UNIDO Italy, led a mission of 30 delegates from local and central government of Argentina that visited Italy last October. The study tour focused on environment and renewable energy solutions and technologies. TIRES SpA was invited to take part the event, with its contribution being valuable and much appreciated by the delegates. The company introduced its innovative technologies and turn-key solutions on end of life tyres recycling and WEEE recycling, also providing an overview of the current situation in Italy, from both market and legislation perspectives. The presentation raised considerable interest from the Argentinean delegates, giving the possibility to discuss and analyse many relevant issues in a detailed manner. TIRES SpA gave its availability to contribute with its know-how and technology transfer to recycling industry development in Argentina, from both a legislative and a technology point of view.

El primer césped artificial se colocó en 1965, cuando fue instalado en el entonces nuevo estadio Astrodome, construido en Houston, Texas. El producto se popularizó enormemente y su uso llegó a ser extenso en los años 70. Fue instalado en los estadios cubiertos, pero también al aire libre, usándose fundamentalmente para canchas de béisbol y el fútbol americano en los Estados Unidos y Canadá.

En los años 60 y 70 (y más actualmente) los estadios se construían muchas veces cubiertos, lo que obligaba a el uso de este producto. También cuando los estadios se convertían en espacios multidisciplinarios, lo que necesariamente exigía la instalación de un pavimento sintético multi uso. Pero también algunos estadios al aire libre eligieron jugar en superficies artificiales, éstos lo hicieron debido a la optimización de horas de uso y al reducido coste de mantenimiento

Algunos clubes de fútbol en Europa instalaron superficies artificiales en los años 80. En algunos países varios campos de clubes profesionales habían adoptado los campos sintéticos pero al ser campos no diseñados para la práctica del fútbol, consiguieron que el césped artificial se ganara una mala reputación entre los aficionados y especialmente en los jugadores, que todavía, a veces hoy, está presente en la memoria colectiva.

El césped artificial de los años 80 y 90 era una superficie más dura que hierba natural, y se intuía que era una superficie que causaba más lesiones (y, particularmente, lesiones más serias) que con una superficie de hierba natural. Paulatinamente se volvía al césped natural. El uso del césped artificial fue prohibido por FIFA, UEFA y por muchas asociaciones nacionales de fútbol.

Pero el césped continuó su importante desarrollo, las tecnologías relacionadas continuaron desarrollándose, aparecieron nuevas fibras, nuevos materiales… La labor de investigación y desarrollo fue intensa y con éxitos parciales, pero la gran revolución se produciría a principios de esta década…

A principios del siglo XXI, las nuevas superficies artificiales se desarrollaron usando el relleno de arena y caucho. Es la llamada “nueva generación”, o “tercera generación” de césped artificial. Son superficies que a menudo virtualmente son indistinguibles de la hierba natural tanto a la vista de cualquier distancia, y generalmente tan seguras de jugar como la superficie típica de la hierba – quizás incluso más seguras en condiciones extremas-.

Muchos clubes que usaban antes césped artificial y superficies similares han instalado las nuevas superficies (fundamentalmente para instalaciones de entrenamiento o para las categorías inferiores), mientras que algunos clubes que han mantenido la hierba natural están reconsiderando el césped artificial. Las instituciones gobernantes del fútbol, en su ánimo de mejorar y difundir el deporte, y los diversos clubes europeos, en la incesante búsqueda de mejorar el juego y reducir los costes de mantenimiento está adoptando el césped artificial como una superficie perfectamente adecuada. La Federación Internacional incluso recomienda su uso en determinadas condiciones.

La Federación Internacional ha publicado unos Estándares de calidad que en los que, una vez el producto ofrece unas calidades y garantías adecuadas (dieciocho licenciatarios), lo relevante es la interacción del pavimento con el juego: bote y rodadura del balón, capacidad de absorción de impactos, deformabilidad, resistencia al esfuerzo torsor… Prácticamente homogeniza las cualidades intrínsecas del producto: peso de fibra, peso total, dtex, alturas o composiciones de las fibras dejan de ser importantes si el desarrollo del juego es el óptimo.

