Artificial turf

Artificial turf is a kind of plastic carpet that a natural grass comes close in texture and appearance. Usually it is on the sports field, preferably for hockey and football, is used.

• 3.1 Hockey
• 3.2 Football
• 3.3 Golf, Swin

Benefits

The advantages of the artificial turf compared to natural grass are lower care needs, the greater load capacity and the playability even in bad weather. Some sports such as hockey can be on artificial turf much easier and more accurate play than on natural grass. For this reason, field hockey is played at a high level almost exclusively on artificial turf.

Considerable use and care advantages arise especially when compared with aerial surfaces that are often not recordable in the freeze- thaw period.

Despite all the advantages offered by the artificial turf at various situations of need, we must not forget important points. Whether privately funded, through funding or from the municipal fund - the useful life of an artificial turf system is always limited. Depending on the load keeps the surface area of ​​between 10 and 15 years. At the base, if this was expertly prepared according to DIN specifications, is to start from the double period. In any case, the follow-up costs at the initial investment must already be scheduled - those generated by a renovation or new construction ( and possibly also by the disposal), but also those which bring continuous and seasonal care with it.

PREPARATION AND USE

The sport functional and technical properties are determined not only by the artificial turf, but by the entire base system, including elastic layer (EL ) and elastic layer ( ET). Due to the rapid development of artificial turf surfaces and the wide variety of flooring types flooring expert selection and consistent supervision to the project, set high standards. Technical requirements and care includes, among other things, DIN V 18035, Part 7 ( sports fields, synthetic turf areas ).

Construction

Artificial turf is produced mainly in the so-called Tuftverfahren. The yarns used consist of polypropylene, polyethylene or polyamide. The tuft backing ( base fabric ) is coated with latex and usually additionally stabilized. The playing fields for soccer are now generally filled with sand and / or rubber granules.

Despite the generally similar appearance, there are a variety of different artificial grass qualities that depending on the application (football, hockey, tennis, golf, multi-purpose, or the like ) have a different fiber structure (straight, curly ), fiber density and pile height. For the hockey use artificial turf surfaces usually come without Polverfüllung for use. Synthetic turf is usually installed in rolls of a width of 3-5 m.

It is laid on a respective elastic layer made ​​of PUR - bonded rubber or foam sheets or plates. Another group of coatings is designed so that is not elastic, directly on the mineral or asphalt ground, laid. The connection of the lining joints are seam by bandages made ​​of polyester or polyamide fabric and polyurethane coating composition or (only for non-filled pads ) by sewing with a through PUR binder on the floor backing secured, PES thread.

A flooring with non-filled pile is supplied in sheets of 1 x 2 m. The connection of the plates is carried out with Velcro and can always be resolved.

The artificial turf surface is permeable to water generally. This feature improves on the one hand, the sports and protective function, on the other hand, the soil is not sealed so that rain water can be delivered to the lower layers. The water permeability is usually achieved by perforation holes with diameter of about 4 mm at a distance of 10-15 mm.

Underground

The base course shall ensure the stability of the coating system ( permanent flatness even under load ) and water drainage. The preparation is carried out according to the known rules of the sports field construction (eg DIN 18035-6 and -7 ). Mineral layers shall be designed particularly sensitive to freezing. In general, the top support layer should be bound ( eg, drain asphalt).

Dewatering is only moderately heavy rainfall exclusively in the vertical direction ( that is, through the support layer ). In heavy rain and superficial runoff to the square edges occurs ( with a gradient of the square of 0.5-1 %), where care must be taken for a sufficiently powerful water drainage.

The direct installation of artificial turf on unbound ( mineral ) base course is problematic. This applies in particular to Switzerland because stable grain mixtures lack crushed stone material are not always available. Non -crush grain mixtures lead over time to irregularities that are represented on the lining surface. The stability is also important during the laying of the flooring when transportation vehicles move the heavy turf rolls and muster the Polschichtfüllung so that the base layer remains flat. For the crush resistance of unbound / mineral base layers of the state in water- saturated state, whichever is ( as you enter may, for example, no separation of the fine parts of the base course material occur ). Suitable materials are basically comprised of crushed stone of sufficient strength with a maximum grain size of at least 24 mm and a low fine grain content.

Use

Artificial pitches without granulate ( fully synthetic turf ) are recorded wet. The lawn is regularly - for example, in the half-time - watered. The wetness reduces the risk of abrasions in tackles or in the case of falls and reduces abrasion of the fiber material.

The usual formula that contributes to decision support with respect to the sports ground covering, states that if a use 800-2500 hours per year of synthetic turf is the most appropriate and is therefore recommended.

