Is Synthetic Turf Right for Me?
Welcome!
Moderator:
Jeremy Gauche
Sales Executive
Act Global
Austin, Texas
Topics of Discussion
• Overview of the process and
specifications for a synthetic turf
field
• Maintenance of the field
• End-of-Life: Indicators that a field is
nearing the end of its useful life
Webinar Control Panel
Use “Q&A” to send
questions to the panelists
“Raise hand” for
sound test
Questions?
• Please type your question(s) to “All Panelists”
into the “Q&A” box, as seen below.
Panelist:
Laith Ross
Principal
RossTarrant Architects
Lexington, Kentucky
Panelist:
Ronn Ponath
President
Kromer Company, LLC
Plymouth, Minnesota
Panelist:
Adam Coleman
Sales & Marketing
Director
Turf Reclamation
Services, LLC
Cincinnati, Ohio
Impact of Synthetic Turf Fields
• Playable in all Weather
Conditions
• Non-weather dependent
• Durability
• Consistent Surface
• Lower Maintenance Cost per
Field Use
• No Herbicides or Pesticides
• Aesthetics –Beautiful all Year
General Costs and Funding Sources
• Typical Construction Costs
• Funding Sources
– Local Donors and Field Sponsors
– Grants
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Recreation Grant Programs
US Soccer Foundation
Baseball Tomorrow
Community Youth Sports Grants
Synthetic Turf Systems
• Slit Film
– Most durable
– Primarily used for football fields,
baseball/softball infields and
multi-use facilities
– Typically has less infill flyout than
monofilament
Synthetic Turf Systems
• Monofilament
– Controlled ball roll
– Primarily used for soccer fields
and baseball/softball outfields
– Has less “shine” than slit film
– Has more infill flyout than slit film
or hybrid systems
Synthetic Turf Systems
• Slit/Mono Hybrid
– Common for short pile tuft, noninfill turf installations
– Primarily used for combination
football/soccer fields and
baseball/softball outfields
– Typically has less infill flyout than
monofilament
Synthetic Turf Systems
• Infill Types
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SBR Rubber
Silica Sand
EPDM
Organic
Coated Sands
TPE
Coated Rubber
Synthetic Turf Systems
• Shock Pads
– Can be used with shorter pile infill
systems to reduce the amount of
infill
– Used for non-infill systems
– Primarily seen for field hockey
and indoor, multi-use fields,
batting cages and rugby
– Ensure player protection as it
pertains to G-max
• Can prolong the life of the surface
Design Assessment and Process
• Use
• Best System for Use
• Budget Analysis
Bidding Process
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Open or Public Bid
Invitation to Bid
Request for Proposals
State Price Contract
Synthetic Fields
Grooming and Conditioning
Why Groom?
• Safety
• Playability
• Appearance
Synthetic Fields
Grooming and Conditioning
Why Groom?
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Durability
Versatility
Warranties
Weather Related
Synthetic Field Groomer
Four Units in One
• Tines can be set to five levels of pressure
intensity. Infinitely variable penetration angle
adjustability.
• Function: pull compacted and caked infill
material to surface, break up clumped infill, and
straighten matted and tangled grass fibers.
• Tine placement supports magnetic debris
collection.
Synthetic Field Groomer
• Magnetic Pick Up Bars
• Tines throw the metal to the magnet.
• Jewelry, hairpins, screws, nails, and pins.
• These intrusions to the playing surface can
cause player injury.
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Grooming Brooms
• Cleans the fibers and the infill.
• Brooms further detangles and straightens the
fiber blades.
• Specially cut serrated brooms developed as
to not load up with infill material.
• No piles of infill at end of grooming pass.
Grooming Brooms
Drag Mat
• Without a drag mat, the field can be soft, but
uneven, bumpy, and not level.
• This is important for field condition testing
repeatability (G-Max).
• The drag mat is used to redistribute the infill
by shearing off the hills, an filling in the valleys.
• Has rigidity across its width.
Procedures
• Conditioning Procedure
• Finish Grooming
– The Second Step
• Finish Groomer
Finish Grooming
The Second Step
Finish Groomer
END OF LIFE: Indicators
WORN TURF
WORN TURF AND SEAM ISSUES
WORN TURF AND DE-GLUED SEAMS
BEST WAYS TO DETERMINE AGING?
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WORN TURF AND SEAM ISSUES
END OF LIFE FIELD
GMAX Testing
Other Performance Focused Testing
Overall Aesthetic Review
Consult Professional Field Providers
END OF LIFE: Field Removal Stats
END OF LIFE: Industry-Wide Dilemma
1,000 deconstructed fields represent
80,000,000 ft2 of carpet
400,000,000 lbs. of infill
1. How is it removed?
2. Where will it all go?
END OF LIFE: Disposal Options
• Landfill Disposal
• Destiny for majority of turf today
• Acceptable and cost efficient
• Repurpose/Reuse
• Potentially effective but highly speculative
• Often eventually landfilled
• Recycle
• Environmentally sound, technically challenging
• Companies coming on line
END OF LIFE: Disposal Options
• Synthetic Turf
• Molded plastic products such as pallets, plastic pots, dog
bowls, flooring, handles…
• Infill for synthetic turf.
END OF LIFE: Disposal Options
• Mixed Rubber/Sand (as-is or sieved)
• Landfill - destiny for majority of infill today
• Reuse in sports fields
• Topdressing natural turf fields
• Cleaned, Separated and Sieved
• Increases possible outlets
• Increases cost and value
• Companies coming on line
Field
Case
Study: Papa Johns Stadium
ENDReplacement
OF LIFE: Case
Study
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE:
Papa Johns Stadium
END OF LIFE: Reclamation Process
SLICE TURF INTO STRIPS
EXTRACT INFILL
PLACE INFILL INTO SUPER SACKS
WIND CLEANED TURF INTO BUNDLES
Questions?
• Please type your question(s) to “All Panelists”
into the “Q&A” box, as seen below.
STC’s Free Technical Guidelines
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Synthetic Turf Performance*
Essential Elements for Synthetic Turf Systems*
Maintenance of Infilled Synthetic Turf*
Removal, Recovery, Reuse & Recycling
Attracting Funding and Local Support
Buying Synthetic Grass for Landscape Use
• Translated into Spanish
www.syntheticturfcouncil.org
About the STC
• The voice of the synthetic turf industry
• Affiliate Membership and special dues categories
are available for buyers and end-users, including
municipal officials, athletic directors, teachers,
and students
• Full Membership includes builders, landscape
architects, testing labs, maintenance providers,
manufacturers, suppliers, installation contractors,
infill material suppliers and other specialty
service companies.
• Learn more at www.syntheticturfcouncil.org
Thank you for attending!
Feel free to contact us:
www.syntheticturfcouncil.org
office@syntheticturfcouncil.org
400 Galleria Parkway, Suite 1500
Atlanta, GA 30339
(678) 385-6720