Actualmente el tipo más común utiliza el polietileno con fibras de más de 5 cm de largo, que se cosen en una tela (backing) recubierta. La manta es entonces recebada (infilled) con una capa de 4 centímetros de gránulos de arena y de [caucho], que mantiene las fibras verticales y proporciona el nivel de absorbencia y de deformabilidad necesaria. La mayoría de los dieciocho fabricantes del césped aprobados por la FIFA utiliza esta tecnología.

Dependiendo del fabricante, encontraremos diferencias en los parámetros que componen la moqueta: pequeñas variaciones en la altura, en la forma de la fibra, en su peso o en la densidad de las puntadas… variarán ligeramente las especificaciones de un producto que deberá cumplir una serie de requisitos de durabilidad y propiedades mecánicas.

La Federación Internacional basa sus pruebas en la interacción del pavimento con el jugador y con el balón, lo que convierte las pequeñas diferencias de marca en herramientas de marketing. Cuando lo verdaderamente importante es el juego, las calidades intrínsecas del producto pierden importancia.

El importante esfuerzo en investigación y el desarrollo de unos fabricantes ávidos de diferenciación, seguro dará en el futuro mejoras significativas en un producto de por sí excepcional.

This rubber granules is composed from NBR Rubber with respect the toxicology test. The first is coated on colour green and the second is colorfull black material. The difference is only in the price but the characteristic is optimum togheter.

Test method 1 Norme d’essai I Método de ensayo : NF EN 1097-3.
Standard I Norme/ Norma : FIFA, EN 15330-1 et NF P90-112.

Particle size I Granulométrie / Granulometría

Test method / Norme d’essai / Método de ensayo : EN 933-1 et -2.
Standard i Norme / Norma : FIFA, EN 15330-1 et NF P90-112.

Permeability I Perméabilité / Permeabilidad

Test method 1 Norme d’essai / Método de ensayo : EN 12616

Thermogravimetric Analysis TGA I Analyse thermogravimétrique ATG / Anàlisis Termograyimétrico ATG Standard / Norme/ Norma : FIFA, NF P90-112.

Scanning electron microscope / Microscope à balayage électronique / Microscopio electrónico

Artificial weatherinq and additional tests 1 Vieillissements et essais complérnentaires 1 Envejecirniento artificial y ensayos complementaríos

Hot water ageing then hot air ageing / Vieillissement à l’eau chaude puis à fair chaud / Envejecimiento al agua saliente y aire saliente (14+14 days at 70°C / 14+14 jours à 70°C / 14+14 dias a 70°C)

COIOUr, partirle size 1 couleur, analyse granulométrique / color, granulometria.

UVB (313 nm) ageing / Vieillissement aux UVB / Envejecimiento a los UVB (3000 hours / 3000 heures / 3000 horas) COIOUr / couleur I color.

Toxicological analysis I Analyses toxicoloqiques / Anélisis de toxicolocga Standard 1 Norme / Norma : NF P90-112, DIN 18035-7.

Lead Pb / Plomb Plomo

Cadmium Cd / Cadmio

Chromium Mal Cr / Chrome total / Cromo total

Tin Sn / Etain / Estano

Zine Zn / Zino I cmc

Test method / Norme d’essai i Método de ensayo : NF EN ISO 11 885

Dissolved organic carbone DOC / Carbone Organique Dissous / Carbona Organico Disuelto

Page 2 / 7                                                                                         Rapporti Report/ Informe n° R100626-A1                                Date : 18/05/2010

Test method / Norme d’essai / Método de ensayo NF EN 1484

Chromium hexavaient Cr / Chrome hexavalent / Cromo hexavalente Test method / Norme d’essai I Método de ensayo : NF T90-043

Mercury Hg / Mercure 1 Mercurio

Test method / Norme d’essai / Método de ensayo : NF EN 17852

Extractable Organic Halides EOX / Organo-haiogénés extractibles EOX / Extraíbles Organica Halogenuros EOX Test method I Norme d’essai / Método de ensayo DIN 38414-17

Dentro de la Nueva Expogarden las empresas colaboradoras siguen teniendo un lugar para presentar sus productos y contribuir a que este siga siendo un encuentro profesional de referencia.

