Evaluation of Athletic Track Products

Deformation testing of track products

Deformation testing of track products

There are a couple of approaches to the evaluation of athletic track products to approve these for use in the field.

World Athletics standard approach The common approach is to evaluate samples of the intended product by using a WA suite of tests. Samples are examined for a variety of properties to index

  • Overall Thickness

  • Absolute Thickness

  • Force Reduction

  • Vertical Deformation

  • Friction (slip resistance)

  • Tensile Strength

  • Elongation

  • Colour

  • Drainage

EN 14877:2013 is more onerous assessment primarily because this testing protocol engages durability testing to a higher level than the WA approach. In addition to the WA tests the EN standard adds resistance to wear and spike resistance testing as well as a UV test. All welcome additions to the WA suite of tests.

Increased durability testing
Increasing there is a need to include comprehensive durability testing on track products. Athletics tracks globally do appear to be less durable and problems with early failure/defects and early wear and tare are now commonly observed and reported. The EN goes some way to potentially addressing this issue by subjecting samples to a higher level of scrutiny in the Lab the expected outcome might be more durable products. However, Lab testing does need to be backed up by quality control on-site. Given the nature of track installation with mixing and laying heavily reliant on manual operations, evidencing conformance on-site to the laboratory evaluated systems is becoming more important than ever, something that is not lost on the authorities.

A solid PU system and sandwich system

A solid PU system and sandwich system

2019 World Championship venue

2019 World Championship venue

Shock absorption testing of track D

Shock absorption testing of track D

Eric O'Donnell, Founder & Managing Director

With a background of 39 years in testing, primarily as a civil engineer, this graduate of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh has been setting standards for the performance and durability of synthetic sports surfaces since 1988. Eric is a founder and managing director of Sports Labs Ltd., a global force in the assessment, research, and testing of surfaces, and leading innovators in the sports surfaces sector.

During a varied career, Eric has participated in the development of international standards, including the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf, FIH Handbook of Performance Requirements for Synthetic Turf Pitches, and World Rugby Performance Standard for Synthetic Turf Rugby Surfaces. He also contributes to EN norms and guidance documents and sits on the panel of experts for World Rugby.

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ericodonnell-sportslabs
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