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TECHNICAL


joints. Structural failures or weaknesses should be identified and repaired as soon as possible to reduce the risk of injury, and avoid more costly remedial work in the future.


Snow


Snow, although not a frequent or prolonged weather condition, nevertheless creates chaos and disruption to the continued use of artificial pitches. In most cases, it is unlikely that much can be done to remove snow from the playing surface in the short-term, especially without a suitable area to store large piles of snow. If you do consider clearing snow from your surface, it is vital that this is done when the snow first falls. If allowed to thaw and re-freeze, it will be almost impossible to remove the ice without damaging the surface, as it will stick to the carpet.


Snow clearing should only be completed with the appropriate machinery and tools; snow ploughs can be utilised, but the drive unit should be suitable in size for the pitch, and the plough blade should also be made of a suitable material. Rubber-flanged blades will help to protect the synthetic carpet from damage. Alternatively, powered brushes could be used, but first check that the bristles are manufactured to an appropriate specification so as not to damage the surface.


In both cases, operator experience is crucial so as not to remove any infill with the snow. Attempting to take off large amounts of snow from a synthetic surface can affect infill levels in this way and, if left unremedied, infill displacement can weaken the fibres and increase the rate at which the carpet wears, compromising the playing characteristics and foreshortening the life expectancy of the surface.


Standing water and drainage issues


Perhaps the most common issue to be experienced on artificial turf pitches during the autumn and winter months is with standing water, the result of heavy and often continuous downpours that the surface’s drainage system simply cannot withstand. In extreme cases, the aftermath of a snowfall can also expose inadequate drainage properties. The reason for this is clear enough; over time, contaminated material -


114 PC October/November 2020


such as leaf and tree debris, dirt, detritus, silt and broken-down carpet fibres - becomes embedded progressively deeper within the carpet infill. Regular brushing and mechanical removal of this material will help to minimise contamination levels, if administered at appropriate intervals throughout the life of an artificial pitch but, ultimately, whether it is the result of insufficient maintenance practices or simply the age of the synthetic carpet itself, the likelihood is that rainwater will eventually fail to drain away completely. During periods of heavy rain, you may notice that tide marks or silt areas appear on the surface. This will have been caused by rainwater backing up and flushing out the contaminants from the infill, depositing it onto the surface as it slowly drains away. If left unattended, such material is likely to pose an ongoing health and safety issue for the users of the surface. At this stage, the granular infill will have to be removed and replaced via a deep- cleaning process. A replenished infill will support and protect the synthetic fibres, restore the correct drainage properties and help to improve overall player experience. The only alternative would be to resurface the pitch - at considerable expense - but, in most cases, this is an avoidable outlay when an extra five years of use can, instead, be secured - and additional revenue generated - by a restorative deep-cleaning process, followed by an appropriate aftercare programme.


Where budgets are more restricted, interim measures can help to aesthetically improve your surface in the short-term, but will not solve the root cause of the problem. Surface issues, such as standing water, are often symptomatic of deeper-seated problems with an artificial pitch, which will only worsen if ignored. A pitch’s fragility is more commonly


exposed by the climatic conditions of the autumn and winter period, but can reveal itself at any stage of the pitch’s life, particularly if the ongoing upkeep is minimal. To combat this, a programme of routine and specialist maintenance throughout the life of an artificial pitch can help to ensure its longevity and safety, as well as preserving its aesthetics and performance levels.


The basis of any good maintenance regime is preparation and forward planning; establishing a routine to ensure familiarity with the layout and construction of the pitch will allow any minor issues to be identified and addressed before they become major problems. Furthermore, the factors affecting player performance and pitch endurance, such as carpet pile wear, infill distribution and drainage capabilities, are intrinsically linked to the level and quality of maintenance being completed, as well as to the hours of use the pitch receives. As a rule, for every ten hours of use, one hour should be allocated for maintenance, and the processes and frequencies must be adapted to reflect the condition of the pitch as it ages. Understanding the specific maintenance needs of your artificial pitch will go a long way to helping you generate maximum use, performance and revenue from your sports facility. So, whilst there are processes designed specifically to combat the effects of a cold, damp climate on the playability of artificial sports pitches - a revival package offered by a specialist company to tackle surface-level aesthetic qualities; PDV salt applications to protect the pitch from the effects of frost - maintenance should not be treated as a once-a-year requirement.


The vast majority of procedures can, and should, be completed all year round, enabling you to provide a consistent playing surface from January through to December. Indeed, if greater emphasis is placed on preventative maintenance whilst weather conditions are more forgiving, you may just find that less corrective work is required when the winter cold creeps in.


This article, from the Pitchcare archives, was written by Synthetic Pitch Maintenance expert Nick Harris


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