subject: Artificial and Synthetic Sports Surfaces [print this page] Reactive surfaces for sport is a system of a synthetic surface, artificial surface or astro turf surfaces for sports providing the opportunity for schools, local authorities, sports clubs and other organisations to benefit from a safe, slip resistant and yet responsive playing surface that can be used virtually all the year round and almost immediately after heavy rainfall.
Today there is a complete range of sand-filled, sand - and rubber-filled, semi-sand-filled water-based carpets available which is greatly suitable for sport such as hockey, football, tennis, bowls, cricket and multipart. Various Artificial and synthetic surfaces are composed of polypropylene and nylon yarns with different properties and play characteristics are used to manufacture the carpets. The synthetic surface, artificial surface or astro turf are laid onto foundations consisting of geotextiles, sub-base and engineered base layers and shock pads, giving pitches strength, stability, porosity, longevity and resilience.
Synthetic surface, artificial surface or astro turf pitches incur lower maintenance costs than conventional turf which is a huge benefit to the budgets of schools and community based projects. The shock pads help minimise the risk of injury and impart much less stress on the players, coaches and officials during their game. Some tailor made synthetic surfaces are designed either to maximise the number of activities that can be played upon them or to be used quite specifically for only one sport.
The materials used in the manufacture of synthetic surface, artificial surface or astro turf pitches should be highly resistant to weathering and the effects of UV radiation. Each play area should furthermore be individually designed and constructed according to the site conditions established during an initial survey and to the client's budgetary and safety requirements too.
