FIFA QUALITY PROGRAMME FOR FOOTBALL TURF

VERSION JUNE 2024

TEST MANUAL II:

TEST REQUIREMENTS

FIFA QUALITY PROGRAMME

FOR FOOTBALL TURF

2024 EDITION3

06. FIELD DIMENSIONS AND MARKINGS 35 6.1 Fiel d dimensions 36 6.2 Fiel d markings and eligibility for international competitions 36 07. RUN-OFF AREA 38 7.1 Foo tball turf fields 39 7.2 Foo tball turf field repairs 39 7.3 Natural-turf fields 40 7.4 Maintenanc e requirements 41 Annexes.

ANNEXE A:

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 43

1. Code of Practice for the Desi gn, Construction and Testing of

Football Turf Fields 43

2. Bearing capacity 43

3. Glare 43

4. Stai ning 43

5. Toxicology 43

6. Env ironmental compatibility 43

7. Climatic con ditions 43

8. Resistance t o fire 43

ANNEXE B:

FACTORY QUALITY CONTROL

PROCEDURES 44

1. Intr oduction 44

2. Organisation 44

3. Control proc edures 44

4. Doc ument and data control 44

5. Sub contract services 44

6. Kno wledge of raw material 44

7. Managemen t of production 45

8. Inspection a nd test 45

9. Control of n on-conforming products 46

10. Handling, storage and conditioning in production areas 46

11. Transport an d packaging 46

12. Training of p ersonnel 46

13. Min imum test frequencies for general properties 46

14. Communica tion 47

15. Design and construction verification 47

ANNEXE C:

FIFA BASIC STANDARD 48

1. Intr oduction 48

2. Eligibility for FIFA Basic standard field test 48

3. Certification period 48

4. Info rmation for certification applicants 48

15. Design and construction verification 47

ANNEXE C:

FIFA BASIC STANDARD 48

1. Intr oduction 48

2. Eligibility for FIFA Basic standard field test 48

3. Certification period 48

4. Info rmation for certification applicants 48

5. Fiel d dimensions 49

6. Fiel d markings and eligibility for international competitions 49

7. Fiel d test positions for pitches smaller than 45.0m x 90.0m 49

8. Fiel d test requirements 50

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this Test Manual, any party that uses any part of this Test Manual in the development of a football turf pitch (a “User”) does so at their own risk and shall indemnify FIFA, its officers, directors, service providers, consultants and agents against all claims, proceedings, actions, damages, costs, expenses and any other liabilities for loss of or damage to any property, or injury or death to any person that may be made against or incurred by FIFA arising out of or in connection with the User’s use of this Test Manual. Compliance with the requirements detailed in this Test Manual by a User does not of itself confer on that User immunity from legal obligations. Compliance with the requirements detailed in this Test Manual by a User constitutes acceptance of the terms of this disclaimer by that User. FIFA reserves the right to amend, update or delete sections of this Test Manual at any time, as it deems necessary. 04. LABORATORY TEST REQUIREMENTS 14 4.1 Gen eral 15 4.2 Calculation o f variations 15 4.3 Calculation o f relative consistency during field testing 15 4.4 Unc ertainty of results 15 4.5 Resistance t o artificial weathering 15 4.6 Infil l material: definitions 15 4.7 Systems: de finitions 16 4.8 Systems und er development 16

consistency during field testing 15 4.4 Unc ertainty of results 15 4.5 Resistance t o artificial weathering 15 4.6 Infil l material: definitions 15 4.7 Systems: de finitions 16 4.8 Systems und er development 16 4.9 Syn thetic yarns with recycled content 16 4.10 Critical Fall Height determination and Head Injury Criterion 17 4.11 Order of tes ting 18 Table 1 – laboratory test requirements 19 Table 2 – laboratory test requirements for shockpads 22 Table 3 – product identification tests 23 05. FIELD TEST REQUIREMENTS 26 5.1 Use of existing infills 27 5.2 Use of existing shockpads/ elastic layers 27 5.3 Use of geom embrane and drainage layers 27 5.4 Fiel d test procedures 28 5.5 Vide o footage of field (site) tests 28 5.6 Material ide ntification – initial field test 28 5.7 Material ide ntification – field retests 28 5.8 Maintenanc e equipment 29 5.9 Spr inklers 29 5.10 Maintenanc e during field tests 29 Table 4 – field test requirements for FIFA Quality Pro and FIFA Quality certification 30 5.11 Visual inspection 31 Table 5 – material identification for initial site test: FIFA Quality Pro and FIFA Quality certification 32 Table 6 – material identification for site retests: FIFA Quality Pro and FIFA Quality certification 34 01.

