How the IRFU Created an Office Whiteboard Wall in 5 Rooms with Clear Whiteboard Paint

At a Glance

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is the national governing body for rugby union on the island of Ireland. Founded in 1879, it oversees the game at all levels, from club and school rugby to the provincial sides and the national teams. Its Dublin offices are home to the staff who manage the operations of the sport.
Behind every match day sits a large off-pitch team. From fixtures and competitions to development programmes and events, IRFU staff work across departments and need to stay closely aligned. Teamwork, clear communication, collaboration, and careful planning sit at the centre of what the organisation does, so its offices need spaces where groups can meet, share ideas, and agree on next steps.

Challenges IRFU Faced

For an organisation built on teamwork, the old setup held people back. Before the project, staff relied on portable whiteboards, and these brought three practical problems:

• Lost time. Boards had to be fixed to walls and taken down again.
• Limited space. Boards used only part of each wall, so groups had little room to map out ideas together.
• Disruption. Staff wheeled boards from room to room, which interrupted work.

Oisín Daly said, "We had problems with attaching and removing whiteboards from the walls, not using the full size, and wheeling them around offices."

The bigger cost was collaboration. A small board limits how many people can contribute at once, and it is hard to keep plans in view when the board moves between rooms.

The Smarter Surfaces Solution

Smarter Surfaces recommended Clear Whiteboard Paint and Clear Magnetic Whiteboard Paint. Both transparent coatings turn an existing wall into a full-size whiteboard surface while the office keeps its colour. The magnetic version also holds magnets, so teams can pin notes, plans, and documents on the same wall.
The result is a permanent, large whiteboard for the office wall with nothing to attach, remove, or move. More importantly, the whole wall becomes a shared workspace. Groups can stand together at one surface to brainstorm, sketch plans, list actions, and build on each other's ideas, with room for everyone to contribute.
IRFU chose Smarter Surfaces for two reasons: product quality and clear technical advice. "The service and explanation of how it works persuaded me," said Oisín.

Process

IRFU took a careful, test-first approach. Rather than commit to every room at once, the team proved the result in one space before it decided to scale up.

• Consultation: The Smarter Surfaces team explained how Clear Whiteboard Paint and Clear Magnetic Whiteboard Paint work and gave technical advice on the application.
• Trial space: IRFU first applied the paint in one room so staff could test the wall in real day-to-day work.
• Rollout: The trial room met expectations, so IRFU extended the project to five rooms in total, with the same surface in each space.

This step-by-step approach gave IRFU confidence before a wider investment, and the move from one room to five is the clearest sign of how well the walls worked for the team.

Success with a Better Whiteboard for Office Spaces

The biggest change was in how IRFU teams work together:

• Better interaction between groups. Instead of a few people gathered around a small board, whole teams now gather at one wall. Ideas go up where everyone can see them, and anyone can add to them, making group sessions more open and inclusive.
• Better planning. Teams map out projects, schedules, and weekly match tasks across their writable office walls. Plans stay in view, so everyone works from the same picture and can track progress at a glance.
• More room to brainstorm. A full wall gives teams space for big ideas. They can sketch, list, and connect thoughts on one surface rather than squeezing them onto a small portable board.
• Proven, then scaled. One trial room became five upgraded rooms, with the same surface in each.

"Hugely worthwhile project and efficient, professional service" Oisín Daly, Operational Manager, IRFU.

Why an Office Whiteboard Wall Matters for IRFU

All five rooms now have a permanent space where groups can share ideas, plan and make decisions together.
Large writable walls give teams a natural place to gather, talk and agree on next steps.
One consistent surface across 5 rooms gives staff the same tools in each space.
The clear finish preserves the existing look of the offices.

Ready to Transform Your Office Walls?

The IRFU project shows how an office whiteboard wall can do more than replace portable boards. It gives teams a shared space to communicate, collaborate and plan together.
A trial in one room proved the value of Clear Whiteboard Paint and its magnetic version, so IRFU then extended it to five rooms. The outcome is better interaction between groups, better planning, and an efficient, professional service from start to finish.

We offer a dedicated contractor programme for office fit-out and construction professionals, from small refurbishments to large commercial projects across Ireland. Our team provides technical support and product advice at every stage of the project. Get in touch with our team to find the right wall solution for your workspace.