A synthetic turf field can require less maintenance than a natural grass field. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore preventative maintenance. The proper synthetic turf testing program can lengthen the life of your field and provide safety for your players.
Sportworks Design provides a range of testing services that can be conducted after installation and then again in the following years to help evaluate how the field is wearing. Field performance scores provide a rating system to establish how the field performs and if elements need replacing or remediated.
Among the ASTM Standard Tests are:
GMAX Testing or Impact Attenuation measures synthetic turf shock absorption when impacted by a player’s body or head. GMAX testing provides critical data at multiple locations on a field, identifying the stability of the surface as a player runs across it. Sportworks performs GMAX Testing per ASTM standards.
Why Should You Perform This Test?
Industry standards recommend testing your synthetic turf field for impact attenuation annually. A GMAX test can help detect signs of premature wear, inadequate infill depth, and suggestions for improvements to the maintenance program. Simply put, this test can assist in creating safer field conditions for your athletes. Information from GMAX testing can limit the owner’s liability from potential player injury-related lawsuits.
Synthetic turf field drainage testing measures the permeability rate of the synthetic turf system and is performed by ASTM standards. Depending on the field and stone base system being tested, we’ll compare the results to the Synthetic Turf Council performance guidelines.
You should conduct synthetic turf field drainage testing when it’s time to replace the synthetic turf. This test provides critical data to determine how the synthetic turf system and stone base are draining. Data from the test will determine if remediation is required to provide adequate stormwater drainage before installing your new synthetic turf. Knowing this information can help avoid costly change orders and delays during construction.
Ball Roll Testing measures how far the ball rolls on synthetic turf compared to natural grass. The distance the ball rolls is directly related to the speed of the synthetic turf system. We’ll compare the results to the Synthetic Turf Council performance guidelines following ASTM standards depending on the field type.
Synthetic turf fibers can begin to “layover” and become compacted, resulting in a longer, faster ball roll than preferred. The ball roll test identifies this condition and alerts the owner that the field requires better maintenance. Utilizing the results helps avoid the problem getting worse and can warn you that the field is nearing the end of its life.
Vertical ball rebound testing measures how high the ball bounces when falling vertically onto a synthetic turf field. Our team performs the test following ASTM standards and will compare the results to the Synthetic Turf Council performance guidelines based on the type of field we’re testing.
Ball roll and vertical rebound testing are vital for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, baseball, and softball fields, where the ball interacts directly with the synthetic turf
Ensure your field or court meets current regulations and your priorities by understanding potential problems upfront, so you end up with a beautifully designed facility.