INTRODUCTION 6

02. FIELD CERTIFICATION 8 2.1 Tes t procedure and technical assessment of the playing surface 10 2.2 Fiel d certification 10 2.3 Certification period 11 2.4 Ret esting 11 2.5 Certification following retests 11 03.

TEST METHODS 12

CONTENTS7

2.1 Tes t procedure and technical assessment of the playing surface 10 2.2 Fiel d certification 10 2.3 Certification period 11 2.4 Ret esting 11 2.5 Certification following retests 11 03.

TEST METHODS 12

CONTENTS7

The development of artificial grass surfaces – designated “football turf” by FIFA – that replicate the playing characteristics of good-quality natural grass has resulted in the rapid acceptance of such surfaces amongst the global football community. Manufacturers are able to produce surfaces that provide a credible alternative solution in parts of the world where the climate or resources make the provision of good-quality natural-grass pitches difficult or impossible. Similarly, the development of football turf has provided a potential solution for facility owners/operators wishing to maximise the use of their facilities through community use and those struggling with stadium microclimates that make the maintenance and growth of natural grass difficult. To ensure that these new forms of playing surface replicate the attributes of good-quality natural grass, provide a playing environment that does not increase the risk of injury to players and match officials, and are of adequate durability (provided that they are correctly maintained), FIFA has developed the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf. Launched in 2001, it is a rigorous test programme for football turf that assesses ball and surface interaction, player and surface interaction and the durability of products, and allows successful manufacturers to enter into a licensing agreement for the use of the prestigious FIFA Quality (formerly FIFA Recommended) marks. Football turf was endorsed for official competitive matches in July 2004, when The International Football Association Board included the option of using artificial surfaces that met the requirements of the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf or the International Artificial Turf Standard in the Laws of the Game. To further meet the needs of professional clubs and international stadiums, FIFA has introduced a second category that is geared specifically towards the demands of the professional game

surfaces that met the requirements of the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf or the International Artificial Turf Standard in the Laws of the Game. To further meet the needs of professional clubs and international stadiums, FIFA has introduced a second category that is geared specifically towards the demands of the professional game (FIFA Quality Pro, formerly FIFA 2 Star). The broader category (FIFA Quality, formerly FIFA 1 Star) has wider bands of acceptability, as it is geared towards durability and safety for more intense use at community level. Fields certified to both categories are eligible to host international matches, subject to the relevant competition regulations. The laboratory test programme that football turf must pass as part of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf includes a schedule of simulated use to assess the ability of the surface to perform for a minimum period of time. The degree of simulated use undertaken on FIFA Quality Pro-compliant products is designed to replicate the low-to-moderate levels of use typically found on football-specific stadium pitches, whilst the degree of simulated use undertaken on FIFA Quality-compliant products is designed to replicate the higher levels of use found on training and community pitches (pitches are also referred to in this Test Manual as “fields”). Potential installers of football turf pitches should note, however, that experience has shown that pitches subject to excessive high-intensity use may not be able to meet the demanding performance criteria of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf for the lifetime of the playing surface. Failure to undertake adequate maintenance also reduces the period of time that a pitch may satisfy the requirements of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf. This edition of the Test Manual supersedes all previous editions with effect from 15 April 2024.

MANUFACTURERS ARE

ABLE TO PRODUCE

SURFACES THAT PROVIDE

A CREDIBLE ALTERNATIVE

SOLUTION IN PARTS OF

THE WORLD WHERE THE

CLIMATE OR RESOURCES

MAKE THE PROVISION

OF GOOD-QUALITY

MANUFACTURERS ARE

ABLE TO PRODUCE

SURFACES THAT PROVIDE

A CREDIBLE ALTERNATIVE

SOLUTION IN PARTS OF

THE WORLD WHERE THE

CLIMATE OR RESOURCES

MAKE THE PROVISION

OF GOOD-QUALITY

NATURAL-GRASS PITCHES

DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE.

