Sustainable Design for Artificial & Natural Grass Sports Fields

The AirField synthetic drainage system brings faster installation, superior drainage and a lower footprint to your sustainable sports facility construction or renovation.  With an entire field delivered in two trucks, the elimination of the gravel drainage layer, and  a 92% vertical and lateral drainage also bringing  its own shock pad characteristics and constant GMAX across the entire field, the AirField System is the premier choice for natural or artificial turf fields.

AirDrain for Synthetic Turf Now Doubles as a Drainage Layer and Shock Pad

TODD_01-30-08_flt1414-004With sustainable design, durability and long life, AirDrain brings superior drainage at a value you’ll love for your synthetic turf installation. Whether installed on an aggregate base, concrete or asphalt the AirDrain drainage grid provides you with a constant GMAX (as seen below) that is consistent across the entire field. The only factors that might influence a change in GMAX would be an inconsistency of the infill or wear of the synthetic turf fibers. Unlike traditional shock pads / e-layer the AirDrain is 1" high, has a 92% air void and a vertical and lateral drainage rate which is unmatched in the industry.

With AirDrains ability to drain water both laterally and vertically, standing water or moisture trapped on the base is all but eliminated helping to reduce possible deterioration of the base over time.   

Some of the benefits of an AirField artificial turf drainage system include:

  • AirDrain creates and helps maintain a constant Gmax for artificial turf (See below)
  • Thickness and resin consistency of AirDrain provides uniform shock absorbency 
  • Shock absorption reduces the strain on joints and ligaments
  • AirDrain is only limited by the drainage capacity of the profile above it
  • Installation time measured in days instead of weeks
  • AirDrain can be reused when the artificial turf must be replaced
  • Water harvesting reclamation and reuse
  • Helps qualify for LEED and other green building credits
  • A smaller carbon and development footprint with reduced site disturbance
  • 100% vertical drainage under the entire field surface
  • Minimizes water related injuries / Less infill migration due to superior drainage
  • AirDrain is a 100% recycled product
  • Less infill migration due to superior drainage


GMAX Information Existing Conditions for Testing 


Turf - 2 1/2” Slit Film, in filled with 50% Green Rubber Infill and 50% Silica Sand.

The drainage/shock pad and turf underlying substrate consists of a concrete deck/rooftop, coated with a waterproof membrane and 10 ounce 100% recycled polyester geo-textile filter fabric. 

The Standard Test Method for Shock-Absorbing Properties of Playing Surface Systems and Materials (ASTM F1936-98 American Football Field) testing locations and procedure were preformed. The tests were performed using a Triax 2000 A-1 Missile, tripod mounted Gmax registration unit(www.triax2000.com). This report presents background information on the test procedures, existing conditions, test results and observations in football, baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey artificial sports fields.

Some of our artificial turf sports field drainage system installations include:

Ash Fork High School Football

Ash Fork High School Softball

Benton Softball Field

Artificial Sports Turf

Artificial Sports Turf

Artificial Turf

Artificial Sports Turf Field

NCAA Division 1-A Football

T. Boone Pickens Stadium 84,000 SF Artificial Turf, Oklahoma State University Football Game Field

Temple University 75,000 SF Artificial Turf, Philadelphia, PA Football Practice Field

University of Central Florida 226,000 SF Artificial Turf, Orlando, FL Three Intramural Game Fields

University of Oklahoma Artificial Turf Strip Drains, Norman, OK Indoor Practice Facility

University of Tennessee 35,000 SF Artificial Turf, Chattanooga, TN Football Practice Field

NCAA Division 2-A Football

Bethel College 80,000 SF Artificial Turf, McKenzie, TN Stadium Game Field

Drexel University 32,000 SF Artificial Turf, Philadelphia, PA Football Practice Field

Welch Stadium 78,000 SF Artificial Turf, Emporia State University Football Game Field

NCAA Division 2-A Soccer

Ralph Stoker Stadium 95,000 SF Artificial Turf, Grand Junction, CO Stadium Game Field

