Standards for synthetic surfaces for outdoor sports areas
A synthetic surface for outdoor sports areas is typically a multi-layered surface that is installed on top of a bound base layer, an unbound base layer and, if necessary, a filter layer. It is mostly used for track and field facilities and tennis courts, though it is also suitable for use on multi-sports facilities, including football pitches and streetball courts. There are synthetic surfaces for recreational, amateur and school sports as well as for competitive training and competition (mainly in the field of athletics).
There are specific standards in place that govern the requirements that synthetic surfaces for outdoor sports areas must meet in terms of structure, materials used and properties. In Germany, two standards are relevant: DIN EN 14877 and DIN 18035-6. The former is the authoritative European standard, while the latter covers issues that are not explicitly delineated in the DIN EN 14877 series. It is imperative that the latter does not contradict the former. The standards are developed in a special working committee with a panel of experts and adopted by consensus. The whole process is overseen by the European Committee for Standardisation or the German Institute for Standardisation, and the standards are then published as reference works by a specialist publisher for a fee. A standard is reviewed every five years to ascertain whether any amendments are required.
Three fields of application for synthetic surfaces as delineated in DIN EN 14877
The European standard DIN EN 14877 basically distinguishes between three fields of application for synthetic surfaces for outdoor sports areas, namely athletics facilities, tennis courts and multi-sports facilities. The standard sets out different requirements and prerequisites for each of these applications, both for laboratory testing and for on-site field testing on the constructed sports facility. ISP GmbH – Institut für Sportstättenprüfung offers its customers both types of testing for all applications of synthetic surfaces in accordance with DIN EN 14877. We offer professional testing of your synthetic surface products or already installed synthetic sports surfaces, both in our modern and fully equipped testing laboratory and directly on site using our portable test equipment.
The laboratory tests specified in DIN EN 14877 are basically divided into two categories: Testing of sports performance and testing of material properties. Performance encompasses various parameters, such as friction (slip resistance), shock absorption (the capacity to mitigate the impact force exerted on the surface – crucial for preventing injuries) or vertical ball behaviour (rebound behaviour of a ball after impact with the surface). Material properties include, for example, water permeability, abrasion resistance, colour loss and tensile properties (maximum tensile stress that the material can withstand).
The on-site tests conducted on the constructed facility pertain exclusively to the performance requirements for the synthetic surface. Depending on the application (athletics, tennis, multi-sports), there are also different requirements, e.g. with regard to shock absorption, grip (slip resistance), maximum vertical deformation or vertical ball behaviour.
Differentiation of surface types as delineated in DIN 18035-6
DIN 18035-6 does not differentiate between synthetic surfaces for outdoor sports areas by field of application, but rather by type of surface. The standard delineates six different types, three of which are permeable to water (spray-coated surfacing, EPDM surfacing and single-layer EPDM surfacing) and three of which are impermeable to water (sandwich system surfacing, multi-layer sandwich system surfacing and single-layer sandwich system surfacing).
The types of surfaces differ in their structure and also in their possible uses. This differentiation between surface types is also found in an annex to DIN EN 14877 (which includes an additional type of surface). DIN 18035-6 sets out the requirements for the various layers that constitute a synthetic sports surface, including environmental compatibility requirements. It also supplements the test requirements set out in DIN EN 14877 and establishes specifications with regard to the maintenance of synthetic surfaces.
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ISP GmbH – Institut für Sportstättenprüfung is pleased to offer professional testing of synthetic surface products or already installed synthetic surfaces on athletics facilities, tennis courts and multi-sports facilities in accordance with DIN EN 14877 and 18035-6.
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We will be happy to advise you on the procedure and background to testing synthetic surfaces.
Synthetic surfaces
| Sports | Test criteria |
|---|---|
| Athletics | Sports function |
| Basketball | Protective function |
| Hockey | Technical properties |
| Tennis | Environmental compatibility |