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Sports Equipment Committee Develops Rootzone Standard
ASTM Committee F08 on Sports Equipment and Facilities has approved a new standard, F 2396, Guide for Construction of High Performance Sand-Based Rootzones for Sports Fields. The standard is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee F08.64 on Natural Playing Surfaces.
“This standard covering the various aspects in proper design and construction of sand-based athletic fields is the first of its kind,” says Michael DePew, F08 member and chair of the technical standards committee of the Sports Turf Managers Association, which is where the process to develop F 2396 began. “In the past, many sand-based rootzone constructions were developed utilizing United States Golf Association putting green specifications. Many state or regional sand-based or sand-modified rootzone specifications for athletic fields have been developed in the past but have failed to gain nationwide acceptance or use.”
Guide F 2396 has several unique features. It is a guide for the design and construction of sand-based rootzones rather than a “recipe” for one single type of field construction. For example, this standard gives guidance for sand-based constructions that may include a gravel drainage layer and for those that do not. In addition, Guide F 2396 outlines the technical criteria that can be utilized to determine the appropriate minimum depth of rootzone placement. Sand-based systems designed using this standard may also include a soil component, a peat or compost component, or a three-way blend of sand-soil-peat.
Other key features of Guide F 2396 include a recommended sand particle size distribution; sand-type; soil amendment and peat or organic amendment recommendations; blending and quality control considerations; grading requirements and tolerances; turf establishment (seeding, sprigging, or sodding); sod-soil compatibility recommendations; and rootzone performance criteria (physical, chemical and mechanical properties).
CONTACT:
Technical Information:
Michael DePew, Environmental Technical Services, LC, Tekonsha, Mich.
Phone: 517/767-4507
ASTM staff: Jim Olshefsky
Phone: 610/832-9714
Upcoming Meeting: May 17-20,
May Committee Week, Reno, Nev.
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