SASR Norms & Standards Vol 2 new.indd - Sport and Recreation ...

ARTIFICIAL SURFACES
Artifi cial turf is a man-made surface manufactured from synthetic materials, made to look like natural
grass.
There are three different types of artifi cial grass surfaces used in hockey:
• Unfi lled: Often called water-based where the pile is not fi lled with sand and the fi eld requires
wetting prior to play dependant on climatic conditions. These surfaces are favoured by
players as they minimise the abrasive effect created by the sand fi lling that the other
systems require.
• Sand Dressed: The pile of the carpet is fi lled to within 5 – 8 mm of the top of the fi bre with
fi ne sand.
• Sand Filled: The pile of the carpet is fi lled to the top with sand. The sand makes the fi eld
rougher and harder. In comparison to the other two systems, the ball speed is much
slower.
In order to ensure that the play is not interrupted it may be necessary to install a sprinkler system to the
perimeter of the fi eld, when the wet system is used.
In all cases the artifi cial grass is glued to a smooth and even concrete surface with an approved
adhesive in terms with specifi c manufacturer’s instructions.
Concrete substrates
The surface preparation for artifi cial playing surfaces may be briefl y described as follows:
Hockey
• The sub-surface earth needs to be levelled and compacted to 95 % Modifi ed ASSHTO with
a maximum cross slope of 1%
• Sub-Surface drainage system to be installed below all fi eld surfaces (in terms with Civil
Engineering design).
• Install sub-surface drainage comprising 110 mm diameter agricultural drains placed in 450
x 600 mm deep herring bone drainage system at 6 metre intervals and to entire perimeter
of the cricket fi eld.
• Sub-surface drains to be lined with a “Bidum” Hessian layer and fi lled in with 19 mm
crusher run stone.
• Sub-Surface drains to connect at the lowest point to a storm water catch pit which should
be connected to a storm water main.
• The sub-surface drains are then covered with a 100 mm thick layer of crusher run to assist
in the sub-surface drainage.
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