WHAT IS SYNTHETIC TURF?
In its simplest form synthetic turf is a carpet that is designed to look like natural grass. Primarily used for sporting and landscaping applications synthetic turf is actually specially engineered to not only look like natural grass but to also provide the user and durability characteristics required to deliver safe long lasting surfaces.
When used as a sports surface it needs to offer the playing characteristics the sport requires, provide a safe and comfortable playing environment and be able to withstand high use often for 10 years or more. As a landscaping solution, synthetic turf provides a low maintenance surface that does not need to be watered or fertilized, whilst maintaining the visual appearance of a well-manicured lawn.
Are all types of synthetic turf the same?
No, as synthetic turf technology evolves the range of products grows. The first synthetic turf products were actually developed in the 1960s with the first major installation at the Houston Astrodome in 1966 meaning synthetic turf has been in use for 50 years.
The first generation of surfaces were short pile (12 -15mm) dense non-filled surfaces, manufactured using a knitting technique from nylon yarn. This type of surface has evolved and is now used for sports such as hockey, cricket and lawn bowls.
In the 1970s the second generation of surfaces were developed. The piles of these surfaces were more open and longer (20 -25mm) and relied on a sand infill to support the pile and keep it standing upright. Used extensively for a range of sports these surfaces pioneered the growth of community use synthetic sports fields throughout Europe.
The third generation of surfaces were developed in the late 1990s. With even longer pile lengths (50 – 70mm) and even more open constructions, the surfaces incorporate a blend of infills that provide the desired cushioning and sports performance properties. It is this form of surfacing that has seen the acceptance of synthetic turf by sports such as football and rugby and created the growth in synthetic turf that now allows high quality, high intensity use sports fields to be provided in locations and climates that previously could not consider playing on anything that was vaguely like a natural grass field.
Is there a fourth generation synthetic turf surface yet?
There are numerous claims about new innovations creating the next generation in synthetic turf technology, but there is no overall consensus that a significant step forward has occurred that moves the use of synthetic turf into new applications or greatly improves the quality or play. Many manufacturers are trying to develop synthetic turf surfaces that can fully replicate the playing qualities of natural turf without the need for infill; these may become the fourth generation.
How is synthetic turf made
Synthetic turf surfaces are manufactured using technologies developed by the carpet industry. Today most synthetic turf surfaces are manufactured using tufting techniques, where the pile is looped through a backing cloth, cut to length and anchored in place. Other carpet manufacturing techniques used include weaving and knitting.
The pile of the synthetic turf, forming the blades on longer pile surfaces, are manufactured from a range of plastics including polyethylene, polypropylene and nylon. The yarns manufactured from the plastics are becoming increasingly complex in profile as manufacturers strive to produce ever more durable and natural looking surfaces.
Why has synthetic turf become so popular over the past few years?
Increasing demands to play sport seven days, many hours a day and the desire to play or provide green landscaping in climates where natural grass cannot be grown, have seen synthetic turf becoming the surface of choice for many. Demand has grown to the point where more than 10,000 synthetic turf sports fields and courts are now used throughout Europe in schools, colleges, parks and professional sports grounds.
How popular is synthetic grass for landscape and recreation use?
Synthetic grass for landscape, and other recreation applications is the fastest growing segment of the synthetic turf market. Over 4 million square metres of synthetic turf for landscape and recreation use was installed in 2012
How is synthetic turf being used in the landscape and recreation market?
Thousands of homes, businesses, golf courses, municipalities, parks and tourist attractions now use synthetic turf to provide a lush, attractive landscape that requires minimal maintenance and saves millions of litres of water each year. Synthetic turf also promotes greater use of land, as you can accommodate far more use on an area than with natural grass. A common (but conservative) guide often used by planning authorities is one synthetic turf sports field can be considered the equivalent of three natural grass fields.
How do you assess the quality of the different types of synthetic turf products?
As the range of synthetic turf products entering the market becomes ever greater it becomes ever more confusing to the consumer and the risk of selecting a poor quality product increases. Recognising the need to give guidance and protection to consumers a number of sports federations including FIFA (football), FIH (hockey) and World Rugby have developed comprehensive standards that define the playing, safety and durability qualities they consider necessary for their sports. The European Standards Committee (CEN) has also developed European Standard EN 15330-1 that describes the performance and durability properties multi-sports synthetic turf surfaces should have.
To promote high quality synthetic turf landscaping surfaces ESTC has developed a Landscape Quality Classification that sets criteria for the quality, durability, environmental compatibility and appearance of landscaping surfaces.
Is synthetic turf safe?
Like many new innovations synthetic turf has been subjected too much scrutiny about how safe it is. For sports applications, players have wanted to be confident that the risk of injury when playing on a synthetic turf field is no greater than when playing on natural grass. For sports and landscaping applications there is a need to ensure synthetic turf surfaces do not create environmental or toxicological risks.
Numerous studies by various international sports federations (FIFA, UEFA, World Rugby, etc) have all shown that the risk of injury when playing on a synthetic turf field that is constructed and maintained to the appropriate standards are no greater than playing on a well-constructed natural grass field. When synthetic turf fields are compared to poorly maintained grass fields the injury risk is considered to be lower on a synthetic turf field.
Potential concerns about the environmental and toxicological risks of installing and using synthetic turf surfaces have led to numerous robust scientific and academic studies from Europe and the USA that have concluded that synthetic turf surfaces manufactured from high quality materials from reputable sources provide surfaces that cause no public health concerns. Studies include those by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
How long will a synthetic turf surface last?
Like any product the life of synthetic turf will be dependent on a number of factors including quality, levels of use and maintenance. Providing the correct type of synthetic turf is selected for a particular application and it is installed and maintained correctly it is not unreasonable to expect it to perform adequately for at least eight years, although it must be appreciated that over this period there will be some deterioration in performance and appearance. When it comes to landscape applications, synthetic turf can last much longer than sports fields.
Do synthetic turf surfaces need maintaining?
Yes, all synthetic turf surfaces require some form of maintenance. On a simple ornamental landscaping turf this may be just a periodic brush and tidy-up. On a high use sports area the maintenance demands will be much more demanding and complex. It is important that when considering synthetic turf you appreciate there is no such thing as a maintenance free synthetic turf and you make adequate allowance for the necessary maintenance.
Can a synthetic turf surface be recycled at the end of their useful life?
Increasing concerns about the environment mean that manufacturers of synthetic turf are looking at ways of easing the recycling of the products at the end of their service live. Repositioning of old synthetic turf is now commonly done and as new technologies come on stream full recycling will become the norm.
How do I know I am buying synthetic turf from a reputable manufacturer?
As the market for synthetic turf expands so do the number of companies entering the supply chain. Many of these are new with little track record. To become an ESTC member a manufacturer has to be a well-established and reputable manufacturer. In addition a number of international sports federations also have licensing schemes that help identify and promote quality manufacturers with proven sports products.