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/73468
Facility&Operations turf system to remove or change the field for different events? Lo- cation and climate are two big factors that affect the longevity of a field. turf quality, especially when combined with the other components involved in the field construction. Select your turf. Deadlines—When can construction start and when does the field need to be completed? The amount of time required to build a synthetic field is fairly straightforward. Your start and completion dates are flexible. Knowing the estimated project duration can help you establish these two important dates. For a drop-in field, figure no less than 7-10 weeks from break- The significant thing to understand here is the importance of ing ground to completion. For a new field, and replacing grass with synthetic turf, there are other factors that may affect the criti- cal path. The critical path is a timeline for construction projects that outlines specific events that must occur in a set order. If any of the events on the critical path are shifted, they affect the subsequent events. Your start date depends on when and how often the field is used. If it's a new field that's irrelevant, because it's clearly not Specs of Hellas Construction's Matrix Turf Property (ATSM Std.) Specification Pile Weight (D418/D5848) 42 - 46 oz. /Sq. Yd. Primary/Secondary Backing Weight (D5848) 7.7 oz. /Sq. Yd. Secondary Coating Weight (D5848) Total Weight (D5848) Yarn Denier (D1907) Pile Height Finished (D418/D5848) Tufting Gauge (D5793) Primary Backing (D5848) Secondary Coating (D5848) Tuft Bind without Infill (D1335) Grab Tear (width) (D1682/D5034) Grab Tear (length) (D1682/D5034) Carpet Permeability (D4991) Flammability (Pill Burn) (D2859) G-max (Impact Attenuation) (F355) Realfill™ Infill (E-11) Fabric Width Perforation Yarn 2 ¼"- 2 ½" 1/2" D12 or Tri-layer woven Polypropylene Polyurethane 10 lbs. +/- 250.1 - 273.1 lbs. Force 197.6 - 236.1 lbs. Force >40 inches/hour Pass <130 at installation <190 over warranty life 5 - 6 lbs +/- per square foot 15' 3/16" Holes 4" X 4" 250 microns & 150 microns • All characteristics listed above nominal +/- 5% • Matrix® turf incorporates life like individual blades of grass, tufted into the strongest and most dimensionally stable backing system available with a polyurethane pre-coat for the ultimate in tuft-bind. • Matrix is filled with a pea gravel (2-3 lbs) and cuboidal rubber infill (2.5-3.0 lbs) - Realfill™. • Infill will be a minimum of 75% of synthetic turf pile height. • The monofilament fibers curl down to cover and trap the rubber granules preventing the system from expelling the infill upon impact. • Matrix is a fully UV stabilized system ideal for outdoor use. 20 - 22 oz. /Sq. Yd. 69.9 - 75.9 oz. /Sq. Yd. 12,400 being used; but, taking into account the time- lines I presented, you can probably estimate a completion date. One of the things >> REGULAR USE of a maintenance vehicle improves lifespan and maintains a safe sur- face. How will the field be used, by whom, and how often? Is the field going to be a practice field, or strictly for game use? Will others be using the field outside of your organization? Will events take place during the day, or in the evening and at night? The answers to these questions can help you plan the type of we pride ourselves on is being on time, so once you have these dates establish, hold your construction company accountable. Establish your dead- lines. Requirements— turf, select accessories (lighting, goals, equipment), and even estab- lish how the field will be paid for. (As I mentioned, the cost may sometimes be divided up between multiple teams or institutions.) Outline the requirements. PHASE 2: Construction thetic turf field. This is where the majority of the money and time will be spent, so it makes that it is also the most important phase. The milestone in phase two is vendor selection. Vendor Selection—Who will construct the field and install the The second main phase is the actual construction of your syn- turf? Selecting a construction company is of equal importance to selecting the turf, because the construction of the field affects the safety, performance, and longevity of the field. Poorly constructed athletic field turf may fail within the warranty period leading to in- creased maintenance costs and sometimes may require a full field replacement. Some criteria for selecting and evaluating a sports construction company: • Safety Record • Expertise • Reputation • Project Management Notice that "price" is not included within the list. Price, as a criterion for evaluation, is rarely an accurate gauge when all other factors are considered. For instance, what is the value of having your field completed on time? Safety Record—Large construction projects require the use of heavy machinery. Sometimes these machines can cause expensive accidents, and even lead to injury and death. The last thing you want is negative PR, so make sure you select a construction com- pany with an impressive safety record. Expertise—This is a combination of how long the company has been manufacturing artificial turf and installing athletic fields, and 22 SportsTurf | July 2012 www.sportsturfonline.com