INTRODUCTION9

The FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf certifies fields that have been found to fulfil the requirements of the programme. It should be noted that certification does not constitute product approval. To be certified, football turf fields must meet the established performance and quality criteria to provide the best possible playing conditions under either of the two specific quality levels. In order to obtain FIFA certification, a field must undergo the four steps laid out in Figure 1.

The testing phases are described below.

Step one: thorough laboratory product testing • The manufacturer (an existing or potential FIFA licensee) submits the constituent components of a system to a FIFA-accredited test institute. The list of FIFA-accredited test institutes is available on FIFA.com . • The FIFA-accredited test institute performs all of the tests laid out in the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf – Test Manual: Test Methods under the ISO 17025 quality management system.

If the sample fulfils all sections of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf – Test Manual: Test Requirements, a test report is submitted to FIFA confirming that the manufacturer’s product has met the requirements. NB: The test report is not a product certificate. • The manufacturer is informed that the product is available for installation and is eligible for the next stage of testing, subject to the establishment of the licence agreement between FIFA and the manufacturer.

Step two: installation of the product as declared, in line with the outlined procedures • The product must be installed using a similar composition of materials within the required manufacturing tolerances and perform similarly to when it was tested in the laboratory and as recorded in the corresponding laboratory test report.

the manufacturer.

Step two: installation of the product as declared, in line with the outlined procedures • The product must be installed using a similar composition of materials within the required manufacturing tolerances and perform similarly to when it was tested in the laboratory and as recorded in the corresponding laboratory test report. • The licensee must complete further documentation, i.e. the method statement and product declaration, to confirm the installation procedure.

Figure 1 : Four steps to obtain a FIFA recommended football turf field: approval process – steps and related documents/parties Approval steps Key documents 1 2 3 4 Laboratory test Laboratory test reportLT Installation Field test Retest periodically Field approval Tests performed by FIFA-accredited test institute only Tests performed by FIFA-accredited test institute only Supplied by the manufacturer (FIFA licensee) Method statementMS Product declaration FIFA Quality Pro PD Field test report(s) FIFA Quality FT

FIELD CERTIFICATION1110

Step three: initial assessment

2.1 TEST PROCEDURE AND TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PLAYING SURFACE • Following the installation, licensees must request a field test by contacting a FIFA-accredited field test institute listed in FIFA’s online database, to which each licensee is granted access upon signing the licence agreement. - The licensee must appoint one of the FIFA-accredited field test institutes to undertake a field test. The list of FIFA-accredited field test institutes is available on FIFA.com. - The request must contain the details of the product to be tested, the method statement and the product declaration. In addition, the licensee must indicate which FIFA-accredited test institute it has appointed. • The field must be tested in accordance with the procedures laid out below in Table 3 – product identification tests. • Samples of the artificial grass and any infill used to construct the football turf field must be collected from the site by the FIFA-accredited field test institute and tested using the procedures detailed

• The field must be tested in accordance with the procedures laid out below in Table 3 – product identification tests. • Samples of the artificial grass and any infill used to construct the football turf field must be collected from the site by the FIFA-accredited field test institute and tested using the procedures detailed below in Table 4 – field test requirements for FIFA Quality Pro and FIFA Quality certification to ensure that they are within specification (subject to the tolerances detailed in Table 4). • The results of the field and quality control tests are recorded in a FIFA field test report by the FIFA-accredited field test institute and submitted to FIFA (via an online database) for review within three months of the date on which the field test was conducted.

