Padding it out

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has now adopted a standard that specifies minimum performance and durability requirements for shock pads and e-layers

ports p itch projects that include the use of shock pads now have a new standard to follow, after the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) adopted EN 15330-4 – a standard that specifies minimum performance and durability requirements for shock pads and e-layers. EN 15330-4 was published in 2022 and has been followed by the development additional standards for Infills (Part 5) and Synthetic Turf Yarns (Part 6) which will published over the coming months and years. Martin Laidler from Trocellen gave a presentation on these updates at the SAPCA Technical Meeting 2024.

Redefining quality

The standard describes how the performance of a shock pad or elastic layer is measured. The document also specifies appropriate performance tolerance for production and on-site quality control procedures. It has been designed to enable developers and other buyers of sports surfacing systems to select the most appropriate shock pad or elastic layer for their intended sports surface.

EN 15330-4 will also ensure that shockpads which comply with the new norm have been extensively tested on performance, longevity and to the toxicology and environment compatibility.

The Standard applies to all types of shockpad used within sports fields. These include pre- fabricated rolls and tiles, bound rubber granulate in situ shockpads, bound rubber granulate aggregate elastic layers and fibre and textile shockpads. To be considered as a shockpad, a product needs to provide shock absorbency of at least 20%.

According to Kai Wasmund, export manager of Schmitz Foam Products, the adoption of EN 15330-4 heralds a new episode for artificial turf surfaces.

“Gone are the days when covering a surface with artificial turf was all that mattered,” he says. “Artificial turf systems are engineered systems that allow for more than facilitating sports.

“These days, the life-cycle analysis (LCA) or environmental footprint of the product is equally important in a society that is increasingly focused on sustainability and the environment. Furthermore, with most sports infrastructure being funded by public money, it is important that society gets the highest possible quality and performance for an affordable price.”

Collaborative approach

EN 15330-4 is the result of a multi-year collaboration between various international sports governing bodies, national European authorities and the artificial turf industry. It has quickly become a very important document for the synthetic turf industry.

Wasmud explains: “Even when your key aim is to facilitate a sports field, you still have an obligation to consider aspects like the environmental impact and investment cost.

“EN 15330-4 describes how the performance of a shock pad or elastic layer shall be measured, and the results are to be classified in a common format. Architects, club management and municipal officers should use that baseline to identify components and products that facilitate the development of more inclusive and sustainable sports facilities.”

EN 15330-4 sets the baseline for safer, more sustainable sports facilities

Putting the standard into practice

A number of SAPCA members now offer shock pads which have been designed and manufactured according to the new EN 15330-4 standards

Regupol’s durable turfpad SP offers practical choice

The prefabricated elastic layer, Regupol turfpad SP – supplied by SAPCA member, Regupol – complies with the new European standard EN 15330-4. With this certification, Regupol offers a reliable solution that meets the requirements of today’s sports surfaces.

Thanks to the turfpad SP’s properties, both planners and users benefit from an optimum combination of quality and durability. The product impresses with its uniform thickness, which ensures constant physical properties over the entire surface. This property supports even wear and makes the layer an ideal base for various sports.

In addition to its durability, Regupol turfpad SP is water-permeable, which reduces water accumulation and ensures that the surface is easier to play on even in bad weather. This not only contributes to functionality, but also to a more sustainable design of sports surfaces, as it conserves natural resources. Easy installation saves time and makes Regupol turfpad SP a practical choice for sports and play projects.

Schmitz introduces shock pads for water-based hockey pitches

Schmitz Foam Products has unveiled its ProPlay- Sport13/250, a shock pad designed to meet the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) stricter regulations, particularly for ball bounce. At just 13mm thick, the high-density shock pad is the thinnest in the ProPlay range and ensures optimal performance for water-based artificial turf hockey pitches. Tested to EN 15330-4 standards, it meets the latest demands of modern hockey fields.

ProPlay-Sport13/250 is equipped with a permeable non-woven layer on both sides, providing robustness and stability. Expansion slots allow it to endure temperature fluctuations, while its high density withstands heavy maintenance equipment. With a lifespan exceeding two to three artificial turf cycles, it’s a sustainable choice for long-term use.

Complementing the existing ProPlay-Sport15/215, the new shock pad offers improved ball bounce compliance and shock absorption. Schmitz continues to innovate, with plans for a shock pad tailored to Dry Hockey systems. Made from recycled foam remnants, ProPlay shock pads are recyclable and environmentally friendly. With a 25-year guarantee, they outlast turf mats, offering relatively low operating costs over their lifecycle.

ProGame shock pads: sustainable innovation for sports pitches of the future

For more than 12 years, clubs in the UK have relied on the proven quality of ProGame – the brand of shock pads manufactured by SAPCA member, Trocellen. Now, as many of these fields are being modernised and the original turf is being replaced, the true advantage of the technology becomes clear: the shock pads can be easily reused.

ProGame shock pads have been installed at a number of football clubs – including Airdrie FC (Excelsior Stadium), Kilmarnock FC, Gretna FC and Malleny Park – delivering reliable performance for years, saving clubs and communities significant costs in the long term. They were also used at Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre. The same is true in the Netherlands and other countries where clear regulations govern the reuse of shock pads, making ProGame’s products a key component of sustainable field design.

“Our ProGame shock pads undergo rigorous testing by independent institutes,” a spokesperson for Trocellen says. “These tests ensure that performance levels match the original values – and under normal conditions, ProGame shock pads always meet this standard. That’s why we offer a 24-year guarantee on our products.

“Additionally, all our shock pads are certified to EN 15330/4 – the standard recognised by leading organizations such as FIFA, the Football Foundation, and other institutions across Europe. This standard was specifically developed to demonstrate the longevity and quality of shock pads.”

RevoSport provides fully-recycled shock pads

SAPCA member, RevoSport, offers a range of prefabricated shock pads, manufactured in the UK at its production site in Greater Manchester using 100% recycled foam trim materials. The pads are included in various synthetic turf manufacturers’ approved systems for FIFA, WRU, FIH and GAA, as well as MUGAs, where a variety of sports will be played, and used for play areas and indoor leisure facilities.

RevoSport’s customers work closely with various sectors in the industry, including elite professional sports clubs, universities, independent and state schools, local authorities, grassroots clubs and associations and private domestic clients. RevoSport shock pads have been included in a wide range of project types, ranging in size from practice hockey/football areas in people’s back gardens, to the first indoor baseball facility in Europe all the way through to large scale facilities including the world’s largest air dome facility at the time of completion.

Additionally, RevoSport has supplied to the largest standalone synthetic pitch facility in the West of Ireland, which comprised a full sized GAA certified pitch, two full-sized FIFA certified pitches and a full sized WRU certified pitch. The shock pads are supplied in rolls, making on-site installation easy, with a range of standard and bespoke thicknesses, widths and densities available on request.