Why Artificial Grass Lawns, Playgrounds and Sports Pitches Need Shock Pads
Announcement posted by Green Planet Grass 27 Mar 2014
Artificial grass manufacturer from Perth reveals how shock pads enhance safety, sports characteristics and comfort of artificial turf.
Perth, WA, 27 March 2014
What Are Shock Pads?
Shock pads are a somewhat recent development in the evolution of artificial turf, being fuelled largely by the sporting and school markets. What is a shock pad? A shock pad is a pad that fits between the surface upon which artificial grass is being installed and the artificial grass itself. It acts as a buffer between the artificial grass and the ground. Its main functions are cushioning and controlling impact.
When artificial grass is installed, the ground is “excavated” and levelled and a sub base is then installed in preparation for the artificial grass. In some situations, such as indoor uses, the surface beneath is cement. Artificial grass has an infill made of either sand, rubber or both, depending upon the product and the intended use.
Even when the ground is “forgiving,” the infill is soft and the grass itself is thick, artificial grass can still be a less-than-forgiving surface upon which to fall. In sports, this resulted in high injury rates that made many teams in many sports return to natural grass until sufficient advances were made in artificial turf. It also resulted in bounces that were not seen as the standard bounces endemic to their respective sports.
Applications for Shock Pads
Now, however, shock pads are available and are used not only for sports, but for playgrounds, parks and residences around the world. In sports, shock pads enhance playability greatly by compensating for other factors and producing playing characteristics that are appropriate for their intended sports use. They also prevent injuries by absorbing shock and producing a more consistent playing field.
Shock pads help artificial grass spring back to its original state, thus keeping any surface irregularities from developing during play or as a consequence of heavy play. The end result is a playing surface that is more accurate and comfortable that lasts a lot longer than a pitch without a shock pad.
At schools or parks, shock pads are required due to the critical fall height standards. When children play on a surface, their safety is at risk. Critical fall height standards are designed to ensure the safety of children playing on artificial grass. The critical fall height is determined by usage, the age of the children and the equipment being used.
For example, young children who are playing on the ground with no equipment don’t need a critical fall height because they aren’t going to fall from higher than they can jump. Meanwhile, older children playing on tall equipment will need their artificial turf to meet greater critical fall height standards.
According to Justin Everley, Director of Green Planet Grass, shock pads are an essential component in an artificial lawn: “Whilst in a residential setting, artificial lawn can work out just fine without a shock pad, we insist on their use for any surface that has critical fall height, or other safety standards to meet.”
Mr Everley concluded that "shock pads add comfort, safety and durability to any artificial landscape system regardless of whether they are used for sport, play or general garden relaxation.”
Green Planet Grass manufactures and installs artificial turf in Perth and Western Australia. They proudly carry the Australian Owned, Australian Made label and offer solutions for residential, sports and commercial applications. For more information, call (08) 9209 2669 or visit their website: http://www.greenplanetgrassperth.com.au/.
What Are Shock Pads?
Shock pads are a somewhat recent development in the evolution of artificial turf, being fuelled largely by the sporting and school markets. What is a shock pad? A shock pad is a pad that fits between the surface upon which artificial grass is being installed and the artificial grass itself. It acts as a buffer between the artificial grass and the ground. Its main functions are cushioning and controlling impact.
When artificial grass is installed, the ground is “excavated” and levelled and a sub base is then installed in preparation for the artificial grass. In some situations, such as indoor uses, the surface beneath is cement. Artificial grass has an infill made of either sand, rubber or both, depending upon the product and the intended use.
Even when the ground is “forgiving,” the infill is soft and the grass itself is thick, artificial grass can still be a less-than-forgiving surface upon which to fall. In sports, this resulted in high injury rates that made many teams in many sports return to natural grass until sufficient advances were made in artificial turf. It also resulted in bounces that were not seen as the standard bounces endemic to their respective sports.
Applications for Shock Pads
Now, however, shock pads are available and are used not only for sports, but for playgrounds, parks and residences around the world. In sports, shock pads enhance playability greatly by compensating for other factors and producing playing characteristics that are appropriate for their intended sports use. They also prevent injuries by absorbing shock and producing a more consistent playing field.
Shock pads help artificial grass spring back to its original state, thus keeping any surface irregularities from developing during play or as a consequence of heavy play. The end result is a playing surface that is more accurate and comfortable that lasts a lot longer than a pitch without a shock pad.
At schools or parks, shock pads are required due to the critical fall height standards. When children play on a surface, their safety is at risk. Critical fall height standards are designed to ensure the safety of children playing on artificial grass. The critical fall height is determined by usage, the age of the children and the equipment being used.
For example, young children who are playing on the ground with no equipment don’t need a critical fall height because they aren’t going to fall from higher than they can jump. Meanwhile, older children playing on tall equipment will need their artificial turf to meet greater critical fall height standards.
According to Justin Everley, Director of Green Planet Grass, shock pads are an essential component in an artificial lawn: “Whilst in a residential setting, artificial lawn can work out just fine without a shock pad, we insist on their use for any surface that has critical fall height, or other safety standards to meet.”
Mr Everley concluded that "shock pads add comfort, safety and durability to any artificial landscape system regardless of whether they are used for sport, play or general garden relaxation.”
Green Planet Grass manufactures and installs artificial turf in Perth and Western Australia. They proudly carry the Australian Owned, Australian Made label and offer solutions for residential, sports and commercial applications. For more information, call (08) 9209 2669 or visit their website: http://www.greenplanetgrassperth.com.au/.