performance testing
Synthetic Turf Maintenance Guidelines
To maximize the appearance, performance and longevity of your synthetic turf surface, maintenance is essential.
To provide direction on this important issue, the Synthetic Turf Council has released new, improved guidelines that meet the requirements of today’s artificial turf systems. The STC states four key areas that drive the need for objective synthetic turf maintenance guidelines:
1. Maximize the appearance and longevity of your synthetic turf—Improperly maintained fields will degrade faster and compromise playing conditions.
2. Ensure maximum performance and playability—Through a combination of regular maintenance and performance testing, it is possible to track the synthetic sports field’s performance and anticipate the end of its useful life.
3. Address field usage topics and special circumstances—Factors such as age, hours of use, type of usage, climate, contamination and other situations impact the performance of the synthetic turf.
4. Meet your field’s warranty requirements—While a maintenance regimen can support the requirements of a warranty, the details of a maintenance plan should be carefully reviewed with the field builder to assure that it complies with and does not void any provisions of the warranty.
*source: Synthetic Turf Council
Ongoing routine maintenance can include keeping the playing surface free of debris, maintaining proper infill levels, and brushing the turf. More specialized maintenance may include decompaction, seam repairs and cleaning of the infill. These comprehensive guidelines discuss all aspects of maintenance from proper cleaning materials, to equipment and techniques, so you can keep your field in top performing condition.
You can follow the link to download your own copy of the “STC Guidelines for Maintenance of Infilled Synthetic Turf Sports Fields”.
Pro Grass and ACT Global Sports Raise the Game
Strategic partnership to target total sport performance solutions
Pro Grass LLC and ACT Global Sports announce the completion of a strategic partnership for the United States synthetic turf market. This partnership combines the strength of ACT Global Sports’ research, development, testing and manufacturing experts with Pro Grass’ leading sport field design, construction, installation and maintenance solutions.
Pro Grass Senior Vice President Bob Thomas comments, “We are very pleased to continue our market expansion through this partnership with ACT Global. Their capabilities and reputation for quality and technical expertise is unrivaled in our industry. We receive constant feedback that buyers and their consultants are challenged with trying to understand which artificial grass products truly provide the top safety, sport performance and durability. This partnership responds to those needs. We will lead and raise the game by providing a turf system that has been fully torture-tested and proven to match the biomechanical benchmarks of natural grass.”
For more information on the strategic partnership please click to read the full article: Pro Grass and ACT Global Sports Raise the Game
Atlético Nacional passes FIFA two star after one year of use
ACT Global Sports is proud to announce our latest FIFA Preferred Producer achievement, Atlético Nacional in Medellín, Colombia passes FIFA two star.
As a FIFA Preferred Producer all full sized football fields must be tested under the FIFA Quality Concept to meet specialized guidelines. The installation Atlético Nacional in Medellín, Colombia was no exception. The football field was tested on October 9th, 2010 roughly one year after full installation. Since then the field has been regularly used by Corporación Deportiva Atlético Nacional along with many other local teams. ACT Global is confident our Xtreme Turf installation would pass after already being used for one year under intense playing conditions. As you can see in the photo, the Xtreme Turf grass fibers are standing up to provide excellent professional stadium level performance. Along with durable grass fibers the field has proven to be climatic resistant with no signs of UV damage or color change. One year later, and we still got it.
- Xtreme Turf fibers after one year of intense use.
Lurgan Town Boys Football Club is happy with Xtreme Turf
In June of 2010 the training field in Lurgan Town was successfully tested by Labosport, conducted under FIFA Preferred Producer, ACT Global Sports.
Lurgan Town Boys Football Club in Northern Ireland was developed in 1988 to give all boys the opportunity to play football. With solid management and a strong following, the club has won many trophies and is now considered one of the top junior clubs in the country.