La Expogarden 2010 se celebrará en Barcelona, en el Hotel Icaria Barcelona.
www.hotelicariabarcelona.com

Es una feria hecha para conocer todos los productos y novedades en un ambiente en el que participan los socios.
Los objetivos de Expogarden son:
-Contactar directamente empresas adheridas a la AECJ.
-Personalizar los contactos entre las empresas y los Centros de Jardinería.
-Los sectores expuestos en Expogarden van desde los abonos y decoración, hasta plantas, invernaderos, vallas y cerramientos entre muchos otros.

Las principales empresas fabricantes y distribuidoras de materiales tanto para la construcción de instalaciones deportivas como parques temáticos y parques infantiles, piscinas e instalaciones de ocio, se dan cita junto con los pavimentos deportivos, mobiliario, acondicionamiento de climatización y calefacción, mobiliario urbano en SIDTECNODEPORTE 2010.

No pierda la oportunidad de exponer en SIDTECNODEPORTE 2010: es una buena oportunidad para que su empresa haga negocio.

SECTORES DE EXPOSICIÓN:

• Instalaciones deportivas.
• Pavimentos.
• Césped natural.
• Césped artificial.
• Piscinas, saunas y zonas termales.
• Parques infantiles.
• Equipamiento de centros de fitness.
• Empresas de mantenimiento, gestión integral de instalaciones deportivas y consultoría.
• Equipamiento de instalaciones de montaña y estaciones de esquí.
• Mobiliario urbano.
• Equipos de mantenimiento y limpieza de instalaciones.

The breakthrough came when manufacturers started to develop surfaces specifically designed for football. Manufacturers have now developed a turf that mirrors real grass. In order to get away from the short, tightly packed matting of the earlier genera tion, nowadays, the concept is to produce longer and more thinly spaced tufts and most of the systems are infilled with sand for support and rubber granules to give bounce. This newest genera tion of artificial turf has pro ven to be the most favourable for football to date.

FIFA realised that, as the game’s global popularity increases, so the climate plays a greater part in limiting its development. Players in countries at the extreme ends of the temperature range will not necessarily bene fit from the predominanace of natural grass turf. With the deployment of football turf, FIFA has reco gnised the enormous bene fits artificial pitches would bring to the global development of football, not only because artificial turf can be used in more extreme climates, but because where a pitch is used intensively it can be used almost 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Due to the numerous manufacturers and installers involved worldwide, all using slightly differ­ent systems, the performance of artificial pitches could be extremely variable. Therefore FIFA, as the world governing body of football, wants to ensure that there is a reco gnised interna­tional standard for football turf pitches and in 2001 introduced, the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf. This quality testing scheme uses real turf as its benchmark and awards the FIFA RECOMMENDED Marks to those pitches that meet the very stringent quality criteria.

FIFA now feels it is appropriate to use “Football Turf“ as the designation for products installed as part of the FIFA Quality Concept. The main reasons for this are because it emphasizes the high-quality pitches that are certified as part of the pro gramme and because the playing characteristics on “Football Turf“ mirror the quality of natural grass pitches, which is required to play the game on a very high level. 

 Many regions of the world suffer from extreme climatic conditions and as a result are often without adequate natural grass pitches. Either the climate makes the growth and maintenance of such fields a burden or the financial resources are limited. Furthermore, the demand on these pitches is quite high and the resulting mix often leaves the pitches in poor condition. The advantage of artificial turf in these regions is more than evident.

Stadium construction is often influenced by the need to adjust designs for the installation of natural grass for international football. Natural grass needs sufficient sunlight, wind and rain to grow and thrive. However, the trend towards building steep-sided stadia with roofs and terraces for additional spectator comfort creates an environment better suited to football turf.

The newest generation of artificial surfaces combines the advantages of play­ing characteristics similar to natural turf, including player comfort and safety, with independence from sunlight, wind and rain.

The new generation of artificial surfaces is easier to maintain than natural grass fields. Artificial it may be, but it cannot just be installed and left to its own devices. The groundsman, whose day-to-day job will change and who will have to learn a whole new set of maintenance techniques, is one of the main beneficiaries of an artificial surface. The time for maintenance is much lower and thus costs for a football turf field can be significantly reduced.

Most of the football turf fields are owned by municipalities and football clubs who recognise that an artificial pitch can be used almost 24 hours a day and seven days a week since it does not need time to recover. Due to the increased longevity, fewer playing fields are required.

