EUROPEAN & INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS SURFACES FOR SPORTS AREAS A SHORT GUIDE (versie 2014) IMPORTANT NOTE: The full standard texts are to be purchased at your national standardisation organisation: NBN Jozef II-straat 40 B-1000 Brussel NBN 40, Rue Joseph II B-1000 Bruxelles Centexbel 2014 Page 1
CEN/TC 217 SURFACES FOR SPORTS AREAS Standardization of surfaces for sports areas for indoor and outdoor use, including underlayers, as far as they have an impact on the surface requirements. This standardization commission develops European standards for sports areas. This work includes both test methods and product standards for areas for almost all kinds of different sports activities, for both in- and outdoor use: natural and synthetic turf, needle punch, synthetic surfaces, rubber, etc. Sometimes it deals with systems composed of several layers and/or components. In most cases, the use of these sports areas is restricted to public, recreational sports or for school sports, since professional sports organisations mostly have their own specifications that are mainly focused on top level sports to which other requirements apply. EN 1516:1999 Determination of resistance to indentation Test method to measure the resistance to indentation of synthetic sports surfaces. Not applicable to synthetic turf. EN 1517:1999 Determination of resistance to impact Test method to determine the resistance to impact of surfaces for sports areas. EN 1569:1999 Determination of the behaviour under a rolling load Test method to determine the behaviour under a rolling load of indoor sports surfaces. EN 1969:2000 EN 12228:2013 EN 12229:2014 Determination of thickness of synthetic sports surfaces Determination of joint strength of synthetic surfaces Procedure for the preparation of synthetic turf and needle-punch test pieces Two test methods to determine the thickness of synthetic sports surfaces in a lab and in in situ. of synthetic surfaces for sports areas, suitable for use in the laboratory and in situ. Method A, a destructive test method, is intended for use where the thickness needs to be measured to an accuracy of +/-0,1 mm; when the thickness of different layers is to be determined. Method B, a non-destructive test method, is intended for use as a routine check on thickness, e.g. for control purposes or when surveying a large area of synthetic surfacing. It gives measurements to an accuracy between +/-0,5 and +/-1,5 mm, depending upon the texture. Two test methods for the determination of joint strength of synthetic sports surfaces including synthetic turf. Method 1 describes a procedure for butt joints and overlapped adhesive joints in which a direct force is applied. Method 2 describes a procedure for reinforced butt joints in which a peel force is applied. Procedure for the preparation of test pieces of synthetic turf and needle-punch sports surfaces. Centexbel 2014 Page 2
EN 12230:2003 EN 12231:2003 Determination of tensile properties of synthetic sports surfaces Method of test - Determination of ground cover of natural turf Test method for the determination of the tensile properties of materials used as surfaces for sports areas. It is applicable to elastomeric materials which are used as the upper wearing layer of such areas, and to elastomeric materials used as underlayers in composite sports surfacing systems. It is applicable both to prefabricated sheet materials and to materials formed by casting of liquid systems cured in-situ. Three methods of test for the determination of ground cover of natural turf sports surfaces. EN 12232:2003 Determination of thatch depth of natural turf Test method for determination of thatch depth of natural turf sports surfaces. EN 12233:2003 Determination of sward height of natural turf Test method for determination of sward height of natural turf sports surfaces. EN 12234:2013 Determination of ball roll behaviour Test method for determining the rolling behaviour of a ball on a sports surface. EN 12235:2013 Determination of vertical ball behaviour Test method for determining the rebound height of a ball from a surface, when dropped vertically. EN 12616:2013 EN 13672:2004 Determination of water infiltration rate Determination of resistance to abrasion of non-filled synthetic turf Three test methods for the determination of water infiltration rate. Method A is suitable for synthetic, textile, synthetic turf and bound mineral sports surfaces, Method B is suitable for natural turf and Method C is suitable for unbound mineral sports surfaces. Test method for the determination of the wear resistance of a non-filled synthetic turf surface using an abrasive wheel under laboratory conditions. It is applicable to nonfilled synthetic turf with a pile height greater than 15 mm. EN 13744:2004 Procedure for accelerated ageing by immersion in hot water Test procedure for subjecting test pieces taken from surfaces for sports areas to accelerated ageing by immersion in hot water. Test pieces are aged to permit a comparison of their physical characteristics before and after ageing, in accordance with European Standard test methods for surfaces for sport areas, to be made. Centexbel 2014 Page 3
