ASTM F1936-98

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An American National Standard
Designation: F 1936 – 98
Standard Specification for
Shock-Absorbing Properties of North American Football
Field Playing Systems as Measured in the Field
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1936; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
NOTE 1—Additional references are listed at the end of this specifica-
1. Scope
tion.
1.1 This specification covers a test method and maximum
impact attenuation for all types of installed turf playing
3. Terminology
systems for North American football.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.2 It is recognized that laboratory testing results often
3.1.1 abnormal drop—any drop of the missile which, due to
reflect optimum conditions which may not correspond to the
operator or equipment problem(s) or uncertainty, results in a
actual site conditions. Therefore, a method of testing along
reading which is questionable.
with a maximum for impact attenuation of installed synthetic
3.1.2 average G —sum of the G of the second and
max max
turf playing systems is addressed herein.
third drops divided by two and rounded to the nearest whole
1.3 This specification does not imply that an injury cannot
number.
be incurred if the surface system complies with this specifica-
3.1.3 combination field system—a field system which com-
tion.
bines a natural turf surface which is enhanced by use of
1.4 The following precautionary statement pertains only to
synthetic elements such as synthetic turf substructures, exclud-
the test procedure portion, Section 9, of this specification: This
ing water/drainage systems and single layer mesh fabrics,
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
which are used for the sole source purpose of soil stabilization.
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
3.1.4 drop height—height from which the missile is re-
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
leased as measured from the bottom of the missile face to the
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
top of the surface system.
tions prior to use.
3.1.5 drop test—a set of three successive and recorded
drops of the impact missile onto the synthetic turf system
2. Referenced Documents
within the guidelines prescribed.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.6 G—the ratio of magnitude of missile acceleration
F355 Test Method for Shock-Absorbing Properties of Play-
during impact to the acceleration of gravity, expressed in the
ing Surface Systems and Materials
same units (g, that has units, can be measured, but G, being a
F1292 Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing
ratio, is unitless).
Materials Within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment
3.1.7 G —the maximum value of G encountered during
max
F1551 TestMethodsforComprehensiveCharacterizationof
an impact rounded to the nearest whole number.
Synthetic Turf Playing Surfaces and Materials
3.1.8 impact velocity—the velocity of the missile as it
2.2 ISO Standard:
impacts the surface system.
ISO 6587
3.1.9 missile—the striking part of the testing apparatus.
3.1.10 natural grass field system—a field system which is
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F08 on Sports comprised of live and growing grass or other plant like
Equipment and Facilities andisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommittee F08.65 on
materials which are rooted in soil.
Artificial Turf Surfaces and Systems.
3.1.11 pile—a surface texture composed of many individual
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1998. Published March 1999.
thin strands or groups of strands bound to a backing fabric in
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
a repetitive array.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
3.1.12 pile layover—horizontal motion of the pile under the
the ASTM website.
3 influence of impact.
Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1936–98
3.1.13 restraining ring—a rigid circular device with a striking the surface, ensuring a vertical impact and precluding
smooth or polished surface, creating little or no friction, used the missiles rebound onto the top of the ring.
to restrict the horizontal movement of the missile upon impact. 7.3 The test equipment shall have sufficient stability to
3.1.14 synthetic turf field system—a composite of synthetic eliminate undesirable vibrations in the apparatus which might
contact surface material, any fill material used in the contact be recorded on the acceleration-time curve and to permit a
surface, energy absorbing material, fabric layers, adhesives, if vertical free-fall of the missile from the release height of 24 in.
any, and other constructed layers (as applicable to the indi- (61 cm) to the surface.
vidual system construction). 7.4 The signal from the acceleration transducer shall be
3.1.15 test point—a location on the field system at which a
conditioned with a low pass filter: complying to Channel Class
series of measurements is taken. 1000 as specified in Specification F 1292F1292 (ISO 6587).