NB: If a field fails the initial test, the FIFA-accredited field test institute is still required to prepare and submit a FIFA field test report to inform FIFA of the failure. If a second test is required, the licensee must request a new field test report number from FIFA. 2.2 FIELD CERTIFICATION If a field satisfies all aspects of the above steps within the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf, FIFA will grant the facility the relevant certification. FIFA Quality FIFA Quality certification is awarded to pitches installed with products that have undergone and passed a comprehensive battery of tests assessing durability, resistance, safety and performance. These tests, performed in laboratory and on-site, are designed to ensure that the football turf meets the specific demands for recreational, training and grassroots football applications, typically accommodating 40-60 hours of play per week. Football turf pitches achieving FIFA Quality certification are recognised for their relatively softer playing surface compared to FIFA Quality Pro-certified pitches. FIFA Quality Pro FIFA Quality Pro certification is reserved for pitches that satisfy elevated standards of performance and safety requisite for professional football. This implies a more rigorous testing protocol, including but not limited to, specifications for pitch dimensions and the prohibition of logos, to ensure compliance with the stringent demands of international

FIFA Quality Pro certification is reserved for pitches that satisfy elevated standards of performance and safety requisite for professional football. This implies a more rigorous testing protocol, including but not limited to, specifications for pitch dimensions and the prohibition of logos, to ensure compliance with the stringent demands of international match standards. Maintenance of FIFA Quality Pro-certified pitches is inherently more challenging than maintaining FIFA Quality-certified pitches, necessitating meticulous and advanced maintenance practices to preserve the pitch’s performance quality over time, especially regarding the ball roll length limited to 8.0 metres. 2.3 CERTIFICATION PERIOD FIFA Quality certification is valid for three years, and FIFA Quality Pro certification is valid for one year, unless: • the field is subsequently found to no longer satisfy all aspects of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf following a scheduled or random spot check field test; or • the football turf is removed or replaced (if replaced, a new field test must be conducted to ensure that the field complies with the requirements). 2.4 RETESTING FIFA initial test requirements are applicable to fields installed within the past three years. FIFA retest requirements are applicable to fields installed more than three years prior to the date of the initial field test. • A retest can be requested for any field that has previously been tested and has not been subsequently modified. If a field has been resurfaced, an initial test should be performed. • A field should be retested according to the standard to which it was first tested, but it can, on request, be tested to the latest version of the standard. • A field retest may be requested by the licensee, the field owner/operator or a FIFA-accredited test institute contacted by a field stakeholder, a national football association, a confederation or FIFA. The licensee must request a field test through the FIFA online database. All other requesters should submit their requests by sending an email to the FIFA Quality Programme Workgroup (quality@fifa.org). • Testing must be undertaken by a FIFA-accredited

football association, a confederation or FIFA. The licensee must request a field test through the FIFA online database. All other requesters should submit their requests by sending an email to the FIFA Quality Programme Workgroup (quality@fifa.org). • Testing must be undertaken by a FIFA-accredited field test technician in accordance with the above procedure and in full accordance with the procedures laid out below in Table 3 – product identification tests. • Retesting may be undertaken up to three months in advance of the renewal date without the subsequent renewal date changing. Fields may only be tested more than three months before the expiry of the certification in exceptional cases, e.g. if there are requirements under national competition regulations to test at more frequent intervals. • The results of the field and quality control tests are recorded in a FIFA field test report by the FIFA-accredited field test technician and are submitted to FIFA (via the online database) for review. 2.5 CERTIFICATION FOLLOWING RETESTS • If a field is found to comply fully with the criteria laid out in tables 3 and 5 below, as well as the Laws of the Game with regard to field markings (as detailed below), it is recertified for a further year under the FIFA Quality Pro mark and a further three years under the FIFA Quality mark. • If a field fails to satisfy the requirements for the FIFA Quality Pro category, it will lose its FIFA certification. It is not possible for a field to be recertified for FIFA Quality certification. Certification to FIFA Quality level can only be obtained by carrying out a new initial test in accordance with step one above. • If a field fails to satisfy the requirements for the FIFA Quality category, it will lose its FIFA certification. • There is no limit on the number of retests that can be performed on any given field, provided that the procedure laid out in this subsection is followed.

02. FIELD CERTIFICATION13

TEST METHODS The test methods used to assess football turf and installed fields are described in either the FIFA Quality

• There is no limit on the number of retests that can be performed on any given field, provided that the procedure laid out in this subsection is followed.

