Artificial Surfaces Surface water on glazed artificial
during a thaw, the salt is diluted relatively quickly.” “Road run-off contains low levels of many potential pollutants which, in some cases, require treatment through interceptors or settlement ponds in the drainage system before it enters watercourses. We [The Environment Agency] have worked with the Highways Agency on this for many years to reduce the impact of road run-off in the UK.” “We do sample streams in the spring, and have found no evidence of significant impact on wildlife from river salt intake. A study was undertaken on the effects of road run-off, including salt input, between 1998-2003. It concluded, for motorways and trunk roads at least, that the use of road salt for de-icing doesn’t seem to have any significant impact on river ecology.” The use of urea as a de-icing agent, however, requires greater attention, especially if the outfall of a sports pitch drainage system flows directly into a water course, as is the case with many artificial pitches. The Environment Agency’s Pollution
Prevention Technical Information Note, produced in December 2010, states that the environmental impact of urea is that it breaks down to ammonia and nitrates in the water environment, with the
ammonia being toxic to aquatic life, even at low levels. The Technical Information Note comments that there is a ‘presumption against the use of urea unless [the] area to be de-iced drains fully to a treatment plant or is fully contained’. From this statement it could be inferred that PDV salt is the safer option, from an environmental stand point.
How much PDV salt do you apply?
A full sized pitch will require a lot of PDV salt, as much as one tonne according to Sweepfast’s Sam Breeden. TigerTurf ’s Matt Magee suggests a rate of 0.15 kg m2 when using PDV salt. Marie Cooksey recommends that you obtain guidelines from the contractor who installed the pitch, and the manufacturer of the carpet. This is a prudent approach, as it should ensure that you don’t carry out any procedures that could affect the warranties on the pitch.
Summing up
Summing up frost management on artificial surfaces Bill Pomfret says; “Overall, the best course of action if a pitch is covered in snow or ice, is simply to allow the surface the thaw. However, if user demands deem this not possible, be
“To be honest, it is a load of old cobblers, if the snow comes thick, you’re knackered. If you salt too soon you can end up with a glaze which freezes rock hard and then takes longer to thaw”
careful to follow these guidelines to protect your pitch and the players upon it.”
This article is not the definitive answer to the best way to prevent or solve frozen artificial turf surfaces, as it isn’t backed up by hard scientific research. A materials scientist would be better placed to explain the effects of different chemicals on the stability and longevity of the various materials that form the artificial turf carpets available today. That said, the carpet manufacturers who contributed to this article gave recommendations which are more than likely based on scientific research by the aforementioned materials scientist. Finally, I would like to give the last
word to one Head Groundsman, who will remain anonymous, who in a blunt but matter-of-factly manner stated; “To be honest, it is a load of old cobblers, if the snow comes thick, you’re knackered; you’ve just got to wait until it is manageable. If you allow play on it when it is too deep, it packs down and takes three times as long to thaw. If you salt too soon you can end up with a glaze, which freezes rock hard and then takes even longer to thaw. Your best bet is to accept these are not ‘all weather’ surfaces and shut the facility down until the snow has thawed naturally.”
The Hörger range of artificial sports surface maintenance machinery
Superior • Strong • Robust • Powerful Tel: 01675 470770
• RELIABLE GERMAN ENGINEERING • HIGH QUALITY FINISH ON YOUR SURFACES • RECESSION BEATING PRICES • ARRANGE A DEMONSTRATION TODAY
Get a competitive advantage - contact David Reynolds at Sweepfast Ltd, the Official Hörger UK Dealer
E-mail:
info@sweepfast.com www.sweepfast.com www.tartanbahn.de DECEMBER/JANUARY 2012 PC 55
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