Today, the financial situation has become one of the most important compo­nents of any football club. In order to cover the increasing costs, additional revenue streams are necessary. The newest generation of artificial surfaces with playing characteristics similar to natural turf, low maintenance, longer playing hours and the multi-usage possibilities meets the demands of a modern football field. It can be used almost 24 hours a day and seven days a week. In addition to training sessions and matches of various teams, it can be hired out to companies and municipalities for all kind of events.

As the game’s global popularity increases, the climate plays a greater part in limiting its development. In adverse weather conditions, the use of natural grass pitches is limited and the performance suffers. Manufacturers have now developed football turf products that mirror the playing characteristics of real grass and are resistant to difficult climates. FIFA has recognised that all year round and improved and consistent playing conditions worldwide bring enormous benefits to the global development of football.

TEST PROCEDURES

The FIFA RECOMMENDED marks are only awarded to those football turf pitches that have passed a series of stringent laboratory and field tests. Natural grass in ideal condition is the benchmark for these FIFA test criteria in order to ensure highest playing comfort and to con­stantly improve the quality of football turf pitches.

Therefore, every turf product must first pass laboratory tests to determine its composition and must then be tested for durability, joint strength, climatic resistance, player-to-surface inter­action and ball-to-surface interaction. In addition, the reaction of the turf to the skin of the players, when sliding on the surface, will be measured in form of skin abrasion and friction for the higher of the two FIFA RECOMMENDED levels. If it passes all these tests, the first stage of the process towards the award of the marks is completed.

In the second stage, every installed pitch must be tested on site. Firstly, specialised field-testing equipment measures how the ball reacts on the surface in terms of roll, vertical rebound and how the ball behaves when it strikes the surface at an angle. Then it must similarly be tested to see how it reacts to the actions of players – including shock absorbency, surface deformation, slip resistance and traction.

If the football turf pitch passes all the laboratory and field tests, it will qualify for one of the two FIFA RECOMMENDED marks. The marks will only be given to an installed pitch and not simply to the turf carpet. This is because the underlying base surface is just as important to the playability of the pitch as the turf itself.

BENEFITS OF A FIFA RECOMMENDED

With a FIFA RECOMMENDED football turf pitch, everybody benefits: manufacturers benefit from the reliability and credibility afforded by the FIFA quality seal. Players and managers reap the benefits of the outstanding playing conditions of a FIFA RECOMMENDED football turf.

Club officials, football associations and confederations have the assurance that FIFA RECOM­MENDED football turf pitches have been tested to the stringent FIFA criteria and so meet the highest quality standards. Therefore, only those surfaces specifically suited to top-flight foot­ball will qualify for the FIFA endorsement.

Football turf pitches that satisfy the FIFA quality standards combine the benefits of natural turf with optimum playing comfort and maximum safety for players. In addition, maintenance costs are low and artificial turf has greater longevity.

SAME PLAYING CHARACTERISTICS AS NATURAL TURF

The FIFA test criteria are based on the readings of good natural turf fields. Therefore, football turf pitches have similar playing characteristics to real grass. The way the ball behaves on foot­ball turf and the player-to-surface interaction mirror the game on natural grass.

SURFACE TESTED BY FIFA

The FIFA RECOMMENDED mark is only awarded to those football turf pitches that have passed a series of stringent laboratory and field tests. Therefore, FIFA RECOMMENDED football turf pitches are a guarantee for football surfaces of the highest quality.

FIFA CERTIFICATION

Only recognised test institutes that are ISO 17025 certified and comply with the stringent accreditation procedures can be accredited and carry out testing for the FIFA Quality Concept. This guarantees the reliability of the FIFA RECOMMENDED quality marks.

LONGER PLAYING LIFE

The durability and climatic resistance of football turf products are tested in the laboratory. Therefore, a FIFA-certified pitch guarantees a long playing life and thus increases the return on investment.

SIMPLIFIED EVALUATION

The FIFA RECOMMENDED endorsements are a guarantee of quality and safety. This simplifies the decision-making process since football associations, confederations, football clubs and municipalities can rest assured that only those surfaces specifically suited to top flight football will qualify for the FIFA RECOMMENDED marks.

