EN 12616:2023

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2023
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 12616:2013
Podloge za športne dejavnosti - Preskusne metode za ugotavljanje stopnje
prepojitve z vodo in vodoravnega pretoka vode
Surfaces for sports areas - Test methods for the determination of vertical water
infiltration and horizontal water flow rates
Sportböden - Prüfverfahren zur Bestimmung der vertikalen Wasserinfiltrationsrate und
der horizontalen Wasserdurchflussrate
Sols sportifs - Méthodes d’essai pour la détermination de la vitesse d’infiltration verticale
de l’eau et du débit d’eau horizontal
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 12616:2023
ICS:
97.220.10 Športni objekti Sports facilities
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 12616
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
January 2023
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 97.220.10 Supersedes EN 12616:2013
English Version
Surfaces for sports areas - Test methods for the
determination of vertical water infiltration and horizontal
water flow rates
Sols sportifs - Méthodes d'essai pour la détermination Sportböden - Prüfverfahren zur Bestimmung der
de la vitesse d'infiltration verticale de l'eau et du débit vertikalen Wasserinfiltrationsrate und der
d'eau horizontal horizontalen Wasserdurchflussrate
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 16 October 2022.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2023 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 12616:2023 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Part 1 – Determination of vertical water infiltration rate . 4
4.1 Method A – laboratory determination of synthetic turf, textile and synthetic sports
surfaces . 4
4.2 Method B – on-site determination on synthetic textile, synthetic turf, and bound
mineral sports surfaces . 7
4.3 Method C – on-site determination on Natural turf . 10
4.4 Method D – on-site determination unbound mineral surfaces . 11
5 Part 2 – Determination in the laboratory of horizontal water flow rate . 13
5.1 Principle . 13
5.2 Apparatus . 13
5.3 Test specimens . 15
5.4 Conditioning . 15
5.5 Procedure . 15
5.6 Calculation and expression of results . 16
5.7 Test report . 17
Annex A (Informative) Sample preparation for the determination in the laboratory of
horizontal water flow rate . 18
Bibliography . 19

European foreword
This document (EN 12616:2023) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 217 “Surfaces for
sports areas”, the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by July 2023, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by July 2023.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 12616:2013.
In comparison with the previous edition, the following technical modifications have been made: a
temperature correction factor has been reinstated (from the 2003 edition) and a laboratory test method
for measuring the horizontal water flow rate has been added.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United
Kingdom.
1 Scope
This document has two parts.
Part 1 specifies four methods for the determination of the vertical water infiltration rate of different types
of sports surfacing.
Method A is suitable for measuring the vertical water infiltration rate of synthetic, textile and synthetic
turf sports surfaces in the laboratory.
Method B is suitable for on-site measurements of the Vertical Water Infiltration Rate of synthetic, textile,
synthetic turf and bound mineral sports surfaces.
Method C is suitable for on-site measurements of the vertical water infiltration rate of natural turf sports
surfaces.
Method D is suitable for measuring the for on-site measurements of the vertical water infiltration rate of
unbound mineral sports surfaces.
NOTE For filled synthetic turf and unbound mineral surfaces, laboratory tests are considered to give a more
precise indication of how a surface will perform.
Part 2 specifies a method for determining the horizontal water flow rate of synthetic, textile and synthetic
turf surfaces in the laboratory.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN ISO 12958-1:2020, Geotextiles and geotextile-related products - Determination of water flow capacity
in their plane - Part 1: Index test (ISO 12958-1:2020)
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
4 Part 1 – Determination of vertical water infiltration rate
4.1 Method A – laboratory determination of synthetic turf, textile and synthetic sports
surfaces
4.1.1 Principle
Water is ponded in a cylinder into which a test specimen has been sealed. The rate of flow through the
sports surface is measured.
NOTE The test can be performed on a component of a sports surfacing system, e.g. on a shockpad or synthetic
turf carpet, or on a total system.
4.1.2 Apparatus
4.1.2.1 Single ring infiltrometer, of metallic or plastic material with an internal diameter of
300 mm ± 2 mm and a method of sealing the ring to the product to be tested (either mechanically with a
clamp or by use of a sealant) (see Figure 1).
4.1.2.2 Support grid, for underpinning the product to prevent it distorting when water is poured
into the apparatus (see Figure 1). The maximum deformation of the product shall be 5 mm from the
outside of the ring to the centre once water has been added to the ring. Within the ring there shall be
three parallel horizontal wires or bars and a central bar perpendicular to the other three. These shall be
2,5 mm ± 0,5 mm in width to prevent obstruction of any drainage holes in the sports surface.

