Sports Field Safety Surfacing Inspections
Certified in testing of synthetic turf to ASTM F1936-10 requirements (training certificate A72)
Certified to operate the Triax2015 Impact Tester (training certificate C664)
Types of fields tested:
Football
Soccer
Lacrosse
Softball
Baseball
Field Hockey
Reports
Most standards specify minimum content of
reports. Reports must be free standing to cover statute of limitations for injuries and must
include:
Weekly (Most Popular)
- Instrumentation confirmation
- Drop height or velocity of drop
- Include certificate of training and calibration
- Depths of surfaces – system and infill
- Temperature – ambient, system, infill
IMPLICATIONS FOR OWNER/OPERATOR
- Ultimately the Owner/Operator is responsible for all aspects of the selection, specification, prior to use inspection and ongoing maintenance of a surface system to ensure compliance & prevent injury.
- Failure to follow standards at any stage can preclude compliance and result in a preventable injury, negligence and liability.
FIELD TESTING (COMPLIANCE)
- The highest degree of confidence for the owner/operator for compliance to standards and contract specifications
- Especially important to surface systems with high degree of field assembly
- Only way Owner/Operator can determine warranty compliance
TEST LOCATIONS
FOOTBALL FIELDS
Point 1 – Goal Line, End A, centre field
Point 2 – 10 yard line, End A, 63 ft. from centre of field to Side C
Point 3 – 25 yard line, End A, 40 ft. from centre of field to Side C
Point 4 – Centre point, Centre Field
Point 5 – 25 yard line, End B, 63 ft. from centre of field to Side D
Point 6 – 12 yard line, End B, centre of field
Point 7 – selected by tester, within limit lines, but out of bounds, typically 12 ft.
Point 8 – selected by tester, with field limit lines that are anticipated to have different impact attenuation properties.
Point 9 – 6 ft. from the Goal line toward the back of end zone End A, centre field
Point 10 – 6 ft. from the back of the end zone toward the End B, centre field
Soccer Fields
Point 1 – Penalty Kick Line, End A, centre field
Point 2 – End A, 63 ft. from centre of field to penalty box corner Side C
Point 3 – 75 ft. from half line, End A, 40 ft. from centre of field to Side C
Point 4 – Centre point, Half line
Point 5 – 75 ft. from half line, End B, 63 ft. from centre of field to Side D
Point 6 – Centre within the penalty retraining area for penalty box End B
Point 7 – selected by tester, within limit lines, but out of bounds, Side D
Point 8 – selected by tester, with field limit lines that are anticipated to
have different impact attenuation properties, side C.
Point 9 – 3 ft. from the Goal line toward half line End A, centre field
Point 10 – 15 ft. from the Goal line toward half line End B, centre field
MEN’S LACROSSE FIELDS
Point 1 – 25 ft. from end line toward centre, End A, centre field
Point 2 – 63 ft. from end line End A at wing line, toward Side C
Point 3 – 75 ft. from centre line to End A, 40 ft. from mid‐line to Side C
Point 4 – Centre point, Centre Field
Point 5 – 75 ft. from centre line to End B, 40 ft. from mid‐line to Side D
Point 6 – Centre of 9’ radius End B
Point 7 – selected by tester, within limit lines, but out of bounds, typically 12 ft.
Point 8 – selected by tester, with field limit lines that are anticipated to have different impact attenuation properties.
Point 9 – 3 ft. from the End line toward centre field End A, centre field
Point 10 – 3 ft. from the End line toward centre field End B, centre field
FIELD HOCKEY FIELDS
Point 1 – 3 ft. from Goal Line, End A, centre of field
Point 2 – 30 ft. from Goal line, End A, 63 ft. from centre of field to Side C
Point 3 – 25 yard line, End A, 40 ft. from centre of field to Side C
Point 4 – Centre point, Centre Field
Point 5 – 25 yard line, End B, 63 ft. from centre of field to Side D
Point 6 – 12 ft. from edge of Striking Circle to Goal line, End B, centre of field
Point 7 – selected by tester, within limit lines, but out of bounds
Point 8 – selected by tester, within field limit lines that are anticipated to have different impact attenuation properties.