EN 13745:2004 Determination of specular reflectance Test method for the determination of the specular reflectance of certain surfaces for indoor sports areas. EN 13746:2004 Determination of dimensional changes due to the effect of varied water, frost and heat conditions Method for the determination of the dimensional stability of synthetic turf, textile surfaces, shock pads and loose-laid synthetic surfaces when subjected to varied water, frost and heat conditions. EN 13817:2004 EN 13864:2004 EN 13865:2003 Procedure for accelerated ageing by exposure to hot air Determination of tensile strength of synthetic yarns Determination of angled ball behaviour - Tennis Test procedure suitable for subjecting test pieces taken from all types of polymeric surfaces for sports areas to accelerated ageing by exposure to hot air in the laboratory. Test pieces are aged to permit a comparison of their physical characteristics before and after ageing, in accordance with EN test methods for surfaces for sports areas, to be made. Two methods for the determination of the tensile properties of pile yarns in the construction of synthetic turf. Method A is used for determining the tensile properties of synthetic yarns taken from packages prior to the manufacture of synthetic turf. Method B is used for determining the tensile properties of pile yarns from the manufactured synthetic turf. The results from the two methods are not comparable and method B is less accurate. Test method for the determination of the behaviour of a tennis ball striking a sports surface at an angle. EN 14808:2005 Determination of shock absorption Method for the determination of shock absorption characteristics of sports surfaces. NOTE The method specified is commonly known as the Artificial Athlete (Berlin) method. EN 14809:2005 Determination of vertical deformation Method for the determination of the vertical deformation of sports surfaces. NOTE The method specified is commonly known as the Artificial Athlete (Stuttgart) method. EN 14810:2006 Determination of spike resistance Method method for the determination of the resistance of a synthetic sports surface to spikes. EN 14836:2005 Synthetic surfaces for outdoor sports areas - Exposure to artificial weathering Method for the exposure of synthetic surfaces for outdoor sports areas to artificial weathering in order that the resulting changes in properties can be determined as detailed in the relevant product specification. Centexbel 2014 Page 4
EN 14837:2006 Determination of slip resistance Method method for the determination of the slip resistance of a sports surface in relation to a studded or smooth soled sports shoe. EN 14877:2013 EN 14904:2006 EN 14952:2005 EN 14953:2005 Synthetic surfaces for outdoor sports areas - Specification Indoor surfaces for multi-sports use - Specification Determination of water absorption of unbound minerals Surfaces for sport areas - Determination of thickness of unbound mineral surfaces for outdoor sports areas This European Standard specifies the requirements for synthetic (polymeric) surfaces (installed in situ and prefabricated) for outdoor sports facilities. It covers synthetic surfaces for the following applications: - athletics, track and field; - tennis; - multi-sports. The European Standard has two parts. The first describes the requirements for the testing of products in the laboratory to ensure they are capable of providing the required levels of sports performance and player/surface interaction required for their intended use and that they are manufactured from materials of acceptable quality. The second section describes the requirements for installed surfaces to ensure that the sports performance and player/surface interaction properties are suitable for the intended use. When independent third party testing of synthetic sports surfaces is required to assess compliance with this standard, it is recommended the laboratory is certified to EN ISO/IEC 17025 for the relevant test methods specified in this standard. NOTE 1 Examples of types of surface and their fields of application are given in Annex A. NOTE 2 Multi-sports will be defined by appropriate national provisions. NOTE 3 Minimum requirements for the thickness of the synthetic sports surface are specified which means that this European Standard is not applicable to certain coatings used for sports surfaces. This European Standard is not designed to cover the performance requirements of top-level athletics facilities; these should follow the requirements of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). NOTE 4 This European Standard does not include requirements for synthetic turf surfaces; these are specified in EN 15330 1. This European Standard specifies requirements for surfaces for indoor facilities for multi-sports use. It also covers surface systems which include both their supporting and upper layers whether prefabricated, produced in situ or a combination of the two. It also provides for the evaluation of conformity of products to the requirements of this European Standard. This European Standard is not applicable to indoor tennis halls. NOTE Multi-sports will be defined by appropriate national provisions. Method for the determination of water absorption of unbound minerals (grain size till 6 mm) for outdoor sports surfaces. Two methods for determining the thickness of granular materials within a structure. The two methods can be used to provide an indication of the thickness of surfacing material, one using a steel tape, the other using a floating disc and a steel tape. Method 1 is applicable to layers within a profile. Method 2 measures the thickness of a material at the surface. Centexbel 2014 Page 5
