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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/141613
Facility&Operations Maintenance & performance guidelines for synthetic turf fields R ECENTLY the Synthetic Turf Council (STC) published its "Suggested Guidelines for the Maintenance of Infilled Synthetic Turf Surfaces." The STC says routine maintenance, along with periodic intense maintenance, is essential to the life and performance of infilled synthetic turf. This maintenance manual provides owners and end-users with a way to realistically evaluate the maintenance recommendations for a synthetic turf surface, based on its intended use. To access the entire document, visit www.syntheticturf council.org. The STC says there are four key areas that drive the need for objective synthetic turf maintenance guidelines: • Maximize the appearance and longevity of your synthetic turf. Improperly maintained fields will degrade faster and compromise playing conditions. • Ensure maximum performance and playability. Proper maintenance is essential for the performance and quality of any synthetic turf system. 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. • Address field usage topics and special circumstances. Factors such as age, hours of use, type of use, climate, contamination and other situations impact the performance of the synthetic turf. • 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 28 SportsTurf | July 2013 void any provisions of the warranty. The information provided here focuses on infilled synthetic turf systems designed for sports fields. Please note that here a "field builder" is defined as the company having primary responsibility for installing the synthetic turf sports field, either directly or indirectly through a subcontractor or distributor, and providing the overall warranty for the installation and the field materials. A field owner should take the following approach toward maintenance: BAG OF DEBRIS collected from the playing surface at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. Address field usage topics and special circumstances. Factors such as age, hours of use, type of use, climate, contamination and other situations impact the performance of the synthetic turf. BEFORE YOUR PURCHASE • Understand that no synthetic turf system is "maintenance free". • Obtain the field builder's warranty and maintenance guidelines. Ask questions to understand the implications and requirements of each throughout the useful life of the synthetic turf. • Discuss the anticipated usage of your field with your field builder. Obtain a maintenance plan that is designed for your field and its planned usage. • Include in your purchase specific maintenance equipment, extra infill and repair materials (extra synthetic turf, seaming tape and glue). • For synthetic turf fields with an irrigation system, consult an irrigation specialist to ensure that the system will not cause the field to become over saturated when irrigated. Only potable water should be used for irrigation. • Design and locate the field to avoid contamination from adjacent areas. • Ensure player walkways to the field are clean, and install a brush mat at the en- www.sportsturfonline.com