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few months ago the emergency call went out. Immediate remedial action
was necessary to get the sports fields ready for the pre-Olympic Six
Nations Field Hockey Tournament. The same two fields that were to be
used for the Olympics themselves. Enter Southwest Recreational Industries
Inc - owners of AstroTurf.
A quick inspection was conducted of the fields at Morris Brown College
and Clark Atlanta University. There was shock at the extent of the installation
problem.The first event was scheduled to be held at Morris Brown College
in less than four months. Southwest were working against the clock.
Assessing the Problem
Southwest received a call from the people in charge of Morris Brown
College and Clark Atlanta University late last fall. Southwest's Bob
Allison soon realised that there were major problems with the installation
of the turf system. "At Morris Brown College the problems were
obvious from a distance. The first thing I noted was the rolling nature
of the playing surface. As you looked across the fields you could see
peaks and valleys. These imperfections would definitely affect ball
roll and cause dangerous bounces during a field hockey match. You could
also see water puddles - a condition that would make play difficult
and hazardous.
"When I stepped onto the field I knew there was something wrong.
Having walked on hundreds of fields over the past 20 years, the field
simply didn't feel right. In some spots it was soft. Other places were
too hard. Overall, it was very inconsistent."
The field's sub-base was more carefully examined. It revealed many problems
with the drainage system and the sub-structure. "The drainage system
under the field had water trapped in it, indicating problems there,"
said Allison. "On both Atlanta fields a sub-base material was used
that included too many fine particles. Water could not percolate through
it; the material did not compact properly or evenly and contributed
to the collapse of the drainage tubes in the sub-base."
In Bob Allison's mind the best solution was to remove the existing
base and drainage system and then start again. Other field hockey experts
agreed with that assessment.
Allan Woods, an official with the US Field Hockey Association (USFHA)
saw both fields first hand.As a former player he was struck by the initial
appearance and feel of the fields. "You could see the vast unevenness
on the field. I also suspected major drainage problems because of the
puddles I saw. Drainage problems would make uniform watering of the
fields difficult. The ball bounced erratically on the turf. Skilled
players could tell by sight that there were problems with the field
too. To put it simply, I would not feel comfortable putting world class
field hockey teams on these pitches."
Start From Scratch
AstroTurf did not agree with the suggestions of the other turf contractors
about what was needed to remedy the two Atlanta fields. To restore the
integrity of the field and repair the drainage system, AstroTurf recommended
both fields be completely demolished - down to the original native base
material.
The committees in Atlanta considered proposals from major US and European
turf suppliers. After reviewing the proposals, Southwest Recreational
Industries were selected to rectify the problems with the systems. The
decision was based on the solution proposed; AstroTurf's proven ability
to deliver a quality remedy to the situation; and - most importantly
- timing. The issuing of a formal notice to proceed was delayed for
a variety of reasons. Time was becoming even more critical.
New System
When Southwest got past the problems of the subsurface they proposed
upgraded synthetic turf systems for the two Atlanta pitches. Southwest
developed AstroTurf System 96 specifically for Atlanta. This innovative
system incorporates the industry's latest sports and scientific technology.
For example, AstroTurf System 96 uses nylon 6.6 pile fibres that absorb
and hold moisture to create ideal conditions for hockey play and ball
roll. AstroTurf is also unmatched for playability and durability, especially
in high Uv areas.
The baseline of technology for System 96 goes back over 20 years. The
original system 90 was introduced in 1976 at the Montreal Olympic Games.
Significant improvements in all AstroTurf products have been made on
a regular basis ever since.
AstroTurf 96 uses a heavier pad that is slightly more dense than typical
padding systems. The pad is also suitable for american football. Both
fields were to be used for american football after the summer competition.
Replacement Foundations
The first stage in repair and installation was the cutting of the existing
rubber elastic layer into strips ready for disposal. Then the crushed
drainage system was removed.
Questionable sub-base material was replaced with the proper sub-base.
Once in place the sub-base was properly sloped, compacted and the new
drainage network installed.
At this point Southwest installed the new stone base and asphalt. As
asphalt is non-porous, drain slots needed to be cut in the new surface
and replaced with a porous asphalt to facilitate water flow.
The asphalt had to be perfectly paved with a 0.5% crown from pitch top
to perimeter. This precise paving is absolutely critical to ensure proper
drainage with no puddling. AstroTurf field construction supervisors
with laser equipment were the keys to building a suitable base. Only
when all the preliminary steps were completed and checked for accuracy
could pad and turf installation begin.
A large, experienced team of AstroTurf installers and an unprecedented
amount of turf installation equipment were assembled to make sure the
AstroTurf was put in quickly and accurately. Before the first hockey
team was allowed on the pitch the turf and pad system had to pass numerous
tests conducted by an independent International Hockey Federation (FIH)
approved testing laboratory sent from the United Kingdom.
Certification
The FIH applies an exact set of standards to the fields it approves
for international play. The London-based Centre for Sports Technology
did some testing but had to have the AstroTurf in place to complete
the certification process.
The final inspection report included the following comment from FIH
officials. "The AstroTurf team worked extremely long hours and
in a most cooperative fashion to complete this pad/carpet installation.
The great value of the AstroTurf experience was exhibited in the array
of specialised equipment they brought to the scene and the quality of
the workmanship displayed by every employee.
"Today, the design and construction of field hockey pitches is
a highly specialised skill that should not be left to the unskilled
or inexperienced. Accordingly the FIH is considering the steps necessary
to ensure that this design and construction does not land with the 'learners'
again."
Allan Woods agrees, "I now better understand how much technology
and skill goes into the synthetic turf systems used for a field hockey
pitch. It is far more sophisticated than it appears on the surface.
The new fields meet all the test requirements but the real bottom line
was that the teams were delighted to be on the pitch. It met the teams'
expectations as well as those of the FIH."
Deadlines
It was necessary to work on both fields simultaneously to meet the Atlanta
deadlines. The work required 49 days from start to finish. Of those
49 days, 22 were restricted by the inclement weather.
The existing elastic layer was removed from each pitch and the drainage
evaluation was completed. Drain lines were removed and substrates were
recompacted to their proper density. Base layers were then brought up
to specification. The concrete edge was then modified so that the AstroTurf
could be anchored properly. A newly engineered drainage system was installed
and the asphaltic concrete and modified surface drainage system was
installed.
Synthetic Systems
Synthetic turf systems have been one of AstroTurf's most important products
since 1965. Each AstroTurf system is custom-made from start to finish
at the AstroTurf plant using their unique equipment, formulae and processes.
All AstroTurf fields are engineered to minimise UV degradation and to
enable them to perform in any environment. AstroTurf maintains special
UV testing sites to evaluate environmental effects on the fabric. For
more than 30 years, selected samples from their installations have been
tested at each of these sites. The result is an intricate knowledge
of the components best suited for any climate.
AstroTurf means more than a sports surface, it also means an organisation
that understands turf from top to bottom. The company that laid the
groundwork for synthetic turf continues to dedicate millions of hours
and dollars to test and improve products; to educate buyers and users;
and to help establish industry standards. No other product or company
matches AstroTurf, the leader in synthetic turf systems. 
Susanne Reich is AstroTurf's Director of International Business.
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