5 Things You Need To Know About Force Reduction Testing
Force Reduction Testing, which is also sometimes referred to as shock absorption testing, is the measure of the ability of a surface to reduce impact forces when compared to a standard concrete surface. The term is often confused with the force of an athlete’s heel upon a surface. Force Reduction Testing was originally developed in the 1970s to assess and regulate polymeric surfaces.
Fact Vs. Fiction: Artificial Turf Injuries
Recently, there has been a lot of negative press focused on artificial turf and those of us working in and around this industry have noticed that media seem to be latching on to the alleged safety issues surrounding rubber crumb. There are other concerns as well (and a lot of misinformation), but in this article, I will focus on shedding light between the facts and myths surrounding artificial turf injuries.
Understanding Artificial Turfs And Concussions
Playing surfaces of all compositions and descriptions have the potential to cause minor to severe head injuries whenever athletes come into contact with them. Artificial surfaces, however, are subject to the most intense evaluations because these surfaces are designed and installed with manufactured products and processed constituents.
Another Look At Non-Filled Artificial Turf
Let’s face it, non-filled turf has been around since 1966, so it is not a new concept to the turf industry. AstroTurf can claim the rights to inventing the first non-filled artificial turf for the Huston Astrodome back in the day.Naturally, things have evolved in the last 50 years, and the exponential rise in football turf since its introduction in the late 1990s has been a game-changer for long pile artificial turf.
Is it Time to Review Performance Requirements?
Artificial pitch requirements have been set in stone for a long time now. The first working limits on the performance of artificial turf for soccer appeared in the publication of the Winterbottom report in 1984. In subsequent years, UEFA (1996) and then FIFA (2001) published limits based on good quality natural turf, following in-stadium performance studies.
Five Things to Know About Maintaining Artificial Pitches
I thought artificial pitches were maintenance free? Yes, that old chestnut. It’s convenient to think that artificial pitches are maintenance free, but the only truth in this is that you don’t need to cut the grass! Artificial pitches are large areas exposed to the environment and are excellent filters for all the pollution and other detritus which falls from the sky or is brought onto the surface.
Five Things You Need to Know About Shockpads
I call them an insurance policy. Why? Because a shockpad is there to provide a permanent shock-absorbing layer within the artificial turf system. It is an underlayment which sits between the substrate* and artificial grass. Normally it provides a minimum guaranteed shock absorption value when tested using an AAA device.** It, therefore, influences the performance of the turf over the pad…
Artificial Turf: How Do We Assess Quality?
Artificial turf used in sports facilities will, in general, come with a certification from a national or global governing body. You should not consider the purchase of an artificial turf system without first assessing the results of its tests and evaluations under laboratory conditions prior to leaving a factory. In this brief guide, we provide key things to be aware of when considering the purchase of…
Queensferry High School’s New Multi-use 3G Artificial Turf Pitch
The project consisted of the construction of a new full size 3G artificial turf pitch for multi-sport use, spectator area and dug out/storage area.