EN 14954:2005 EN 14955:2005 EN 14956:2005 EN 15301-1:2007 Determination of hardness of natural turf and unbound mineral surfaces for outdoor sports areas Determination of composition and particle shape of unbound mineral surfaces for outdoor sports areas Determination of water content of unbound mineral surfaces for outdoor sports areas Part 1: Determination of rotational resistance Method for the determination of hardness of natural turf and unbound mineral surfaces. Method for determining the composition and particle shape of unbound minerals for outdoor sports surfaces. Method method for the determination of the water content of unbound mineral surfaces used for outdoor sports areas. Methods for determining the rotational resistance of sports surfaces. EN 15301-2:2007 EN 15306:2014 EN 15330-1:2013 Part 2: Determination of shear strength by dynamic top layer testing of unbound mineral surfaces in the laboratory Surfaces for outdoor sports areas - Exposure of synthetic turf to simulated wear Synthetic turf and needle-punched surfaces primarily designed for outdoor use - Part 1: Specification for synthetic turf surfaces for football, hockey, rugby union training, tennis and multi-sports use Method for determining the shear strength by dynamic top layer testing of unbound mineral surfaces in the laboratory. Method method for conditioning synthetic turf and needle-punch surfaces by simulating interaction between a sports shoe and sports surface, to allow changes in appearance and to allow sports functional characteristics to be measured. NOTE The method specified is commonly known as the Lisport method. This European Standard specifies performance, durability, product identification and facility testing requirements for synthetic turf sports surfaces used primarily outdoors. Five categories of surface are covered, each based on the principal sporting use of the surface, as follows: surfaces designed primarily for hockey; surfaces designed primarily for association football; surfaces designed primarily for rugby union for training purposes; surfaces designed primarily for tennis; surfaces designed for multi-sports use. The requirements are intended to apply to surfaces used for community, educational and recreational sport. For professional and elite levels of competition, many sports governing bodies have published their own specifications; the requirements of the sports governing bodies might differ from those detailed in this European Standard and facility developers are advised to ensure that they select surfaces offering the correct level of performance for the level of competition played on the pitch or court. NOTE Under the Laws of the Game of Rugby Union, surfaces for rugby union matches need to comply with the International Rugby Board s IRB Regulation 22 and associated performance specification for synthetic turf surfaces. This European Standard has two parts. The first part describes the requirements for product testing of products in the laboratory to ensure they are capable of providing the required levels of sports performance and player/surface interaction required for their intended use and that they are manufactured from materials of acceptable quality. Centexbel 2014 Page 6
EN 15330-2:2008 CEN/TS 15122:2005 Synthetic turf and needle-punched surfaces primarily designed for outdoor use - Part 2: Specification for needle-punched surfaces Determination of resistance of synthetic sports surfaces to repeated impact The second section describes the requirements for installed surfaces to ensure that the sports performance and player/surface interaction of a facility is suitable for the intended use. Some of the surfaces covered by this European Standard are designed to allow users to wear footwear fitted with studs. An example of a typical stud is given in EN 15306. For the purposes of this European Standard, multi-dimpled shoe profiles often found on footwear used on sand-filled or non-filled synthetic turfs are not considered to be studs. When independent third party testing of synthetic turf sports surfaces is required to assess compliance with this standard, it is recommended the laboratory is certified to EN ISO/IEC 17025 for the relevant test methods specified in this standard. This European Standard specifies performance and durability characteristics of needle-punched sports surfaces primarily used outdoors. Two categories of surfaces are covered, based on the principal sporting use of the surface, as follows: surfaces designed for multi-sports use; surfaces designed primarily for tennis. The requirements are intended to apply to surfaces used for community, educational and recreational sport. For professional and elite levels of competition, many sports governing bodies have published their own specifications; the requirements of the sports governing bodies might differ from those detailed in this European Standard and facility developers are advised to ensure that they select surfaces offering the correct levels of performance for the levels of competition to be played on the pitch or court. This European Standard is based on type approval testing of products in the laboratory. Selected requirements may also be used on-site to assess the suitability of installed surfaces. Guidance on the testing of installations is given in Annex A. Test method for the determination of the resistance of a synthetic sports surface to repeated impacts. CEN/TS 16384:2012 Synthetic sport systems - Leaching test Testing methods concerning the release from synthetic sport systems for outdoor of substances in ground water, surface water and drainage water by performing a dedicated leaching test on a sample of a synthetic sport system for outdoor. In addition, this Technical Specification provides tools for a relative leaching assessment of system s components (e.g. granules) of different origin or nature. This Technical Specification does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Centexbel 2014 Page 7