02. FIELD CERTIFICATION13

TEST METHODS The test methods used to assess football turf and installed fields are described in either the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf – Test Manual: Test Methods (2024 edition), International Standards (ISO) or European Standards (EN). Where a test method is given a dated reference, subsequent amendments to or revisions of the method will apply to this Test Manual: Test Requirements only when incorporated into it by amendment or revision. For undated references, the latest edition of the publication referred to applies. NB: Only the fields that meet the 2024 edition of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf – Test Manual: Test Requirements may be submitted for initial testing in accordance with the 2024 edition of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf – Test Manual: Test Methods.15 4.1 GENERAL When subject to laboratory testing for initial approval, the football turf must fully satisfy the requirements listed below in Table 1 – laboratory test requirements using the stipulated test methods. Coloured yarn filaments must be tested in the exact same manner as green yarn filaments (thickness, decitex, differential scanning calorimetry – DSC – characterisation, resistance to artificial weathering, colour change and peak breakage force). The football turf’s components must be identified using the test methods specified below in Table 3 – product identification tests, and the results must be compared against the data provided by the licensees. The differences between the product identification tests and the licensee’s data must be within the tolerances specified in Table 3 below. 4.2 CALCULATION OF VARIATIONS Unless explicitly stated, variations are to be calculated as a percentage of the manufacturer’s declared value and not of the site sample. 4.3 CALCULATION OF RELATIVE CONSISTENCY DURING FIELD TESTING None of the results from any testing position may vary

4.2 CALCULATION OF VARIATIONS Unless explicitly stated, variations are to be calculated as a percentage of the manufacturer’s declared value and not of the site sample. 4.3 CALCULATION OF RELATIVE CONSISTENCY DURING FIELD TESTING None of the results from any testing position may vary from the average, plus or minus, of the consistency requirement within the field test. The consistency is relative (not absolute) to the average. 4.4 UNCERTAINTY OF RESULTS The uncertainty of the test method should not be taken into account when determining whether a product or a field passes the test or fails to meet the requirements. 4.5 RESISTANCE TO ARTIFICIAL WEATHERING If a football turf yarn is manufactured from a yarn that has been previously tested by a FIFA-accredited test institute for resistance to artificial weathering, the results may be used for the new football turf, provided that: • a DSC characterisation of the pile yarn shows the yarn to be within the tolerances defined below in Table 3 – product identification tests of that previously tested under the artificial weathering test; • the thickness of the tested pile yarn is no less than 90% of the declared value (for a group of otherwise identical yarns with different thicknesses, only the thinnest should be tested); • the profile of the pile yarn is the same as the previously tested yarn; and • the colour (RAL Classic system) of the yarn is within the normal manufacturing tolerances of the previously tested yarn. 4.6 INFILL MATERIAL: DEFINITIONS Polymeric infill: material with non-biodegradable polymeric infill. Any material with synthetic or chemically modified natural solid polymer contained in microparticles or microparticles that have a solid polymer surface coating as a substance on their own or in a mixture in a concentration equal to or greater than 0.01% by weight or any particles containing or coated with at least 1% of polymer by weight.

Biodegradable infill: material with biodegradable polymeric infills without non-biodegradable polymeric

in a mixture in a concentration equal to or greater than 0.01% by weight or any particles containing or coated with at least 1% of polymer by weight.

Biodegradable infill: material with biodegradable polymeric infills without non-biodegradable polymeric infill. Degradable or water-soluble polymers and natural polymers that have not been chemically modified.

Material (except natural polymers) that presents an ultimate degradation of ≥90% relative to the degradation of the reference material within six months in an aquatic test and 24 months in soil and water/sediment interface tests.

LABORATORY TEST

REQUIREMENTS1716

Vegetal infill: material containing non-chemically modified natural organic material infill without polymeric infill or biodegradable infill.

Mineral infill: material filled with only solid, non-organic infill without any polymer added. 4.7 SYSTEMS: DEFINITIONS Mineral-stabilised: system partly filled with mineral infill that does not exceed 25% of the non-elongated pile height.

Mineral-filled: system filled with mineral infill that exceeds 25% of the non-elongated pile height.

