproof CT5 and Stonkote HT4
The Challenge
SSE Arena needed a new hard-wearing floor finish to replace an existing non-compliant system on its lower concourse area that experiences a large amount of “footfall” during events.
Our Solution
Kemtile recommended using Stonclad GS, a seamless heavy-duty, power-trowelled epoxy-based mortar system at 6mm thick. Firstly, the Kemtile team removed the old cementitious flooring system using road planers and diamond grinding. The redundant service ducts exposed by the preparation process were then treated with Stonproof CT5 a unique, flexible, crack bridging system that prevents any movement in the subfloor reflecting through the new Stonclad finish.
After the preparation process and application of the Stonproof CT5 the Stonclad GS was installed. Because it can be power floated it can be applied over large areas very quickly with installation rates of over 1000m2 a day being easily achieved. Stonclad GS is partnered with Stonkote HT4 to provide that important cleanability and slip resistance.
Stonclad GS is a power-trowelled, epoxy mortar system, it cures to provide an extremely hard, impact-resistant mortar that provides excellent abrasion, wear, and chemical resistance. It can be used anywhere where a resilient and seamless, non-dusting floor finish is required.
In the main entrance doorway to the arena, Kemtile reduced the existing concrete floor to provide a suitable recess and then inserted the new matting as specified by the arena. In addition, the existing matting was replaced as well. The matting and new floor blend seamlessly to provide a perfect consistent finish to the arena’s lower concourse area.
The whole project was completed on time with a few days to spare so the arena could make all its preparations for the next event.
Kemtile’s Dave Sleight, who led the project, commented: “This was a challenging brief. We were contracted to complete the job by a certain time, all the existing finishes had to be removed and you never know what you will find underneath with jobs like this. The access and working environment was also challenging, with lots of decorative finishes around the place which we needed to protect throughout.”
What our customer had to say
Craig Barrington, Associate Director of Estates and Facilities at the Odyssey Trust Company, who runs the SSE Arena, commented: “Like most busy events venues our floors are under constant pressure, and we needed sound advice from flooring experts for a suitable solution for this heavily trafficked commercial area. The previous Stonhard flooring had stood the test of time so we looked to engage Kemtile to work their magic across the rest of the area.
“They have been very reliable partners. We have been impressed by their knowledge and professionalism throughout the process. They have delivered a high-quality floor finish for us that will withstand traffic, ahead of the deadline.”
