Cooling Synthetic Turf?

Marc,

If you’re planning on having people on a synthetic lawn for a period of time, an irrigation system is a must to cool the space off. I’ve had syn. turf suppliers tell me that the ambient temperature can increase between 2-16 degrees with syn. turf. for a height of 4 feet above grade.

If you are designing a sports field, an irrigation system is again a must as the players will become exhausted due to the increased heat. Some friends of mine designed a multi soccer pitch complex with syn. turf and the facility had to water the fields down before play could start. This didn’t sit well with the general public as syn. turf is supposed to save water. What the public didn’t understand is that the facility didn’t apply water after the games and during the week but only before the next weekend round of play

If the space that you’re desiging is small enough, a quick coupler key and a rolled up hose may work to quickly cool the space off before an event, especially in a condominium type setting. This system also works well if the homeowners have pets as they can wash off the grass where the dog uriniated or messed on to help reduce the bacteria build up caused by the excrement.

I hope this long winded summary helps!

Gentlemen,
A short reply. For those who find it hard to wrap their mind around the concept, consider this: in hot climates it is often necessary to irrigate natural turf during the heat of the day; not so much for user comfort, but for the health of the turf. Soil temperatures can soar, drying the turf and baking the soil hard as concrete.

Chad
Do well doing good.

I have an alternative solution product that you should consider for Artificial Turf fields to cool them down. The product is called EPIC Chamber by a company out of Minnesota called RESI Solutions. Here’s the link to their site and this product: http://www.rehbeinsolutions.com/technology/epic.html

Here’s some info from the manufacturer on the product and all the uses for it beyond cooling artificial surfaces:
• Provide Stormwater Quality/Quantity Management: RESI solutions enable any green space or permeable surface to incorporate sub-surface cleansing and storage of massive stormwater volumes in the soil profile. Effective utilization of the EPIC System™ can provide stormwater management for quality and quantity purposes.

• Reclaim Rainwater for Irrigation Purposes: The EPIC System™ provides an opportunity to store and re-use water to irrigate any living green spaces.

• Surface Cooling of Athletic Fields: Research has shown that EPIC Systems™ can reduce the field surface temperature (by 25-30 degrees) during hot months and improve overall player comfort (especially important in warm climates).

• 50-85% Reduction of Water Consumption for Irrigation: In irrigation applications, EPIC Systems™ use 50-85% less water than traditional spray irrigation systems (University of New Mexico Study). EPIC System™ water delivery occurs through sub- surface, passive capillary action within the sand-based profile.

• Water Management: Living systems of vegetation and microorganisms cleanse and reuse water through physical uptake and biological breakdown of pollutants. Water treatment of our natural components removes over 80% of Total Suspended Solids (TSS), 85% of Total Phosphorous and over 60% of Nitrates (Rice Creek Watershed District research). Netlon ATS mimics an intense root structure that doubles the infiltration rate of soils. All runoff can be controlled and re-used by properly utilizing the EPIC System™.

• Improve Vegetative Durability and Reduce Soil Compaction/Erosion: Netlon Reflex Mesh elements give the turf surface “memory”, allowing it to spring back into shape following heavy or repetitive use. Areas reinforced with Netlon Reflex Mesh are resistant to ripping and can support heavy vehicle traffic without developing ruts.

• Re-Use Greywater and/or Stormwater: EPIC Systems™ deliver water through passive subsurface chambers; this mitigates health concerns associated with greywater or stormwater re-use.

• Decreased Maintenance Costs: The EPIC System™ and Netlon Reflex Mesh elements reduce long-term operating and maintenance expenses. Our solutions also significantly reduce water consumption and decrease the cost of stormwater infrastructure.

• Improve Vegetation Health and Vitality: With sub-surface irrigation, vegetation establishes more rapidly and decreases the water-related stress. Studies that have been conducted with turf grass and EPIC Systems™ indicate there is an increase in the grass blade mass and density by as much has 40% (by weight). Also, EPIC Systems™ allow for subsurface fertilization if needed for specific vegetative needs.

• Contribute to LEED Credits: LEED credits that are attainable include: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Innovation in Design, Recycled Content and Materials Reuse.

• Proven Return on Investment (ROI): Incorporating the EPIC System™ and Netlon ATS into your project will provide multi-functional green spaces that have a proven ROI. Our solutions provide several benefits and enhance the function and aesthetics of the project.

Contact me with any questions

Marc,

I see that you’re in PA while I’m in AZ. Humidity isn’t an issue here as much so I don’t have any experinece with humidity after the water is applied. Most art. turf material will have drain holes so that there isn’t any standing water and the turf is installed over a compacted subgrade of 1/4″ minus decomposed granite which should wick the water away from the surface. Your installation process may be different from ours since you have freeze/ thaw issues.

Injury wise the parks may water the turf down to avoid ‘rug burn’ but it may be a toss up is he water dries fast. I’m not sure what the slip factor is either. My experience with art. turf has been on apartments and residential so I’ve only heard issues from friends in regards to sports fields.

I would be interested in getting information on this as we sell artificial turf fields (did about 60 last year) mostly in the southwest where heat on turf is a growing issue.

troy squires
Hellas Construction
512-250-2910
tsquires@hellasconstruction.com

Hey Marc, not sure if you are still active in this thread or not but thought I would share.  There are a few companies that are extremely beneficial in their knowledge of sports field conditioning.  From the field construction aspect, Sports Fields, Inc.  aka “Fields” has done more heated sports field than anyone I know.  Not only that, but their fields are awesome.  They are the preferred contractor for the Green Bay Packers as well as many others.  If you are looking for more information on sports field heating or cooling for natural grass or synthetic turf fields, try http://www.radiantso.com  These guys have been cleverly hidden behind some of the best designed fields for heating and cooling.  They have done some of the work for FIELDS and numerous other large, high profile radiant applications such as cooling for agricultural, grain, and rice.  They offer both  hydronic or electric systems and probably have the information that can help you out.   Hope this helps.!!!!

The synthetic turf cooling system sold by Earthologytech.com is, in fact, the only commercial “under-turf” cooling system available. It works by circulating water under your turf field in a closed-loop system. The water is cooled to about 65 degrees by an underground core utilizing Geo Thermal Ground Source Heat Exchange technology. In hot weather the water absorbs the heat out of the turf and releases that heat through the core into the ground below. In cold weather it will support temperatures that will melt snow. The water re-circulates and is not waisted so the only energy requiered is a small pump. Earthologytech.com also makes a system which is much less complex and much less expensive that creates a moisture membrane under the turf to keep the turf from heating up. Both are run thermostatically.