Care

The minimum level of care for the artificial turf is in the brushing of the square, which, no matter what type it is, must be done every two weeks. Details for the care of an artificial turf must be of the covering manufacturer at the latest when lining reduction, are passed in the form of a use and care instructions (required by DIN 18035/7 ). In addition to towing, to the leveling of the bedding material, the impurities must be removed before use. Are especially before brushing, because the Abziehbesen Abziehmatten or distribute the bedding material and work between the fibers. If there is dirt, no matter in which form on the surface, this will inevitably also distributed and incorporated into the bedding material. At least once a year a thorough cleaning is required, under which the filling is filtered through a sieve to remove impurities. In this process, the fines are removed by suction at the same time. Only then can the water permeability and elasticity ensure long term. This annual measure is often carried out by qualified entrepreneurs in Rahem a 4 or 5 -year service contract. On this occasion, the experts also make a picture of the condition of the course, check the seams and lines and lead when action is appropriate repairs. After the end of a service contract, the club or the municipality must give this task yourself. Subsequent services will be much more expensive, which is why there are also devices for weekly maintenance, which, moreover, can also annual basic and deep cleaning procedure. These devices are far more favorable than the service life of the coating over the entire time. Assuming a maximum lifetime of the artificial turf of 15 years from 13 basic cleanings are necessary in any case. After entering one of the largest manufacturers covering the years cleaning per m² € 0.35 ( source costs: http://www.muensterschezeitung.de/lokales/horstmar/Reinigungsgeraet-kostet-rund-17-000-Euro;art1002,1550146) Although the basic care of the artificial turf should be relatively straightforward fails to ensure that, for example, in autumn the foliage is regularly called off.

Weekly maintenance of a filled artificial turf in a nutshell ( or at the latest after 30 hours of use ):

• Towing and leveling of the bedding material, it must be transported from the crowded to the underfilled points
• Removal of all contaminants prior to any use, especially before towing
• Immediate Nachverfüllen lack of bedding material
• Gentle loosening of compacted surface agencies
• Erection of the fibers by towing against the sun direction

Note that the Verfüllhöhe the artificial turf covering decide by how often towing and Egalsieren is necessary. Are the courts too low backfilled (unfortunately there are no binding targets but only proposals from the DIN), the maintenance effort increases. Low -filled artificial turf (about 20 mm free-standing fiber ) forgive any Pflegenachlässigkeiten. Although coverings with too little care can still over the target lifespan (now you go on average of about 15 years off) are used, the properties of the coating are then available, however, no relation more to the high cost of an artificial turf. Taking care of an artificial turf is definitely easier and cheaper than taking proper care of natural grass. Nevertheless, the nursing staff of the artificial turf must be trained as well as running the nursing team of a golf or football field with natural greenery.

An irrigation is used in an artificial sports field, of course, not the grass growth - but it can help to improve the playing characteristics under certain circumstances. The higher the claim fails on the latter, the higher the maintenance. Assuming that a high-end product was actually postponed for demanding applications, it also requires more attention than the average quality.

Use in different sports

Hockey

Hockey is played almost exclusively on artificial turf watered and not on natural grass. Thus, the game is much faster and more accurate, the differences from indoor hockey are smaller. The development from grass to artificial turf began in the 70s and already in the 90's top hockey was played almost anywhere on artificial turf. The Olympic hockey tournament was first held in Montreal in 1976 on artificial turf. Even the artificial surface, the usual color was green, but at the Olympic Games in London in 2012 a blue artificial turf was first used.

The transition from natural grass to artificial turf has so strongly influenced the hockey game that some experts call a "revolution ". The fact is that the change had an impact not only on the shoes, but also on balls and bats and tactically led to other game systems.

Football

Of the top football associations UEFA and FIFA artificial turf fields have now been released for the match operation, provided that the artificial turf systems meet the quality criteria of these associations.

At international level, FIFA can in all games, except where the World Cup finals, artificial turf. Condition: The product must be certified. Here there are two options, " FIFA Recommended 1 Star" or " FIFA Recommended 2 Star ". From UEFA is the " 2 Star " variant generally admitted, even in the Champions League. In German professional football there are between DFB and DFL the appointment that up to the Regionalliga only natural grass is allowed. In the German amateur football from the Regional to the division covering the types B, D, E and G are approved according to DIN V 18035-7, in deeper leagues and the lining type A.

In the new Salzburg Stadium (Red Bull Arena) the pitch was covered with artificial turf, this was replaced in the summer of 2010, against a natural grass. In 2002, an artificial pitch was in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Spartak Moscow in which plays its home games installed. There experienced this flooring in the 2006/2007 season made ​​its debut in the UEFA Champions League. In spring 2006, the new Stade de Suisse in Bern was also equipped with artificial turf. In France got in the summer of 2010, two Erstligastadien the artificial turf from a German manufacturer ( Polytan ): the Stade du Moustoir in Lorient and Stade Marcel -Picot in Nancy. Various certified artificial turf fields also exist in the Scandinavian countries. Another supplier has been selected for the stadium of the Dutch first division club Heracles Almelo.

Golf, Swin

Natural putting greens require a high level of care which is required ( daily mowing, fertilizing and watering ). Artificial turf offers the possibility to reduce the maintenance effort considerably. Another field in golf or Swingolf are driving range and tee areas that are subject to heavy wear.

There are two different types of putting greens made ​​of artificial turf:

• Putting greens made ​​of nylon are ideal for pure putting and chips for a closer distance. Nylon surfaces are very dense, durable and virtually maintenance free. They fade as good as not and are suitable for all weather conditions.

• Putting greens made ​​of polypropylene are filled with quartz sand and are especially recommended if pitched from more than 10 meters or the putting green will be played from a greater or at a distance. These courses also accept backspin. The sand filling distributes the impact energy of the ball. By filling with quartz sand the fibers does not bleach. These putting greens require regular maintenance, as in the sand filling occasionally may set Flugsamen or moss.

• Artificial turf in golf sport is used for artificial turf greens, Vorgrüns and tee surfaces.