Figure 1 — Single ring infiltrometer with supporting grid
4.1.2.3 Stopwatch, resolution to 0,1 s.
4.1.2.4 Round disc, with an internal diameter of 295 mm ± 2 mm and a mass of 5 kg ± 0,25 kg.
4.1.2.5 Spirit level.
4.1.2.6 Graduated scale or other apparatus, enabling the depth of water to be measured to an
accuracy of 1 mm.
4.1.2.7 Temperature measuring apparatus, capable of measuring the temperature of the water to
an accuracy of 1 °C.
4.1.2.8 Geotextile or mesh grid, with a mesh size no greater than 300 µm.
4.1.3 Test specimen
4.1.3.1 Select and prepare a test specimen of the sports surface ensuring that the minimum number
of any drainage holes are visible within the 300 mm ring area. Measure the diameter and location of the
holes within the test piece and record and/or photograph the evidence, which may be included in the
report.
4.1.3.2 Seal or clamp the test specimen into the infiltration ring.
4.1.3.3 If required, fill the synthetic turf carpet in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Ensure that any pile fibres are visible and that there are no trapped fibres beneath the infill. Compress
each infill layer using the round disc that should be rotated and contra-rotated on the test specimen for
a minimum of five full rotations to ensure compaction and levelling of any the infill. Ensure no additional
pressure is applied to the disc.
4.1.3.4 Wet the test specimen by applying a minimum of 5 l of water through the geotextile or mesh
disc. Ensure there is no leaking of water laterally out of the ring joints; if there is, reseal the test specimen.
4.1.4 Conditioning
Condition the test samples and any relevant infill in the laboratory at a temperature of 23 °C ± 2 °C for a
minimum period of 4 h.
4.1.5 Procedure
Ensure that the test ring is level prior to the start of the test.
Measure the temperature of the water.
Apply water evenly to the test specimen through the mesh grid or geotextile so that the head of water
applied is between 70 mm and 90 mm above the top of the test specimen. For semi-filled synthetic turf
surfaces, the top is specified as the top of the infill layer(s).
Mark the ring at 10 mm ± 1 mm and 30 mm ± 1 mm above the top of the test specimen.
Measure the time taken for the head of water to fall between the 30 mm and 10 mm markers to the
nearest 0,1 s, ensuring that any geotextile or mesh disc is removed prior to the start of the timer. If the
infiltration rate is slow, stop the test at 30 min.
Repeat the test a further two times.
4.1.6 Calculation and expression of results
Calculate the water infiltration rate I , expressed in millimetres per hour (mm/h), from the following
A
formula:
I = (F C)/ t
A WA A
where
F is the fall of water level (mm);
WA
t is the time taken for the water level to fall (h).
A
Calculate the mean value of the second and third tests.
4.1.7 Test report
The test report shall include the following information:
a) the sample;
b) reference to this document, EN 12616:2023, and Part and method used, e.g. Part 1, Method A;
c) complete identification and photograph(s) of the sports surface tested;
d) water temperature;
e) any deviations from the procedure;
f) any unusual features observed;
g) the mean average of the test results;
h) the individual test result(s), including a reference to the clause which explains how the results were
calculated;
i) the date of the test.
4.2 Method B – on-site determination on synthetic textile, synthetic turf, and bound
mineral sports surfaces
4.2.1 Principle
Water is ponded within two concentric cylinders that have been sealed onto, or hammered into, the
sports surface. The outer cylinder is used as a buffer area to prevent the lateral flow of water from the
inner cylinder.
NOTE A single cylinder can be used if the test piece is fully sealed to prevent lateral flow of water.
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