7.5 The acceleration recording system must be capable of
4. Summary of Test Method
accurately resolving the deceleration to a minimum of 65 g
from 0 to 500 g.
4.1 Turf field systems are tested according to this standard
7.6 The acceleration transducer must be capable of with-
and Test Method F 355F355, Procedure A. A free-fall drop
standing impacts of at least 1000 g without damage.
height of 2 ft (61 cm), as measured from the bottom of the
7.7 Aminimumsystemsamplingraterequiredis16000Hz.
missile face to the top of the turf field system shall be used.
7.8 The test equipment shall be capable of visual display
Any debris or material not part of the surface system shall be
and recording of the acceleration-time curve of each drop.
removed from the test point location prior to testing. Three
successive drops, allowing a 3 min pause between drops, are
8. Test Positions
recorded. The average G for the tested point will be
max
calculated as the sum of the second and third G values
max
8.1 The following six test point locations are required:
divided by two and rounded to the nearest whole number.
NOTE 2—The test points are arranged to test the overall conditions and
known “wear points” of a field (see Fig. 1).
5. Significance and Use
8.1.1 Point 1—Goal Line, End A, Center Field,
5.1 Data obtained from this specification are indicative of
8.1.2 Point 2—10 Yard Line, End A, and ⁄4 the distance
the relative impact attenuation characteristics of the turf
measured from side line C toward the center of the field,
playing field system and can be used only for comparison,
8.1.3 Point 3—25 Yard Line, End A, and ⁄2 the distance
establishing minimum requirements for use.
measured from side line A toward the center of the field,
6. Performance Requirements 8.1.4 Point 4—Center field,
8.1.5 Point 5—25 Yard Line, End B, and ⁄4 the distance
6.1 When tested in accordance with this sspecification and
measured from side line D toward the center of the field, and
Test Method F 355F355, ProcedureA, the average G at any
max
8.1.6 Point 6—12 Yard Line, End B, and Center of Field.
singletestpointshallnotexceed200average G whentested
max
8.2 Actualdropsite(s)shallbelocatedwithin36in.(91cm)
at a free-fall drop height of 2 ft (61 cm).
in any direction of a required test point location.
6.2 If a turf surface system is tested in accordance with Test
8.3 For North American football fields with Canadian or
Method F 355F355, Procedure A, as specified in this specifi-
other configurations differing from Fig. 1, adjust the test point
cation,andtheaverage G ofoneormoreofthetestedpoints
max
location to like locations on the field and record the test points
reported is in excess of 200 average G , the surface system
max
in accordance with 11.1.9.
should be replaced in full or in part.
8.4 Optional—One additional test point shall be added for
each condition of the surface system construction or sub
7. Test Apparatus
construction differing from the field in general. The additional
7.1 The impacting missile shall be cylindrical with a circu-
test point shall be located in the area where the deviation
lar, flat, metal, impacting surface weighing 20 lb (9.1 kg),
2 2 occurs. Some examples are: side zone installed over rock (no
having a 20 in. (129 cm ) surface face with the impacting
asphalt) and area installed over a drainage element.
edges slightly beveled to eliminate sharp edges, a provision for
8.5 Inthecaseoflocatingthetestpointsonanunlinedfield:
mounting the accelerometer within 61° of the vertical axis of
locate the above test points as accurately as possible noting the
the missile and for reaching a velocity of 11.35 6 0.56 ft/s
unlined condition in the test report as a site abnormality as
(3.46 6 0.17 m/s) (referenced in Section 27 of Test Methods
described in Section 11.
F 1551F1551 as the velocity corresponding to a theoretical
8.6 Deviations in a test point location in excess of the stated
drop height of 24 in. (61 cm) (at sea level) upon impact from
tolerance must be recorded in the test report as a site abnor-
the drop height.
mality as described in Section 11.
7.2 To restrict the influence of pile layover, the test equip-
ment shall be designed to include
...