Whether it’s a small practising field or a professional playing surface that hosts games regularly, the safety of players is the most important concern. Artificial playing fields have transformed the sports infrastructure around the world and elevated the performance standards of the fields and players. Following turf field safety standards removes the threat of frequent injuries on the field and ensures the safety of the players. However, proper maintenance is essential when it comes to maintaining these safety standards, and this is a guide to maintaining the turf field safety standards.

Turf field safety standards

Regardless of the type of sports played on the field, adhering to the best turf maintenance practices can considerably increase the efficiency and safety standards of the turf. A consistent and uniform surface can prevent accidents while players run and jump on the field. Surface traction coating can prevent slip accidents and improve tension control while making the surface more even. Grass on the surface is another excellent shock-reducing article in the field; even though the height of the grass can change based on the type of turf and game, maintaining a length between 30mm and 60mm is considered according to turf field safety standards.

The turf infill is another crucial part that ensures proper impact absorption and minimizes the injuries of players. So, proper infill depth is essential to ensure the turf is safe for athletes. The safety standards of turf can depend on so many factors. For example, football, cricket, tennis, volleyball, and hockey are all games, and they might need different kinds of playing surfaces. So based on the sport, the location, and the landscape of the field, the safety requirements can change. To build an efficient and safe field for players, we need to follow turf field safety standards, along with construction and environmental safety standards. So in general, understanding the safety requirements, among other things, might be your first step in building a safe environment and playing surface for athletes.

Maintenance of artificial turf fields

 Artificial sports infrastructure considerably reduces the maintenance cost compared to traditional natural grass surfaces and fields, but that doesn’t mean they require no maintenance at all. Properly maintaining artificial turf fields will increase their longevity and appearance and ensure the safety of players who use them. Artificial turfs are considered a long-term investment due to their longevity and ease of maintenance, but without proper maintenance, the turf can become unsafe. The initial cost of installing a turf field, seen as an investment in the beginning, can turn into a loss of investment if you fail to follow simple maintenance practices. So here are some of the best practices when it comes to maintaining turf field safety standards.

Cleaning and grooming: Maintaining the turf field also maintains the aesthetic quality of a turf field, along with increasing its longevity and safety standards. Cleaning and grooming the field at regular intervals can improve the overall look of your turf field, along with reducing any safety hazards. Regular cleaning and removing debris from the field will also help you spot any un-noticed damage or tear and fix it fast before it becomes worse with time. Periodic grooming promotes the safety and longevity of turf while also improving its aesthetics.

Testing: Regular examination of the field is one of the mandatory turf field safety standards to be followed, especially if it is heavily used. But when it comes to artificial turfs, periodic hardness testing is a necessary step. The hardness level cannot be less than 200 Gmax, and if that is the case, the proper measures to restore its hardness should be taken.

Sanitation: The turf ground is regularly in contact with the players in some way or another. We are slowly recovering from a pandemic that shook the whole world, so sanitation and regular disinfection are also necessary steps to take when we discuss turf field safety. You can decide on the frequency of grooming and sanitation based on how heavily the turf is used, because a heavily used turf might need more attention.

Infill maintenance: Like we discussed before, the infill is a crucial part of an artificial turf because it provides cushioning for the players and supports the turf surface. But with continued use of the turf, the infill can become uneven and compacted in some areas. If your turf is multipurpose and many games are played on it, rotating it will decrease the concentration of foot traffic in certain areas. Measuring the infill depth and redistributing and replenishing it on time is an essential practice to maintain turf field safety standards.

Conclusion

Apart from the above-mentioned maintenance practices, grooming the field according to the weather conditions and making quick repairs to small damages instead of waiting for them to get big can improve the functionality, safety, and longevity of your turf field. Surekha Exports is one of India’s best football turf builders and distributors of sports infrastructure across the country. We are committed to the bright future of sports development in India and are proud to be one of the most trusted quality sports infrastructure builders in the industry.

With almost two decades of experience and more than 700 projects spread across the country under our belt, we are focused on constantly improving and keeping up with technical advancements in sports infrastructure. Adhering to international quality standards, we are also one of the most trusted distributors of artificial playing surfaces made by the best turf grass manufacturers. Connect with us to learn more about our services and products.