Non-filled: system without any infill. 4.8 SYSTEMS UNDER DEVELOPMENT Mineral-infill stabilised, mineral-infill filled and non-filled systems are currently under development for football and are not yet approved by FIFA. As a result, fields that feature these systems cannot be awarded FIFA Quality or FIFA Quality Pro certification.

4.9 SYNTHETIC YARNS WITH RECYCLED CONTENT A green reference yarn is defined as follows: - A green yarn that has been tested at the time of the FIFA product approval, passing all the tests requirements, including Lisport XL cycles and UV resistance colour and peak breakage force. - A green yarn used as the reference for the UV-aged peak breakage percentage calculation of the coloured yarns. The percentage change from the green reference unaged yarn filament must be no

requirements, including Lisport XL cycles and UV resistance colour and peak breakage force. - A green yarn used as the reference for the UV-aged peak breakage percentage calculation of the coloured yarns. The percentage change from the green reference unaged yarn filament must be no greater than 25%. In the event that there is more than one green yarn, the highest peak breakage force has to be used as the reference. A green yarn with recycled content is defined as follows: - A green yarn that has been produced with a proof of recycling emitted by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) under the PLUS scheme (www.iscc-system.org). - A green yarn that is identical to the green reference yarn in terms of colour, cross section dimension (thickness, depth and width) but only differs in terms of DSC curve (shape and temperature peaks). - A green yarn that complies with the current requirement for coloured yarns in term of peak breakage force. The percentage change from the green reference unaged yarn filament must be no greater than 25%. In the event that there is more than one green yarn, the highest peak breakage force has to be used as the reference. - A green yarn that successfully passed a 6,000-cycle Lisport XL test, with requirements being based on visual inspection. Results should be similar to the reference green yarn. - A green yarn with a minimum recycled content of 15% for post-industrial recycled (PIR) material and/or 15% for post-consumer recycled (PCR) material. A coloured yarn with recycled content is defined as follows: - A coloured yarn that has been produced with a proof of recycling emitted by the ISCC under the PLUS scheme (www.iscc-system.org). - A coloured yarn that is identical to the green reference yarn in terms of cross section dimension (thickness, depth, and width) but only differs in terms of DSC curve (shape and temperature peaks) and colour. - A coloured yarn that complies with the current

• A coloured yarn that is identical to the green reference yarn in terms of cross section dimension

(thickness, depth, and width) but only differs in terms of DSC curve (shape and temperature peaks) and colour. - A coloured yarn that complies with the current requirement for coloured yarns in terms of peak breakage force. The percentage change from the green reference unaged yarn filament must be no more than 25%. In the event that there is more than one green yarn, the highest peak breakage force has to be used as the reference. - A coloured yarn with a minimum of recycled content of 15% for PIR material and/or 15% for PCR material. Physical segregation and mass balance recycling of both PIR and PCR material are approved under the definition of recycled green yarn. The percentage of recycled content must be at least 15% for both PIR and PCR material. Every pitch produced with recycled yarns for, and certified according to, the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf must be declared and uploaded by the licensee in the FIFA database using the ISCC PLUS sustainability declaration form. PIR material is recycled from scraps or by-products generated during the manufacturing process before a product reaches the consumer. It is often considered to be of higher quality than PCR material because it has not been exposed to the elements or other contaminants. PCR material is recycled from products that have been used by consumers and discarded. PCR material is a more sustainable type of recycled material than PIR material. 4.10 CRITICAL FALL HEIGHT DETERMINATION AND HEAD INJURY CRITERION The Critical Fall Height (CFH) on sports surfaces, when using the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) index of 1000 according to EN 17435 method A, is a safety measure that indicates the maximum height from which a fall would not be expected to cause a life-threatening head injury. This criterion is based on the assessment of the impact attenuation of the surface material. The HIC is a calculated value representing the likelihood of head

according to EN 17435 method A, is a safety measure that indicates the maximum height from which a fall would not be expected to cause a life-threatening head injury. This criterion is based on the assessment of the impact attenuation of the surface material. The HIC is a calculated value representing the likelihood of head injury from an impact with the playing surface, with a value of 1000 or less indicating a low r