New Guidelines For Turf Performance

The Synthetic Turf Council recently released "Guidelines for Synthetic Turf Performance."

These guidelines can help owners, buyers and designers to better understand the quality and performance of multi-purpose synthetic sports systems during design, selection, after installation and throughout its useful life. This is the first time guidance has been provided for multi-purpose sports fields.

“This is a major development for the synthetic turf industry,” said Rick Doyle, president of the Synthetic Turf Council.

“Our voluntary guidelines help answer many questions from owners, buyers and specifiers about the performance of multi-purpose synthetic turf fields over time."

The guidelines encourage periodic and voluntary testing to indicate the type of maintenance that should be implemented to maximize field performance. If a field is not performing within the desired range in critical test areas despite targeted maintenance, then the owner will know that the field may soon need to be replaced.

The guidelines were developed using input from Synthetic Turf Council member experiences and technical knowledge; ASTM standards; collaboration with FIFA, the international governing body for soccer; and a similar approach used by the International Rugby Board.

While the ASTM standards provide useful information regarding product identification, turf fabric testing and g-max testing, the council identified opportunities for greater attention to sport performance testing, which are included in the document. Although these guidelines do not cover warranty information, they address key areas of durability and surface interaction testing.

Visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org to access the council's Performance Guidelines, technical standards and other helpful information. Consultants are invited to join the Synthetic Turf Council to obtain detailed support in fully understanding and utilizing this information on behalf of their clients.