Introduction
From 1989 to 1991 a series of seven documents was published by the British Standards Institution covering a comprehensive range of standards relating to artificial sports surfaces. A number of these documents are particularly relevant to those outdoor facilities, natural as well as artificial, that use testing of the surface as part of the overall management process in providing Performance Quality Standards.
The full title of the each document and the year it came into effect are as follows:
- BS 7044-1: 1990 Artificial sports surfaces - Part 1: Classification and general introduction
- BS 7044-2.1: 1989 Artificial sports surfaces - Part 2: Methods of test - Section 2.1: Methods for determination of ball/surface interaction
- BS 7044-2.2: 1990 Artificial sports surfaces - Part 2: Methods of test - Section 2.2: Methods for determination of person/surface interaction
- BS 7044-2.3: 1990 Artificial sports surfaces - Part 2: Methods of test - Section 2.3: Methods for determination of durability
- BS 7044-2.4: 1989 Artificial sports surfaces - Part 2: Methods of test - Section 2.4: Methods for determination of environmental resistance
- BS 7044-2.5: 1991 Artificial sports surfaces - Part 2: Methods of test - Section 2.5: Miscellaneous
- BS 7044-4: 1991 Artificial sports surfaces - Part 4: Specification for surfaces for multi-sports use
There is no Part 3.
A wealth of information is contained within these standards and they are ideally suited to being used as reference material primarily for inclusion within both maintenance specifications and construction tender/contract specifications.
Often such standards are just referenced within documents by statements such as "in accordance with BS...... etc.", however, if the time is taken to look into the content of many Standards the time spent can be well rewarded.
These articles will provide an outline of the main, but not necessarily all, points within the different Sections of the Standard, making it easier for a judgement to be made as to whether further investigation is worth while.