University of Utah 92,821 SF, Salt Lake City, UT Sports Field

High School

Bloomfield High School 50,274 SF, Bloomfield, NM Softball Field

Judge Memorial High School 76,608 SF, Salt Lake City, UT Sports Field

Tatum ISD 53,466 SF, Tatum, TX Sports Field

YSU Watts High School 18,354 SF, Youngstown, OH Indoor Track

Escuela Campo Allegre 86,000 SF, Caracus, Venesuela Sports Field

Herriman High School 99,750 SF, Herriman, UT Sports Field

Martha Layne High School 87,000 SF, Shelbyville, KY Sports Field

Binghamton High School 47,000 SF, Binghamton, NY Parking Garage Rooftop

Benton High School 34,000 SF, Benton, AR Softball Field

Cameron High School 84,000 SF Artificial Turf, Cameron, MO Stadium Game Field

Edmond North High School 20,000 SF Artificial Turf, Edmond, OK Partial Practice Field

Georgetown Day Schools 77,000 SF Artificial Turf, Washington DC Stadium Game Field

Letcher Central High School 94,000 SF Artificial Turf, Whitesburg, KY Stadium Game Field

Minnetonka High School 13,000 SF Artificial Turf, Minnetonka, MN Football Stadium D-Area

Rose Hill High School 96,000 SF Artificial Turf, Rose Hill, KS Stadium Game Field

Saint Marks School 86,000 SF Artificial Turf, Dallas, TX Stadium Game Field

Salina Central High School 98,000 SF Artificial Turf, Salina, KS Stadium Game Field

Sidwell High School 73,000 SF Artificial Turf, Washington DC Stadium Game Field

Woods Crossing High School 110,000 SF Artificial Turf, Woods Cross, UT Stadium Game Field

Ashfork High School 58,000 SF Artificial Turf, Ashfork, AZ Football Game Field

Ashfork High School 47,000 SF Artificial Turf, Ashfork, AZ Baseball Game Field

Ashfork High School 25,000 SF Artificial Turf, Ashfork, AZ Softball Game Field

Lehi High School 96,000 SF Artificial Turf, Lehi, UT Football Game Field

Cottonwood High School 105,000 SF Artificial Turf, Cottonwood, UT Football Game Field

Pleasant Grove High School 97,000 SF Artificial Turf, Lindon, UT Football Game Field

Sundown Stadium 95,000 SF Artificial Turf, Sundown, TX Footbal Game Field

Alta High School 104,000 SF Artificial Turf, Sandy, UT Football Game Field

Crane High School 101,000 SF Artificial Turf, Crane, TX Football Game Field

Rogers High School 76,608 SF Artificial Turf, Rogers, AR Football Game Field

Bingham High School 90,000 SF Artificial Turf, Bingham, UT Football Game Field

International

Soccer Complex 14,000 SF Artificial Turf, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Indoor Soccer Practice Field

Soccer Complex 72,000 SF Natural Grass, Caracus, Venezuela Practice Facility

Sports Facilities


Rash Stadium 15,500 SF Artificial Turf, Owensboro, KY Repair Stadium Game Field

Florida Int’l University 95,000 SF Artificial Turf, Miami, FL Sports Complex

Maryland Soccer Complex 290,000 SF Artificial Turf, Boyd, MD Sports Complex

Morgan Yard 4,788 SF Artificial Turf, Mississauga, ON Canada Sports Surface

Prosport Surfaces 798 SF, Mississauga, ON Canada Sports Surface

Natural Turf

Confirmed by a 3 year USGA – Texas A&M – AirField research project a fully irrigated AirField profile takes approximately 4 days to decrease to the level of the gravel profiles 1st day water storage level. Regardless of circumstances the comparisons remain the same with the ability to drastically reduce annual irrigation needs. Also noted was the ability of the Airfield System’s rapid root growth, with 8 inches in 6 weeks being documented.