The club needed a new generation of football turf for their training grounds. Lurgan Town F.C. has chosen ACT Global Sports’ Xtreme Turf based on the natural appearance and proven durable playing surface. According to the clubs President, Mr. Maurice Houston, “We are very excited with this new playing field which will expand our capacity tremendously. The training field demonstrates beyond the top quality we requested from a FIFA one star field but under two star standards. The Directors of Lurgan Town Arena are extremely pleased not only with the quality of the pitch but the professional manner in which ACT Global carried out and supervised the work from start to finish.”
Director of ACT Global Sports, Wil Ditzel mentions, “In our testing protocol, all our products are tested under one and two star FIFA requirements, whereby the awarded two star certification has tighter tolerances. The club’s advantage of now having a four year certification will benefit by possibly renting shared hours of the field to local schools or other clubs. Lurgan Town F.C. is also confirmed that their members are playing on a safe surface.”
ACT Global Sports is headquartered in Austin, Texas with additional production locations in Calhoun, Georgia, Asia and Europe. The company services their international clients through offices in The Netherlands, Cyprus, Poland, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, UK and France. Local sales and support is offered through an expanding partner network of leading sport field contractors in over 50 countries.
How does synthetic turf compare to natural grass?
ACT Global Sports completed a natural grass study at Texas A&M University to find out how their brand of Xtreme Turf compares to natural grass with the focus of sport performance. Kyle Field at Texas A&M was selected as it is well-known for being one of the top natural grass football stadiums in the United States.
As North American buyers seek sport performance benchmarks for American Football, additional research has been needed to also understand the relationship of international synthetic turf standards as established by FIFA and a top natural grass field for American Football. FIFA utilizes natural grass benchmarks in areas including foot stability, traction, shock absorption and ball interaction to create its synthetic turf standards. These benchmarks have led to safer, better performing synthetic turf fields.
The results for Xtreme Turf by ACT Global Sports, fall within the same range as the FIFA Quality Concept standards for synthetic turf for the conducted tests against natural grass.
To read the full article please visit http://actglobalsports.com/ACTGlobal_NaturalGrassStudy_press.html.
Performance Testing
In order to achieve natural grass type performance, the artificial turf system must be tested. ACT Global Sports is a recognized leader in sports performance testing as it uses criteria based upon studies conducted on professional natural grass stadiums. These methods employed by FIFA include combines four areas including durability, climatic resistance, player-to-surface interaction and ball-to-surface interaction.
We are pleased to share the definitions of these performance measurements:
DURABILITY
Simulated Wear (Abrasion Resistance) – The surface is artificially abraded (simulation of five year period of wear) and tested for the following: Shock Absorption, Vertical Deformation, Vertical Ball Rebound, and Rotational Resistance.
Joint Strength – Measures the maximum force recorded to destroy the joints where they are sewn or adhered with adhesive.
CLIMATIC RESISTANCE
UV / Water / Heat – Measures the colour change, abrasion resistance and joint strength.
PLAYER-TO-SURFACE INTERACTION
Shock Absorption – Measures the impact absorption provided by the surface to a player running or falling on it.
Vertical Deformation (Foot Stability) – Measures the stability of the surface as a player runs across it.
Rotational Resistance (Traction) – Measures the interaction between the shoe sole and the surface relating to the ability of a player to change direction.
Slip resistance scale – It is a measure of the ability of the studs to slide through the surface without causing the player to slip over
Slip resistance deceleration – Measures the deceleration experienced by the players shoe as it makes contact with the surface. If the deceleration is too high then damage to joints and ligaments may occur.
Skin Abrasion – Measures the abrasiveness of the surface on the skin of the player when sliding.
Skin Friction – Measures the friction of the surface on the skin of the player when sliding
BALL-TO-SURFACE INTERACTION
Vertical ball rebound – Measures how high the ball bounces when falling vertically
Ball roll – measures how far the ball rolls onto the surface compared to natural grass
Angled ball behaviour – Measures how the ball rebounds from the surface when striking it at a shallow angle under dry and wet conditions
Links
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