THE TESTS

Quality Criteria

There are three basic categories that define the overall performance of a synthetic surface suitable for the game of football. These may be broadly defined as:

• The resistance of the surface to wear and tear (durability)
• The reaction of a football on the surface (ball/surface interaction)
• The reaction of a football player to the surface (player/surface interaction)

The series of tests includes laboratory tests as well as field tests.

The field tests are conducted after the installation of the pitch. The ball/surface interaction and the player/surface interaction tests are conducted not only in the laboratory but on the field as well.

All football turf pitches wishing to host international matches have to comply with the official Laws of the Game, which may require that certain additional technical criteria be met

IDENTIFICATION OF THE PRODUCT

Quality Criteria

There are three basic categories that define the overall performance of a synthetic surface suitable for the game of football. These may be broadly defined as:

·      The resistance of the surface to wear and tear (durability)

·      The reaction of a football on the surface (ball/surface interaction)

·      The reaction of a football player to the surface (player/surface interaction)

The series of tests includes laboratory tests as well as field tests.

The field tests are conducted after the installation of the pitch. The ball/surface interaction and the player/surface interaction tests are conducted not only in the laboratory but on the field as well.

All football turf pitches wishing to host international matches have to comply with the official Laws of the Game, which may require that certain additional technical criteria be met

IDENTIFICATION OF THE PRODUCT

First of all, the product needs to be identified and classified according to the following criteria.

• Mass per unit area and tufts per unit area
  • Tuft withdrawal force Measures how strongly the fibres are anchored into the backing of the carpet.
  • Pile weight

Measured to ensure that not only the numbers of tufts are correct but also that the correct dTex of yarn has been used.

• Fibre identification

Can be identified by its melting point and so-called glass transition temperature (type of polymer).

• In-fill materials

Defines the various types of in-fill available for incorporation into the gaps

between the fibres of the synthetic turf (particle size/particle shape/bulk density).

Optional:

• Compressive modulus

Optional shock pad under turf

DURABILITY

First of all, the product needs to be identified and classified according to the following criteria.

·      Mass per unit area and tufts per unit area

·      Tuft withdrawal force Measures how strongly the fibres are anchored into the backing of the carpet.

·      Pile weight

Measured to ensure that not only the numbers of tufts are correct but also that the correct dTex of yarn has been used.

·      Fibre identification

Can be identified by its melting point and so-called glass transition temperature (type of polymer).

·      In-fill materials

Defines the various types of in-fill available for incorporation into the gaps

between the fibres of the synthetic turf (particle size/particle shape/bulk density).

Optional:

·      Compressive modulus

Optional shock pad under turf

DURABILITY

• Simulated Wear (Abrasion Resistance)

The surface is artificially abraded (simulation of five year period of wear) and tested for the fol­lowing: Shock Absorption, Vertical Deformation, Vertical Ball Rebound, Rotational Resistance

CLIMATIC RESISTANCE

·      Simulated Wear (Abrasion Resistance)

The surface is artificially abraded (simulation of five year period of wear) and tested for the fol­lowing: Shock Absorption, Vertical Deformation, Vertical Ball Rebound, Rotational Resistance

CLIMATIC RESISTANCE

UV / Water / Heat

Measures the colour change, abrasion resistance and joint strength.

PLAYER / SURFACE INTERACTION

Different categories and criteria define the characteristics of the surface that influence the ability of a football player to play the game:

• Shock Absorption Is the ability of a surface to absorb the impact of a player running on the surface.
• Vertical Deformation Is the stability of a surface measured by the amount that the surface gives in to impact.
• Rotational Resistance

Measures another interaction between the shoe sole and the surface relating to the ability of a player to change direction.

• Slip Resistance Measures the grip of a shoe sole on the surface.

FIFA RECOMMENDED 2 STAR:

• Skin Abrasion Measures the abrasiveness of the surface on the skin of the player when sliding.

Skin Friction Measures the friction of the surface on the skin

SHOCK ABSORPTION

Different categories and criteria define the characteristics of the surface that influence the ability of a football player to play the game:

·      Shock Absorption Is the ability of a surface to absorb the impact of a player running on the surface.

·      Vertical Deformation Is the stability of a surface measured by the amount that the surface gives in to impact.

·      Rotational Resistance

Measures another interaction between the shoe sole and the surface relating to the ability of a player to change direction.

