SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/50965
BRAND NAME: FLEXSAND ACTION What it is: Polyolefin elastomers and high- purity quartz coated sand infill Selling points: – Shock absorption qualities and the ballast performance of raw sand – Eliminates static charge – Low abrasive index; no chemicals or metals – Reduces "kick out" of infill material –Uses cross-linking molecular bonding to ensure coating's integrity Color: Sand Manufacturer: Fairmount Sports + Recreation BRAND NAME:ENTECH What it is: SBR rubber infill Selling points: –Material made out of only all black com- mercial truck tires containing no fiber –Very low dust and no white sidewall particles – Inexpensive, durable, no fiber, recyclable – Playability and shock absorbing qualities – Service all Midwest by truck Color: All Black Manufacturer: Entech Inc. Type of Infill Ambient Rubber Cryogenic Rubber Silica Sand Angular Sand Colored, Man-Made Rubber Color- Coated Rubber Rubber(green)- Coated Sand Coconut Husks + haven't used it Cork or Walnut haven't used it of 90,000 sq ft Field $50,000 Material Cost $100,000 $15,000 $2,000 $220,000 $280,000 $100,000 BRAND NAME:FLAMEGUARD What it is: Polyolefin-based infill pellets Selling points: –Will quickly extinguish flame spread – Non-abrasive, performance layer added as a small topdressing application to a stan- dard infill mix Color: Black Manufacturer: FieldTurf BRAND NAME: FLAMEGUARD GREEN What it is: Infill pellet Selling points: – Environmentally friendly pellet that extin- guishes flame spread and is made using re- cycled artificial turf fibers Color: Green Manufacturer: FieldTurf BRAND NAME: NATURAFILL (part of system, not sold separately) What it is: Organic infill composed of 100% cork Selling points: – Recyclable and re-usable with no by-products Pro It works, low cost ? It works Uniform size, Con Cost 2x more than ambient Cost 10x more lower Gmax (20%) than angular Cost 1/7th Special look Special look Cost $160K more than ambient cost $220K Rubber & sand Cost 2x more can't separate than ambient Comment Qualifies for LEED credit Qualifies for LEED credit, some area supplies are monopolized by one turf company so they try to get it specified to give them a cost advantage. Owner's choice if about $13,000 is worth it Compacts a bit more Haven't seen the "cuts turf fibers" that some companies claim—even in 12-yr-old fields Can lower surface temp by 3-10 degrees Can lower surface temp by 3-10 degrees, still get more than ambient some LEED points Can lower surface temp by 3-10 degrees. Raises Gmax considerably (50%?) Qualifies for LEED credit Qualifies for LEED credit Note: All prices vary and these are representative costs for relative cost analysis; compiled by W. Todd Smith, PE, LEED-AP, Academy Sports Turf, LLC, Englewood, CO. –Odorless – Cork will not crumble or become de- formed –Drains off rather than absorbs water – Not a medium for microorganisms – Cooler than rubber infill Color: Cork Manufacturer: Domo Sports Grass BRAND NAME: INFILLPRO GEO (part of system, not sold separately) What it is: natural cork and coconut fiber (coir) Selling points: – Reduces heat of synthetic turf system – Increased foot stability – Lower Gmax – Highly permeable for improved drainage –100% organic and Earth friendly, 100% re- cyclable Color: Earth brown Manufacturer: Limonta Sport Spa www.stma.org SportsTurf 37