EN 12235:2013

Overview

EN 12235:2013 is a European Standard developed by CEN that specifies a precise method for determining the vertical ball behaviour on sports surfaces. This standard focuses on measuring the rebound height of a ball when dropped vertically onto a sports surface or test piece. It is essential for assessing the performance characteristics of sports floors and outdoor playing areas to ensure consistent playing conditions and safety across different sports types.

The method establishes uniform testing procedures, apparatus specifications, and reporting requirements, facilitating objective comparison between different sports flooring materials. EN 12235:2013 supersedes the earlier EN 12235:2004, incorporating clarifications and editorial corrections.

Key Topics

• Scope and Purpose
  Measures the rebound height of a ball dropped vertically to evaluate the surface's impact on ball behaviour, crucial for assessing playability and compliance with sports regulations.

• Test Apparatus

  • Balls conforming to sport-specific regulations (basketball, tennis, association football, hockey ball)
  • Ball release device to ensure a vertical drop without spin or impulse
  • Acoustic timing device to measure time between bounces with millisecond precision

• Test Procedure

  1. Determine the rebound height on a rigid concrete surface as reference
  2. Measure rebound height on the tested sports surface or prepared test piece
  3. Calculate the relative percentage rebound height using standardized formulas

• Test Environment and Conditioning
  Conditioning of samples and balls at specified temperature and humidity ensures consistent and repeatable test results. Tests can be conducted in the laboratory or on-site, including wet and dry surface conditions.

• Reporting Requirements
  Detailed test reports include surface description, test conditions, ball type and drop height, rebound heights, and environmental data.

Applications

• Sports Flooring Quality Control
  EN 12235:2013 supports manufacturers and testing laboratories in verifying that sports floors meet desired performance parameters, especially ball behaviour.

• Facility Certification
  Sports facilities can demonstrate compliance with international standards for flooring performance, contributing to fair gameplay and athlete safety.

• Product Development
  Enables R&D teams to optimize floor material properties by assessing their impact on ball rebound behaviour, influencing decisions in material selection and surface construction.

• On-Site Assessments and Maintenance
  Facility managers and maintenance teams utilize this standard to evaluate existing surfaces and identify wear or degradation affecting ball response.

Related Standards

• EN 12229: Surfaces for sports areas - Procedure for the preparation of synthetic turf and needle-punch test pieces
  Provides guidance on preparing synthetic turf samples for testing, complementing EN 12235 for comprehensive surface evaluation.

• Sport-Specific Ball Standards
  The balls used in testing conform to regulations from governing bodies such as FIBA (basketball), FIFA (football), ITF (tennis), and FIH (field hockey), ensuring relevance to real-world play.

• Other Flooring Performance Standards
  Related EN standards cover characteristics such as shock absorption, deformation, and slipperiness, which together with ball behaviour help assess overall surface quality.

Keywords: EN 12235:2013, vertical ball behaviour, sports surfaces standard, ball rebound height test, sports flooring testing, CEN standards, ball bounce measurement, sports facility certification, sports surface quality control, surface ball rebound, laboratory testing of sports floors, synthetic turf testing, sports floor performance