·      Slip Resistance Measures the grip of a shoe sole on the surface.

FIFA RECOMMENDED 2 STAR:

·      Skin Abrasion Measures the abrasiveness of the surface on the skin of the player when sliding.

Skin Friction Measures the friction of the surface on the skin

SHOCK ABSORPTION

The surface can feel “hard” or “soft”. A hard surface can lead to injuries to the body by causing the joints (particularly ankles, knees, hips and spinal column) to compress, which results in dam­age to the cartilage. Furthermore, falling on a hard surface can cause bruising to soft tissue like muscles and, in extreme cases, can cause fractures to bones. A soft surface can cause fatigue to the player running on the surface.

The human body behaves like a spring when it makes contact with the surface. A spring when compressed absorbs a certain amount of energy.

The ability of a surface to absorb the impact of a player running on the surface is called its Shock Absorption. The Shock Absorption is measured using a device called the Berlin Athlete that incorporates the elements of the human spring and an impacting force.

The force received by the anvil is a function of the combination of the spring and the shock absorbing nature of the surface. The measure is called “Force Reduction” and is expressed as a percentage.

The higher the percentage the softer the surface i.e. the more shock absorbing the surface is. Natural turf in ideal conditions produces values of between 60 – 70%.

All artificial turf fields which are to host competitions of the FIGC — LND Tournaments and of the Youth and Scholastic Sector, shall meet the regulatory and technical requirements in line with the standards and parameters laid down in these Regulations, and shall obtain LND type-approval.

Those fields which already have acquired a valid type-approval, issued according to provisions prior to January, 30^th 2008, are excluded from application of the legislation laid down in these Regulations.

These Regulations supersede and replace the legislation on the subject issued on June, 5^th 2006 and following modifications.

The Italian National Amateurs’ League, in compliance with its founding principles of promotion of sport, safeguard of the health of the athletes and environmental protection, sets through these Regulations, standards for the development of artificial turf football fields and for related materials, setting standards and procedures for the design of such fields. LND fosters the development of artificial turf football fields complying with these Regulations, and provides advisory services to Public and Private bodies, on the metter of projects design and technical and economic specifications, for the purpose of implementing the proper procedures for the construction works of the fields, to be contracted or conducted directly.

The validation and testing technical services of the artificial turf fields, as laid down in these Regulations, as well as the advisory and support services which may be requested by those interested in the design of the projects and of the technical specifications related to the development of such fields, are performed with the technical structures of LND Servizi S.r.l., a LND’s single-member company. In these Regulations, the National Amateurs’ League and LND Servizi S.r.l., are referred to as “LND” for brevity, each with its jurisdiction.

BASIC ELEMENTS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE PROGRAM
OF ARTIFICIAL TURF FOOTBALL FIELDS

The basic elements for the preparation of the program of artificial turf football fields are:

Performance features with specific tests to be conducted in laboratory and on field;

Identification of the basic technical requirements for third and/or new generation artificial turf surfaces; Identification of the mandatory basic technical requirements for the infili products (silica sand, elastomer granule and organic products);

Description of the subbase preparation works;

Types of subbases;

-     Artificial turf surface;

Types of infili.

The evaluation criteria adopted by the Federal Sports Facilities Commission (CFIS) and later implemented and transformed into regulations by the Federal Sports Facilities Commission — Artificial Turf Department (CISEA) of the National Amateurs’ League, on data sheets, samplings and suitability validations performed according to the results of laboratory tests and analysis, and of technical tests conducted on the fields of play, are:

1)     TESTS TO BE CONDUCTED AND COMPLIANCE TO THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK;

2)     CERTIFICATION OF THE SYSTEM COMPLYING WITH THE REGULATIONS’ REGULATORY FRAMEWORK;

3)     CERTIFICATION OF THE STABILIZING INFILL COMPLYING WITH THE REGULATIONS’ REGULATORY FRAMEWORK;

4)     CERTIFICATION OF THE PERFORMANCE INFILL COMPLYING WITH THE REGULATIONS’ REGULATORY FRAMEWORK;

5)     CERTIFICATION OF GLUE AND RESPECTIVE BINDING TAPE COMPLYING WITH THE REGULATIONS’ REGULATORY FRAMEWORK (the two products are considered as an inseparable and unchangeable system);