BS 7044 Artificial Sports Surfaces Series: Part 2

Section 2.1

This Section of the Standard provides details of five methods of test.

Three of the test methods can be used for the assessment of sports facilities without too much difficulty:

  1. Determination of rebound resilience (i.e. the height of the return bounce from a dropped ball);
  2. Determination of ball roll (i.e. how far a ball rolls after having been released down a ramp);
  3. Determination of the velocity change of a rolling ball (i.e. how quickly a ball slows down).

The two other test methods, which are primarily used for cricket wickets:

  • Determination of spin, and
  • Determination of stiffness

are more complex and would most likely be undertaken in laboratory, or under similar, conditions.

Section 2.2

This Section of the Standard provides details of four test methods.

Two of the test methods can be used on a periodic basis to provide information on the playing performance of a surface.

  1. Determination of traction (this is used to measure the potential grip provided by a surface);
  2. Determination of peak deceleration (this effectively measures the hardness of a surface).

The apparatus for determining traction can, however, be quite cumbersome.

The other two test methods:

  • Determination of sliding distance, and
  • Determination of slip resistance

require more specialist apparatus and they would most likely only be be carried out on a specific basis.

Section 2.3

This Section of the Standard is not directly relevant to a grounds manager.

The six test methods:

  1. Determination of abrasion resistance to abrasive wheels;
  2. Determination of abrasion resistance to metal blades;
  3. Determination of fatigue resistance;
  4. Determination of low temperature impact resistance;
  5. Determination of spike resistance;
  6. Determination of resistance to indentation.

would all be undertaken in a laboratory and would be mainly of interest to a manufacturer in assessing the suitability of the material during the development stage and as a means of quality assurance.

Section 2.4

Just like the previous Section of the Standard, this one is not directly relevant to a grounds manager.

The four test methods:

  1. Determination of resistance to ozone;
  2. Determination of resistance to air ageing;
  3. Determination of resistance to water;
  4. Determination of resistance to artificial weathering.

would all be undertaken in a laboratory and would be mainly of interest to a manufacturer in assessing the suitability of the material during the development stage and as a means of quality assurance.

Section 2.5

This Section of the Standard provides details of four test methods:

  1. Determination of colour transfer;
  2. Determination of seam strength: direct tension method;
  3. Determination of seam strength: peel method;
  4. Determination of infiltration rate.

All have specialist apparatus and would most likely be used following the initial installation of an artificial surface. This would be to assess the quality of the work undertaken, to act as a confirmation - or not - of some contract payment, and to set benchmark figures at a period of time that clearly identifies the strength of seams and infiltration rate prior to use taking place.

More practical test apparatus would readily enable groundstaff to monitor and assess these criteria on a regular basis. The results would then be able to be plotted onto a chart that would forewarn of potential problems instead of waiting until a major problem actually arises, causing major inconvenience to the user and lost revenue and major repair costs to the facility management.