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/306114
www.stma.org May 2014 | SportsTurf 25 batter's box area and pitcher's mound area. Other areas to be watch- ing are around the bases and sliding areas as well as where the players for each position typically place themselves." The signs of wear, he adds, can be deceiving. "Most fields will have a displacement of infill in the higher wear areas. This exposes the fibers to more UV exposure and more wear from use. The infill is key to protecting the fiber and keeping it upright and preventing what is called lay-over. Maintaining the infill levels is a key part of any syn- thetic surfacing system by checking the high wear areas and grooming them specifically on a more regular basis than the rest of the field. The more stable the infill the more protected the fiber is from laying over. Fiber lay-over is the beginning of the breakdown process." For those with access to testing equipment, the field's Gmax level will also be a telling point. "The field's Gmax will begin to rise," adds Gill. "It should be monitored and as it approaches 200 gs, the field should be remediated or replaced." Remediated. Replaced. "Gosh," you're thinking. "Isn't this why I got a synthetic field in the first place, so I wouldn't have to go through this?" Well, yes and no. For years, you've avoided mowing, sodding, weeding, seeding and feeding, the remediation and replacement other field owners go through regularly. But nothing lasts forever and that includes synthetic fields. According to Burns, a field that needs to be replaced may show a decrease in performance and/or it may present a danger to users. However, he notes, there always are those owners who try to eke out a little more time. "Sometimes, we know the field needs to be replaced, but we hear, 'Maybe we can get another year out of it.' More often than not, you'll hear that because people just don't have the money right now to replace it. We do have some people who have budgeted for this and planned for replacement in year eight, though. It depends on the owner." Drainage problems Nearing end of life Seam issues Seam issues and laminate backing de-glued Seam issues and worn fibers "But again, the key is to follow the operations and maintenance guidelines submitted by your manufacturer and keep- ing in touch with your manufacturer's rep for the life of the field. A phone call or e-mail with pictures of any area of concern can be handled quickly by the manufacturer's rep and can keep the field manager protected." — John Schedler. ››