SIST EN 1569:2020

Overview

SIST EN 1569:2020 is a European standard developed by CEN that specifies a precise method for testing the behaviour of sports area surfaces under rolling loads. Applicable to both laboratory and on-site conditions, this standard provides a reliable approach to evaluating the durability and performance of indoor sports surfaces when subjected to stresses such as those caused by wheeled equipment. It supersedes the previous EN 1569:1999 edition, introducing enhancements in equipment and test reproducibility.

Key Topics

• Scope: Focuses on determining how surfaces used in sports areas respond to rolling loads, especially stressing critical areas like joints or welded parts.
• Test Apparatus: Includes a loaded steel wheel with specific dimensions (100 mm diameter, 30 mm width), guide tracks to ensure consistent wheel placement, and mechanisms for controlled movement at approximately 1 m/s. The apparatus incorporates loads as per product specification or agreement.
• Test Specimen Preparation: Requires a minimum specimen size of 1500 mm by 1500 mm, including supporting layers installed as per manufacturer instructions. Specimens are conditioned at 23 ± 2 °C for at least 3 hours before testing.
• Procedure: The loaded wheel repeatedly traverses a 50 mm wide strip across the specimen 300 times, followed by a perpendicular series of the same test to another area, enabling assessment of damage such as cracking or surface indentation.
• Measurement: Post-test inspection includes visual and microscopic examination for surface damage and precise measurement of any residual indentations exceeding 0.5 mm after a recovery period of 15–20 minutes.
• Reporting: Test reports must document the standard version, surface identification, test conditions, observed damage, and indentation depths.

Applications

SIST EN 1569:2020 is vital for:

• Manufacturers of sports surfaces seeking to validate the durability and mechanical resistance of their products under realistic loading scenarios.
• Sports facility managers and installers who require on-site verification of surface resilience and quality assurance prior to commissioning or maintenance.
• Laboratories conducting performance testing to ensure compliance with international standards and to support product certification processes.
• Designers and engineers aiming to specify surfaces that will withstand repetitive rolling load stresses from equipment such as carts, maintenance trolleys, or sports wheelchairs.

By providing reproducible, quantifiable results, this standard helps maintain high safety and performance levels across indoor sports flooring installations.

Related Standards

While SIST EN 1569:2020 focuses on rolling load behaviour, it is complementary to other CEN standards and relevant guidelines in the domain of sports facility surfaces and sports equipment testing, such as:

• EN 14877 - Synthetic surfaces for sport areas - Specification
• EN 12235 - Synthetic turf - Determination of mechanical performance characteristics
• ISO 20590 - Sports and other recreational facilities - Indoor surfaces for sports areas - Methods of test for the determination of shock absorption
• CEN/TC 217 - The technical committee responsible for surfaces for sports areas, ensuring coherent and harmonized standards across Europe

These interconnected standards enable comprehensive assessment of sports surfaces, covering aspects from surface composition and safety to performance under various mechanical and environmental stresses.

Keywords: SIST EN 1569:2020, sports surfaces testing, rolling load behaviour, sports area flooring, surface durability, CEN standards, indoor sports surfaces, surface indentation measurement, sports facility testing, rolling load resistance.