CEN/TC 217/WG 6 - Synthetic turf areas

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.

This document specifies minimum performance and durability requirements for shockpads used within synthetic turf and textile sports surfacing systems.
The document also specifies appropriate performance tolerance for production and on-site quality control procedures.
This document does not cover structural properties of shockpads. Where appropriate, compliance with other European or national standards and guidelines for these aspects should be followed.
NOTE 1 The sports performance characteristics of a sports surfacing system are provided by the combined characteristics of the playing surface, any infill within the playing surface and the shockpad. The selection of the correct combination of each is complex and the responsibility of the sports surface system designer. It is important to take this into account when considering the performance of a shockpad. A shockpad alone is not be expected to satisfy the performance requirements of the complete sports surfacing system as specified in EN 15330-1, E, etc.
NOTE 2 Some forms of innovative shockpad are designed to provide additional functions beyond aiding the provision of the required sports performance properties. Some of these additional functions can, by design, mean that full compliance with all requirements of this document is not appropriate.
NOTE 3 This document only refers to the shockpad. It makes no recommendations on sub-base constructions or the different synthetic turf for needle-punch textile sports surface designs.
NOTE 4 Annex E (informative) can be used in those countries where national guidance or regulations are not available. If such guidance or regulations are available, they supersede Annex E.

This document specifies the minimum procedures for the sampling of performance infills used within synthetic turf surfaces to verify compliance with toxicology, environmental and performance regulations and standards.
Four sampling procedures are specified:
Method 1 specifies how to take samples during production of the infill material.
Method 2 specifies how to take samples from big bags delivered to site.
Method 3 specifies how to take samples from small bags delivered to site.
Method 4 specifies a procedure for taking samples from a synthetic turf (e.g. sports, recreational or landscaping surface).
The procedures specified are suitable for all forms of infill.

This document specifies a method of test for the determination of resistance to dynamic fatigue of shockpads (including elastic layers) used in synthetic turf surfacing systems. It can also be used on other types and complete forms of sports surfacing systems.
The test is undertaken on test specimens in the laboratory.

This document describes ways of containing infill materials used in many types of synthetic turf sports fields within the confines of the sports field, so they are not dispersed into the surrounding environment.
The options described are based on examples of best practice identified by members of CEN/TC 217.
This document is intended to be of practical use, to create awareness amongst field designers, venue owners, installation companies and those maintaining synthetic turf sports fields. It is applicable for all forms of synthetic turf sports field, from those used for community activities to those used by professional and elite level athletes.

This European Standard specifies a method for determining the rebound height of a ball from a surface, when dropped vertically.

This European Standard specifies performance, durability, product identification and facility testing requirements for synthetic turf sports surfaces used primarily outdoors. Five categories of surface are covered, each based on the principal sporting use of the surface, as follows:
-   surfaces designed primarily for hockey;
-   surfaces designed primarily for association football;
-   surfaces designed primarily for rugby union for training purposes;
-   surfaces designed primarily for tennis;
-   surfaces designed for multi-sports use.
The requirements are intended to apply to surfaces used for community, educational and recreational sport. For professional and elite levels of competition, many sports governing bodies have published their own specifications; the requirements of the sports governing bodies might differ from those detailed in this European Standard and facility developers are advised to ensure that they select surfaces offering the correct level of performance for the level of competition played on the pitch or court.
NOTE   Under the Laws of the Game of Rugby Union, surfaces for rugby union matches need to comply with the International Rugby Board’s IRB Regulation 22 and associated performance specification for synthetic turf surfaces.
This European Standard has two parts. The first part describes the requirements for product testing of products in the laboratory to ensure they are capable of providing the required levels of sports performance and player/surface interaction required for their intended use and that they are manufactured from materials of acceptable quality. The second section describes the requirements for installed surfaces to ensure that the sports performance and player/surface interaction of a facility is suitable for the intended use.
Some of the surfaces covered by this European Standard are designed to allow users to wear footwear fitted with studs. An example of a typical stud is given in EN 15306. For the purposes of this European Standard, multi-dimpled shoe profiles often found on footwear used on sand-filled or non-filled synthetic turfs are not considered to be studs.
When independent third party testing of synthetic turf sports surfaces is required to assess compliance with this standard, it is recommended the laboratory is certified to EN ISO/IEC 17025 for the relevant test methods specified in this standard.

