Activities

The United States Sports Surfacing Laboratory (USSL) is an independent research and testing laboratory in Hopewell, VA, specializing in all types of sports surfaces:

• Synthetic Surfaces
  for outdoor and indoor sports facilities (running tracks)
• Synthetic Turf
• Gymfloors / Sport Hall Floors
  synthetic and wooden surfaces
• Tennis Court Surfaces
  indoor and outdoor
• Mineral Surfaces
  clay and cinder courts
• Playground Surfaces for children
• Aerobic + Dancing Floors
• Elastic Wall Padding

AREAS OF FOCUS

• Function (sports and safety function, loading capacity, durability;
  compatibility with regulations of sports governing bodies)
• Subconstruction (asphalt, cement screed, concrete etc.)
• Subsoil (composition, loading capacity, processability)
• Construction Physics (heat, moisture, noise)
• Irrigation and Drainage
• Characteristics of Material Components
• Quality Monitoring
• Ecology / Environmental Compatibility
• Conformity / Compliance
  with standards, contracts and rules of sports governing bodies

TYPES of SERVICES and AREAS of INVOLVEMENT

• Establishing Standards (ASTM, DIN, CEN, IAAF, FIH, FIFA, UEFA)
• Written Comments
  Interpretation of standards, of the state-of-the-art technology,
  and of the regulations of the sports governing bodies
• Publications and Seminars
• Expert Whitness
• Consultation
  concerning general questions of function and specific suitability
  of sports surfaces for individual needs/projects;
  in respect to refurbishment and/or repair of sports surfaces
• Testing
  The IST performs investigation of sports surfaces according to ASTM, DIN, IAAF, FIH, EPA, FIH, UEFA and other internationally recognized standards including measurement of identifying properties of material components (Infrared Spectroscopy - IRA, Content of Plasticizers, Tensile Strength, Dynamic Differential Calorimetry - DDC, Gas Chromatographic Analysis - GCA etc.), Environmental Compatibility (DIN 18035-7):

1. Suitability Tests on Surface Systems
2. Control Tests on Sites
3. Quality Monitoring Tests
4. Analysis of Surface Failures
5. Acceptance Tests