Point 9 – selected by tester, within field limit lines that demonstrate having high traffic
Point 10 – selected by tester, anywhere that are anticipated to have different impact attenuation properties
WOMEN’S LACROSSE FIELDS
Point 1 – 3 ft. from Goal Line to Centre line, End A, centre of field
Point 2 – 30 ft. from Goal line End A 63 ft. from mid‐line toward Side C
Point 3 – 75 ft. from Goal line End A, 40 ft. from mid‐line to Side C
Point 4 – Centre point, Centre Field
Point 5 – 75 ft. from Goal line End B, 63 ft. from mid‐line to Side D
Point 6 – 3 ft. from 8 meter arc toward goal End B, centre of field
Point 7 – selected by tester, within limit lines, but out of bounds
Point 8 – selected by tester, with field limit lines that are anticipated to have different impact attenuation properties.
Point 9 – 3 ft. from the End line toward centre field End A, centre field
Point 10 – 3 ft. from the End line toward centre field End B, centre field
UNLINED FIELDS
Point 1 – 145 ft. from centre line, End A centre of field
Point 2 – 124 ft. from centre line, End A, 63 ft. toward Side C from mid‐line
Point 3 – 75 ft. from centre line, End A, 40 ft. toward Side C from mid‐line
Point 4 – Centre point, Centre Field
Point 5 – 75 ft. from centre line, End B, 63 ft. toward Side C from mid‐line
Point 6 – 114 ft. from centre line, End B, centre of the field
Point 7 – selected by tester, within field limit lines that demonstrate having high traffic
Point 8 –selected by tester, anywhere that are anticipated to have different impact attenuation properties
Point 9 – 155 ft. from centre line, End A, centre field
Point 10 – 155 ft. from centre line, End B, centre field
BASEBALL/SOFTBALL FIELDS
Point 1 – 25 ft. from tip of Home Plate to the centre of the pitcher’s mound
Point 2 – 6 ft. from 1st Base to 2nd Base
Point 3 – 3 ft. from 2nd Base to 1st Base
Point 4 – 4 ft. from 3rd Base to 2nd Base
Point 5 – ½ distance from left infield to outfield fence mid between 2nd & 3rd Bases
Point 6 – ½ distance from 2nd base to outfield fence in line with home plate
Point 7 – ½ distance from left infield to outfield fence mid between 2nd & 1st Bases
Point 8 – 20 ft. from left field fence in line with 1st & 2nd Bases
Point 9 –test point selected by the tester in either foul area exhibiting high wear
Point 10 – test point selected by the tester in either foul area exhibiting less than optimal impact attenuation
IMPACT TESTING
Field Testing Problems
- Field testing is subject to the ambient conditions of the site
- Field testing usually involves travel costs and delays can add to the costs
- Weather conditions can be problematic for the instrumentation & test personnel
Field Testing Solutions
- Field testing for impact attenuation can provide baseline for depth testing
- Field testing for depth of infill is less weather dependent than impact testing
- Field testing for depth can be performed locally without need for travel
- Weather conditions is less problematic for the instrumentation & test personne
Field Testing Locations
- Athletic fields are approximately 55,000 ft2
- ASTM F1936 requires only 10 predetermined points for 283 ft2 of total field
- Owner should require additional points & require random selection to determine compliance.
- Expectation is the entire system complies when < 1% actually complies
Field Testing Problems
Temperature requirement in playgrounds and fields to test at ambient temperatures
- Heat can affect electronic data acquisition devices for contrast, requiring special care
- Heat is not a factor in the testing of depth of infill or the entire system
Field Test Locations
- Specified for testing of impact attenuation based on the sport-specific purposes
- Depth testing is at the same sites as specified for impact attenuation
- Depth testing is at any other site that is determined by owner or sport governing body
Field Testing
- Test depth at 3 locations around each impact test location
- NFL proposes 60 test locations prior to each game
- Compare impact performance to depth of infill and ensure depth of surface is within range for impact test areas
Test Locations Fields
- Test locations have been determined as anticipated high traffic areas for the relevant sport
- Test locations should include areas out of bounds where the athletes would be reasonably expected to play or fall.
- Test locations should selected within 36 inches (91cm) radius of the stipulated location
