Network Rail Piccadilly

As part of one of the single largest entrance mat contracts ever placed in Europe, the well known British Network Rail station, Manchester Piccadilly, has undergone an extensive safety upgrade. The City’s principal station accommodates over 98 million people annually so issues of safety were key to the specification process, and the entrance flooring system chosen had to perform to the highest level of functionally as well as add to the aesthetics of the station. It also had to meet the guidelines of the Equality Act in terms of providing easy access for disabled users. For these reasons, Forbo Flooring System’s Nuway Tuftiguard HD and Coral textile entrance products were specified, offering a durable, attractive and effective integrated system for the entrance areas.

One of nine stations that are part of the upgrade by Network Rail, Manchester
Piccadilly is the largest and busiest of the five city-centre railway stations in central
Manchester and Salford. With such an extreme volume of traffic passing through the
doors on a regular basis, the entrance and exits required an entrance matting system that would withstand intensive use. It also needed to be suitable for wheeled traffic due to the number of passengers travelling with luggage. Considering the size of the project, the collaborative approach between Forbo Flooring Systems, installers and client from the beginning, led to a successful relationship, specification of product and running of the project throughout. Sam Webb, Director at Master Matting Installations in Halifax, sub-contractors to Amco on this project, comments: “The main priority was safety, and so this project
required a heavy duty entrance barrier matting system for internal use that would be
highly effective at removing and retaining moisture and dirt within the entrance
system to prevent any hazardous areas on the interior floor that people might slip on
- a key consideration for all publicly accessed buildings. The heavy and frequent
traffic throughout the station includes wheeled vehicles and heavy suitcases, so
another requirement for the flooring was the load bearing capabilities and
performance, whilst achieving an aesthetically pleasing appearance.”
Forbo’s Nuway Tuftiguard engineered flooring was installed by Master Matting
Installations – an approved Forbo Entrance Systems Specialist Installer (FESSI), as
it exceeded all the requirements of the brief. In addition, the contractors were
extremely familiar with the system and its reliable performance qualities, having used
the products before on numerous commercial projects.