This European Standard specifies the requirements for synthetic (polymeric) surfaces (installed in situ and prefabricated) for outdoor sports facilities. It covers synthetic surfaces for the following applications:
-   athletics, track and field;
-   tennis;
-   multi-sports.
The European Standard has two parts. The first describes the requirements for the testing of products in the laboratory to ensure they are capable of providing the required levels of sports performance and player/surface interaction required for their intended use and that they are manufactured from materials of acceptable quality. The second section describes the requirements for installed surfaces to ensure that the sports performance and player/surface interaction properties are suitable for the intended use.
When independent third party testing of synthetic sports surfaces is required to assess compliance with this standard, it is recommended the laboratory is certified to EN ISO/IEC 17025 for the relevant test methods specified in this standard.
NOTE 1   Examples of types of surface and their fields of application are given in Annex A.
NOTE 2   'Multi-sports' will be defined by appropriate national provisions.
NOTE 3   Minimum requirements for the thickness of the synthetic sports surface are specified which means that this European Standard is not applicable to certain coatings used for sports surfaces.
This European Standard is not designed to cover the performance requirements of top-level athletics facilities; these should follow the requirements of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
NOTE 4   This European Standard does not include requirements for synthetic turf surfaces; these are specified in EN 15330–1.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the resistance of a synthetic sports surface to spikes.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of shock absorption characteristics of sports surfaces.
NOTE   The method specified is commonly known as the Artificial Athlete (Berlin) method.

This European Standard describes a procedure for subjecting test pieces taken from surfaces for sports areas to accelerated ageing by immersion in hot water. Test pieces are aged to permit a comparison of their physical characteristics before and after ageing, in accordance with European Standard test methods for surfaces for sport areas, to be made.

This EN describes a procedure suitable for subjecting test pieces taken from all types of polymeric surfaces for sports areas to accelerated ageing by exposure to hot air in the laboratory. Test pieces are aged to permit a comparison of their physical characteristics before and after ageing, in accordance with EN test methods for surfaces for sports areas, to be made.

This document describes a method for the determination of the wear resistance of a non-filled synthetic turf surface using an abrasive wheel under laboratory conditions. It is applicable to non-filled synthetic turf with a pile height greater than 15 mm.

This European Standard describes two methods for the determination of the tensile properties of pile yarns in the construction of synthetic turf. Method A is used for determining the tensile properties of synthetic yarns taken from packages prior to the manufacture of synthetic turf. Method B is used for determining the tensile properties of pile yarns from the manufactured synthetic turf. The results from the two methods are not comparable and method B is less accurate.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the dimensional stability of synthetic turf, textile surfaces, shock pads and loose-laid synthetic surfaces when subjected to varied water, frost and heat conditions.

This European Standard specifies two methods for the determination of the thickness of synthetic surfaces for sports areas, suitable for use in the laboratory and 'in situ'. Method A, a destructive test method, is intended for use - where the thickness needs to be measured to an accuracy of +/-0,1mm;- when the thickness of different layers is to be determined. Method B, a non-destructive test method,is intended for use as a routine check on thickness, e.g.for control purposes or when surveying a large area of synthetic surfacing. It gives measurements to an accuracy between +/-0,5 and +/-1,5mm, depending upon the textur

This document:
a)   specifies minimum performance and durability and requirements for infill materials used in synthetic turf, and textile sports surfaces;
b)   describes how the performance of an infill is to be measured, and the results classified;
c)   specifies the physical and chemical properties of an infill that are to be declared in a manufacturer’s product declaration;
d)   specifies minimum production control tolerance to ensure consistency of infill materials between production batches;
e)   describes how reclaimed infill is to be tested to assess its suitability for reuse.
NOTE 1   The sports performance characteristics of a synthetic turf or textile sports surface are provided by the combined characteristics of the synthetic turf or textile surface, any infill within the playing surface pile and any shockpad. The selection of the correct permutations of each is complex and the responsibility of the sports surface designer.
NOTE 2   If infill materials migrate from a synthetic turf or textile sports surface into the surrounding natural environment, they become a source of contamination. To minimize the risk this occurring, guidance on how to prevent infill migration from the sports facility is given in CEN Technical Report PD CEN/TR 17519.

Tolerance of 9 months before enquiry (CEN/TC 217 Res 11C/2004) (Note by AE 2005-03-22)

This European Standard specifies three methods for the determination of water infiltration rate. Method A is suitable for synthetic, textile, synthetic turf and bound mineral sports surfaces, Method B is suitable for natural turf and Method C is suitable for 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.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the tensile properties of materials used as surfaces for sports areas. It is applicable to elastomeric materials which are used as the upper wearing layer of such areas, and to elastomeric materials used as underlayers in composite sports surfacing systems. It is applicable both to prefabricated sheet materials and to materials formed by casting of liquid systems cured in-situ.

