TECHNICAL


It’s that time of year when various named storms sweep across the Atlantic to batter the UK, whilst various other weather patterns bring freezing temperatures and occasional heavy snow. It is a time when ‘all weather’ pitches struggle to live up to their epithet. Synthetic Pitch Maintenance expert Nick Harris provides a few pointers about what you should, and should not, do when adverse weather strikes your synthetic pitches.


maintenance responsibilities that facilitate these considerable advantages. And so to autumn and winter - heavy rainfall, wintry winds, persistent frosts and icy temperatures are all contributory factors that can affect both the performance criteria and drainage capabilities of an artificial pitch that has not been adequately maintained.


Frost and Frozen Pitches


During winter, artificial pitches retain a large moisture content and, inevitably, this moisture will freeze, causing the surface to become hard and often unsafe to play on. It is not uncommon for the surface to remain frozen, even when surrounding natural grass areas have thawed, due to the low core temperature of the artificial turf and the insulating effect that the infill and carpet


creates. Reduced daylight hours during the winter months can also result in shaded areas remaining ‘frosted over’ all day, impacting, in turn, upon the ability to thoroughly sweep or brush the pitch. Trials have shown that an even spread of vacuum-dried salt across the surface can help prevent the carpet from freezing, as it will dissolve, leaving no impurities in the surface. However, the benefits are very varied in different weather conditions, and the salt should be used to help prevent freezing rather than used as a defrosting agent. The results and longevity of this substance can vary from site to site and in differing weather conditions, so the success of using such a product cannot always be guaranteed. Rock salt and grit should be avoided at all


costs as these could lead to contamination of the surface.


It is estimated that an initial treatment of


approximately one tonne of salt for a full- size surface, or 125kgs for a five-a-side kick-about facility, will provide sufficient protection during a few days of cold weather, although this will depend on the intensity of any rainfall, frosts and snow that may occur over the period and its overall impact on the facility in question. The effects of frost and freezing conditions can also impact on the condition of the synthetic carpet itself. Autumn and winter sees an increase in the number of calls for repairs to artificial pitches. The first sign of frost and any weakness in the seams of a surface are exposed as the water expands and, in effect, ‘blows’ open the


PC October/November 2020 113


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