Delighted to take receipt of our new Dynamic Cone Penetrometer. This sees its first action at Bitterne Park School, Southampton where we're testing the strength of the imported and compacted fill material making up the ground formation on which a new 3G sports pitch is to be constructed. The levels tolerances required for such pitches means that stability within the underlying subsoil is absolutely crucial. DCP measurements can be translated directly into CBR readings (California Bearing Ratio) and we're looking for values consistently above 5 % throughout the depth of fill.
This latest addition to our technical kit compliments our soil sampling equipment which we've had for some time but haven't really made full use of to date. This allows us to extract intact soil cores from depths up to around 2 metres enabling a comprehensive appraisal of soil structural and textural properties to be obtained. We can also identify the location of any water table, if this is present.
This latest addition to our technical kit compliments our soil sampling equipment which we've had for some time but haven't really made full use of to date. This allows us to extract intact soil cores from depths up to around 2 metres enabling a comprehensive appraisal of soil structural and textural properties to be obtained. We can also identify the location of any water table, if this is present.
I've always been interested in the measurement of infiltration rate and with our growing involvement in SuDs (Sustainable Drainage Systems) design this phenomenon is of increasing importance, especially where new facilities are being put in place. The double ring infiltrometers are great for Sport England testing of what we might call surface infiltration. But for facilitating the design of soakaways, which are often the most appropriate destination for sports pitch runoff, measurement of subsoil infiltration rates have to be obtained and this is done by different means.
If you're looking to install soakaways, then for a comprehensive appraisal of infiltration rate you should follow the procedures described in, for example, BRE365. This is a costly and laborious undertaking, however, involving excavators, tonnes of imported stone, gallons of water and a lot of hard work. And you won't have much change out of £2.5k for just one or two of these tests. This is great if you're constructing a multi-million pound housing development, but for an individual sports pitch...?
You might like to obtain a preliminary measure of subsoil infiltration rate before going ahead with this. We've developed a technique of providing a measure of subsoil infiltration rate that is far quicker and less demanding. The results should be sufficiently accurate to allow a functioning sports pitch drainage system to be designed and if the planners are insistent on the BRE365 approach you can always carry that out later, perhaps when you're more certain that your project is actually going ahead.
I always said that natural turf sports pitches are about soil far more than they are about grass and in a similar way, although the quality of the carpet or finish is of great importance, the success of artificial surfaces (MUGAs, 3G etc) is hugely dependent on what lies underneath. So I'm very much looking forward to putting our enhanced soil testing facilities into action, helping to make great sports facilities even better.
You might like to obtain a preliminary measure of subsoil infiltration rate before going ahead with this. We've developed a technique of providing a measure of subsoil infiltration rate that is far quicker and less demanding. The results should be sufficiently accurate to allow a functioning sports pitch drainage system to be designed and if the planners are insistent on the BRE365 approach you can always carry that out later, perhaps when you're more certain that your project is actually going ahead.
I always said that natural turf sports pitches are about soil far more than they are about grass and in a similar way, although the quality of the carpet or finish is of great importance, the success of artificial surfaces (MUGAs, 3G etc) is hugely dependent on what lies underneath. So I'm very much looking forward to putting our enhanced soil testing facilities into action, helping to make great sports facilities even better.