TC - Modification to Clause 5

This European Standard specifies a method for the exposure of synthetic surfaces for outdoor sports areas to artificial weathering in order that the resulting changes in properties can be determined as detailed in the relevant product specification.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the slip resistance of a sports surface in relation to a studded or smooth soled sports shoe.

This European Standard specifies performance and durability characteristics of needle-punched sports surfaces primarily used outdoors. Two categories of surfaces are covered, based on the principal sporting use of the surface, as follows:
   surfaces designed for multi-sports use; and
   surfaces designed primarily for tennis.
The requirements are intended to apply to surfaces used for community, educational and recreational sport. For professional and elite levels of competition, many sports governing bodies have published their own specifications; the requirements of the sports governing bodies might differ from those detailed in this European Standard and facility developers are advised to ensure that they select surfaces offering the correct levels of performance for the levels of competition to be played on the pitch or court.
This European Standard is based on type approval testing of products in the laboratory. Selected requirements may also be used on-site to assess the suitability of installed surfaces. Guidance on the testing of installations is given in Annex A.

This European Standard specifies a method of test for the determination of the behaviour of a tennis ball striking a sports surface at an angle.

This European Standard specifies a method for conditioning synthetic turf and needle-punch surfaces by simulating interaction between a sports shoe and sports surface, to allow changes in appearance and to allow sports functional characteristics to be measured.
NOTE   The method specified is commonly known as the Lisport method.

This European Standard specifies a procedure for the preparation of test pieces of synthetic turf and needle-punch sports surfaces.

TC - 7.4, 7.5, 8.4 and 9.4 - Correction of normative references in the E + F versions (the German translation is still missing, but the references are right in the German final draft version) 2007-10-18

This European Standard specifies performance and durability characteristics for synthetic turf sports surfaces used primarily outdoors. Five categories of surface are covered, each based on the principal sporting use of the surface, as follows:
surfaces designed primarily for hockey;
surfaces designed primarily for association football;
surfaces designed primarily for rugby union for training purposes;
NOTE   Under the Laws of the Game of Rugby Union, surfaces for rugby union matches have to comply with IRB Regulation 22.
surfaces designed primarily for tennis; and
surfaces designed for multi-sports use.
The requirements are intended to apply to surfaces used for community, educational and recreational sport. For professional and elite levels of competition, many sports governing bodies have published their own specifications; the requirements of the sports governing bodies might differ from those detailed in this European Standard and facility developers are advised to ensure that they select surfaces offering the correct level of performance for the level of competition played on the pitch or court.
This European Standard is based on type approval testing of products in the laboratory. Selected requirements may also be used on site to assess the suitability of installed surfaces. Guidance on the testing of installations is given in Annex A.
Some of the surfaces covered by this European Standard are designed to allow users to wear footwear fitted with studs. An example of a typical stud is given in EN 15306.  For the purposes of this European Standard, multi-dimpled shoe profiles often found on footwear used on sand-filled or non-filled synthetic turfs are not considered to be studs.

This document specifies requirements for synthetic surfaces (placed in situ and prefabricated) for outdoor sports facilities. It covers synthetic surfaces for the following applications:
¾   athletics, track and field;
¾   tennis;
¾   multi-sports.
It also covers surface systems which include both their supporting and upper layers whether prefabricated, produced in situ or a combination of the two.
NOTE 1   Examples of types of surface and their fields of application are given in Annex A, general recommendations and information regarding requirements in Clauses 4 and 5 are given in Annex B and recommendations for the finished surface are given in Annex C.
NOTE 2   "Multi-sports" will be defined by appropriate national provisions.

TC - Modification in Table 1

This European Standard specifies a method for determination of the rebound height of a ball from a surface, when dropped vertically.
It gives two alternative recording procedures for measuring the rebound height, visual and acoustic.

This European Standard specifies three methods of test for the determination of water infiltration rate. Method A is suitable for synthetic, textile, synthetic turf and bound mineral sports surfaces. Method B is suitable for natural turf and Method C is suitable for unbound mineral sports surfaces. Note: Method C for unbound mineral surfaces: laboratory tests are considered to give a more precise indication of how a surface will perform.

This European Standard specifies a method for determination of the rolling behaviour of a ball on a sports surface.

This European Standard specifies methods for determination of joint strength of synthetic sports surfaces. Two procedures are described, one for butt joints and overlapped adhesive joints in which a direct force is applied and one for reinforced butt joints in which a peel force is applied.

This European Standard specifies a procedure for the preparation of test pieces of synthetic turf and textile sports surfaces.