Staying Ahead of the Game: Undersoil Heating Takes Local Football Team to the Next Level

In summer 2022, Pipelife Slovenia were called upon to help rejuvenate Slovenia's fourth largest football stadium in Murska Sobota. Fazanerija Stadium, home of football team NŠ Mura, was undergoing a major renovation in anticipation of the European Conference League qualifiers, which included the introduction of an undersoil heating system. Aside from being required for all UEFA-approved pitches, these systems provide teams with a host of benefits, facilitating year-round use and minimizing turf maintenance costs.

This ambitious project showcased close collaboration between Pipelife Slovenia and the trusted local installer Apolis D.O.O. Together, the team navigated a challenging timeline and complex supply-chain logistics to create a top-of-the-range playing surface that propelled NŠ Mura into European-level football. 

_{Beneath the Surface: Understanding Undersoil Heating} 

Cold weather conditions can have lasting adverse effects on sports fields. Freezing temperatures can weaken or kill grass, while snow and ice hinder its ability to grow. Beyond this, freezing temperatures can lead to soil compaction which reduces water and nutrient absorption. This results in poor root growth and weaker turf overall. 

Undersoil heating systems combat this by running warm fluid through a network of pipes laid beneath the turf. Similar to snowmelt systems used on paths and driveways, undersoil heating setups thaw frozen pitches and melt the surface layer of ice left behind after snow removal.  Not only does this mean the pitch requires less maintenance, but it also improves the evenness and consistency of the playing surface, creating safer surfaces for athletes with accurate and predictable ball movements.

When applied to natural turf, these systems also create ideal grass-growing conditions. By maintaining optimal temperatures in the root zone, undersoil heating prevents roots from going dormant and promotes propagation for fast pitch recovery.   

Mura NS were keen to integrate an undersoil heating system in the hope of bringing their field up to the highest European standards. The ability to play throughout icy winters without excessive maintenance was a high priority for the clients, especially as they were scheduled to take part in the UEFA European Conference League qualifiers later in the season. Since UEFA’s official pitch quality guidelines state that “an undersoil heating system should be installed if local climatic conditions regularly result in frost or snow,” the investment was considered a must-have for a team with ambitions to regularly play at this level. 

_{Tight Timelines and Complex Coordination}

The project was under strict deadlines from the start as there was only a short off-season window in which to complete the renovation. Upon receiving the request from Apolis D.O.O, Pipelife Slovenia and Heating and Cooling Category Manager, Ivan Milenovic, were given just three weeks to design a custom undersoil heating system — complete with technical drawings and installation guidelines — and source and deliver the required pipes, fittings and manifolds to the stadium. Even with the time constraints, Ivan and the team were able to acquire all the products thanks to Pipelife’s extensive European network:

“Given the tight deadline, I was initially worried whether we would be able to source all the products needed to make this custom design a success. However, thanks to excellent collaboration between Pipelife entities across Europe, we were able to deliver everything on time,” Ivan explained. 

Apolis D.O.O installed 27,000 meters of DN25 PERT/EVOH industrial-strength UFH pipes, along with 324 meters of DN125 CARBO OXY PPRCT manifold piping. The pipes were laid beneath 7,344 m2 of natural turf.  

Pipelife experts were on hand to ensure the installation went smoothly, providing technical support and guidance on how best to dimension the distribution pipeline.

_{Delivering a State-of-the-Art System Under Challenging Conditions} 

The completion of the Fazanerija Stadium renovation project underscores the importance of strong partnerships in challenging projects. Despite facing tight deadlines and logistical hurdles, the collaboration between Pipelife Slovenia and their installation partner proved instrumental in creating this cutting-edge playing surface. With Pipelife's adept handling of product logistics and Apolis D.O.O's expert installation, the undersoil heating system was successfully implemented on time — paving the way for NŠ Mura to excel on the European stage. The team’s opening game went ahead as scheduled, and their undersoil heating system continues to ensure a perfectly playable pitch no matter the temperature.