 

 

 

 

 

Click on the following link to review  the final report submitted to the USGA:

Take a few moments to check out Tim Peterson of the Arizona Cardinals and  his video on why he chose the AirField System over 20 other systems and why the University of Phoenix Field has been voted the #1 natural grass field in the NFL by the NFLPA 4 years in a row (2007-Present):

Benefits of a natural AirField drainage system include:

  • 100% Vertical Drainage under the entire field, eliminating rain outs and standing water on the field maximizing playability and minimizing sports turf injuries
  • Minimal site disturbance / Far less excavation and disposal
  • Installation days saved over a gravel install
  • 100% recycled drainage grid
  • Healthier turf / Stronger root system
  • A nearly perfect perched water table
  • Reduces maintenance
  • Tested at 233 psi / 33,552 psf.
  • Ship drainage for an entire field in 2 trucks
  • Up to 4 days of plant available water stored in the root zone over gravel drainage reducing water needs by up to 75% annually

Click here to see the interface tension testing results showingAirDrain's superior performance over gravel drainage.

 

T. Boone Pickens Stadium at OSU

T. Boone Pickens Stadium at Oklahoma State University

 

Some of our natural turf sports field drainage system installations include:

Aggies Field

NFL

Arizona Cardinals Stadium 94,000 SF Natural Grass, Glendale, AZ NFL Game Field

  • In an NFL Players Association poll, the field at University of Phoenix Stadium was voted as the league’s top playing surface in 2006,‘07,’08, '09, '10.
  • In 2008 it was also selected as the league’s best playing surface in a Sports Illustrated poll among NFL players.
  • Super Bowl XLII
  • Home of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

Baltimore Ravens 75,000 SF Natural Grass, Owings Mills, MD Practice Field

NCAA Division 1 Football Fields

Highers Simpson Field 130,000 SF Natural Grass, Baylor University Practice Field

NCAA Division 1 Baseball Fields

Olsen Field 120,000 SF Natural Grass, Texas A & M University Baseball Game Field

NCAA Division 1 Softball Fields

Texas A & M University 54,000 SF Natural Grass, Varsity Softball Complex Softball Game Field

NCAA Division 1 Soccer Fields

Texas A & M University 101,000 SF Natural Grass, Varsity Soccer Complex Soccer Game Field

University Of Maryland 125,000 SF Natural Grass, Varsity Soccer Complex Stadium Game Field

Sports Facilities

Virginia Sports Complex 23,000 SF Natural Grass, Caroline County, VA Two Baseball Infields

International

Estadio Metropolitano de Barquisimeto stadium in Venezuela 72,000 SF Natural Grass Caracas, Venezuela World Cup Soccer Field

  • Named best field in World Cup 2007
University of Phoenix Stadium University of Phoenix Stadium

University of Phoenix Stadium - the NFL Player's Choice!

Downloads

Below are brochures, specifications and test results related to sports field drainage for your download and use. If you have any problems downloading the files, call us at (405) 359-3775 or send us a note and we will send them to you directly.

AirField Sports Field Drainage Brochure:

Sports Field Brochure

AirField Natural Turf Drainage Specifications:

Document

 PDF DWG
Part Specifications


Strength and Load Testing


Master Specification

SubBase Preparation Guide


Installation Instructions

AirDrain Temperature and Durability

AirDrain Copolymer Properties

AirDrain Site Arrival

Truck and Freight Loading Layout

Cross Section


Detail


Concrete Field Edge Detail


Natural Field Edge Detail


Irrigation Head Detail


Filter Fabric Specifications

AirField Artificial Turf Drainage Specifications:

Document

 PDF DWG
Part Specifications


Strength and Load Testing


Master Specification

SubBase Preparation Guide


Installation Instructions

AirDrain Temperature and Durability

AirDrain Copolymer Properties

AirDrain Site Arrival

Truck and Freight Loading Layout

G-Max Test Results


Cross Section


Detail


Concrete/Asphalt Detail
Field Edge Detail


Filter Fabric Specifications