EN 12234:2013

Overview

EN 12234:2013 is a European Standard developed by CEN that specifies a precise method for determining the rolling behaviour of a ball on sports surfaces. This standard primarily focuses on assessing how a ball rolls over different types of sports flooring, an important factor affecting game play and athlete performance. It applies to both indoor and outdoor sports areas, including synthetic turf and other common sports surfaces.

This method ensures consistent, repeatable measurements of ball roll characteristics, supporting manufacturers, installers, and sports facility managers in evaluating surface quality and compliance with relevant sports requirements.

Key Topics

• Scope: Defines a standardized testing procedure to evaluate ball roll behaviour on sports surfaces to ensure performance consistency.
• Test Method: Rolling a ball down a calibrated ramp onto the sports surface, measuring either:
  • The distance the ball travels before stopping, or
  • The velocity change of the ball as it rolls across a set distance.
• Apparatus Requirements:
  • Standardized ball matching sports regulations
  • Ball roll ramp set at a 45° angle with parallel bars
  • Timing gates for velocity measurements
  • Alignment tools and environmental measurement devices such as bubble levels and wind speed meters.
• Surface Preparation:
  • Testing on in situ or assembled specimens prepared according to EN 12229
  • Surface samples must be sufficiently large to avoid edge effects during testing.
• Conditioning: Specimens and balls must be conditioned to standardized temperature (23 ± 2 °C) for reproducibility.
• Testing Procedure:
  • Conducted in multiple directions (4 for on-site, 2 in labs) to account for surface directionality and slope
  • Wind speed limitations ensure minimal environmental impact on roll results.
• Results Calculation:
  • Mean ball roll distance or velocity change per meter is calculated and reported
  • Velocity change data is interpolated at a standard initial speed of 2.5 m/s.
• Reporting: The test report includes detailed surface description, test conditions, environmental data, ball type, directionality effects, and measured results.

Applications

• Sports Facility Design and Quality Control:
  Ensures that sports surfaces provide consistent ball roll performance, essential for fair play in sports like football, field hockey, and others.
• Surface Material Development:
  Manufacturers can use EN 12234:2013 to test new surface technologies and optimize materials for desired ball behaviour.
• Compliance and Certification:
  Supports standardization across European sports surfaces, enabling manufacturers and venues to demonstrate compliance with CEN requirements.
• Research and Performance Analysis:
  Provides a reliable testing protocol for sports scientists studying the impact of surface characteristics on ball dynamics.
• Maintenance and Renovation:
  Helps facility managers assess after-installation surface performance or verify surface conditions post-renovation.

Related Standards

• EN 12229: Procedure for the preparation of synthetic turf and needle-punch test pieces used in conjunction with EN 12234 specimen preparation.
• EN 12235: Determination of vertical ball behaviour on sports surfaces, complementing the rolling ball behaviour test in EN 12234.
• Other relevant CEN standards for sports surfaces address aspects like shock absorption, surface texture, and durability.

Keywords: EN 12234:2013, ball roll behaviour, sports surfaces, CEN standard, outdoor sports flooring, synthetic turf testing, sports surface quality, ball roll test method, velocity change, ball rolling distance, sports facility standards, surface performance evaluation.