Synthetic turf testing has remained relatively static within North America since the development and adoption of ASTM F1936 and Gmax. For years it was good enough for a synthetic field to meet the Gmax requirements established in F1936. However, in the relatively recent past many in the synthetic turf industry have lobbied for and promoted advanced testing to enhance the safety of synthetic turf fields, as well as to help them to better emulate the natural grass fields that they are replacing. ASTM appears to have reached a stalemate between those that want the tests to remain unchanged, and those that want to adopt new tests, and apply new performance limits. The market is already changing even though ASTM remains in a status-quo.
This page was developed specifically to explore advanced testing methods and how they can be used to guide the future of synthetic turf performance. However, before the future can be considered, everyone must have a solid understanding of the past and present as they relate to synthetic turf testing and performance. The information in this page was developed to help those assisting change, and to help those considered new performance properties to better understand what they seek to simulate and how they are applied to synthetic turf systems.
It has been more than 20 years since ASTM F1936 and the G-max property were applied to synthetic turf systems. This document explores what has changed, and what has not, and the current status of impact attenuation testing of synthetic turf systems in North America. It briefly explores HIC and Lower extremity testing of synthetic turf fields that are slowly becoming more common in North America. This is the 2nd in a 3 part series.