ASTM F2270-12(2018)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Construction and Maintenance of Warning Track Areas on Athletic Fields
Standard Guide for Construction and Maintenance of Warning Track Areas on Athletic Fields
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Warning tracks are playing surfaces located on the margins of the playing area for the purpose of providing a warning to the player that he or she is approaching a hazard (commonly a fence) or out-of-bounds area. In order to provide for an effective warning track surface, the warning track must be constructed and maintained in such a manner so that the player can sense the change in texture from the regular playing surface and the warning track without having to look. This feature is very important in that the player is often visually focused on the ball during play and would not be looking at the ground as he/she is running toward the warning track. The warning track must also be constructed and maintained in such a manner that the warning track itself, or the surface transition, does not pose a hazard to the players.
4.2 The warning track areas of sports fields should provide a uniform surface with good footing. The change in surface texture of the warning track from the surrounding playing surface must be of enough contrast such that the player can sense the change without looking. Most often, warning track surfaces are devoid of turf or other vegetation. However, turfed warning track areas may be used in instances where such purpose is to “warn” the player of an impending hazard where the primary playing surface is a skinned area. This may be the case in softball where the entire infield playing surface is a skinned area and a turfed warning track is used along the first base and third base fencelines. Undulations, rough surface, hard or soft surface, weeds, stones, debris, wets spots, etc. detract from a good, safe warning track. The safety and effectiveness of the warning track is largely affected by construction and maintenance procedures and this guide addresses those procedures.
4.2.1 During construction, consideration should be given to factors such as the physical and chemical properties of materials used in the area, freedom from stones, sticks...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers techniques that are appropriate for the construction and maintenance of warning track areas on sports fields. This guide provides guidance for the selection of materials, such as soil and sand for use in constructing or reconditioning warning track areas and for selection of management practices that will maintain a safe and functioning warning track. Although this guide has applications to all sports where a warning track surface may be required or desired, it has specific applications to baseball/softball.
1.2 This guide does not address synthetic warning tracks such as rubberized surfaces, artificial turf, or paved surfaces.
1.3 Decisions in selecting construction and maintenance techniques are influenced by local soil types, climatic factors, level of play, budget, and training/ability of management personnel.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.
1.5 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F2270 − 12 (Reapproved 2018) An American National Standard
Standard Guide for
Construction and Maintenance of Warning Track Areas on
Athletic Fields
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2270; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This guide covers techniques that are appropriate for the 2.1 ASTM Standards:
construction and maintenance of warning track areas on sports F1815 Test Methods for Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity,
fields. This guide provides guidance for the selection of Water Retention, Porosity, and Bulk Density of Athletic
materials, such as soil and sand for use in constructing or Field Rootzones
reconditioning warning track areas and for selection of man- F2651 Terminology Relating to Soil and Turfgrass Charac-
agement practices that will maintain a safe and functioning teristics of Natural Playing Surfaces
warning track. Although this guide has applications to all
3. Terminology
sports where a warning track surface may be required or
desired, it has specific applications to baseball/softball.
3.1 Definitions—Except as noted, soil- and turfgrass-related
definitions are in accordance with Terminology F2651.
1.2 This guide does not address synthetic warning tracks
such as rubberized surfaces, artificial turf, or paved surfaces.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 aggregate material—a soil-like or earthy material
1.3 Decisions in selecting construction and maintenance
without appreciable soil structural properties such that an
techniques are influenced by local soil types, climatic factors,
aggregate material is essentially granular or single-grained in
level of play, budget, and training/ability of management
nature.
personnel.
3.2.2 warning track—a section of a sports field area typi-
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
cally devoid of vegetation, that provides a change in surface
standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.
texture such that an athlete can sense without looking the
1.5 This standard may involve hazardous materials,
proximity to a hazard such as a fence, post, or wall.
operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
4. Significance and Use
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to
4.1 Warning tracks are playing surfaces located on the
establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental prac-
margins of the playing area for the purpose of providing a
tices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations
warning to the player that he or she is approaching a hazard
prior to use.
(commonly a fence) or out-of-bounds area. In order to provide
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
for an effective warning track surface, the warning track must
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
be constructed and maintained in such a manner so that the
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
player can sense the change in texture from the regular playing
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
surface and the warning track without having to look. This
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
feature is very important in that the player is often visually
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
focused on the ball during play and would not be looking at the
ground as he/she is running toward the warning track. The
warning track must also be constructed and maintained in such
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports
Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee F08.64 on Natural Playing Surfaces. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved April 1, 2018. Published May 2018. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as F2270 – 12. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/F2270-12R18. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2270 − 12 (2018)
a manner that the warning track itself, or the surface transition, and sand) of a wide enough particle size range such that the
does not pose a hazard to the players. particles interlock. Angular grains of aggregate (as opposed to
rounded grains) provide more interlock due to the increased
4.2 The warning track areas of sports fields should provide
internal friction they provide within the soil profile. Small
a uniform surface with good footing. The change in surface
additions of clay or clayey material may be appropriate to
texture of the warning track from the surrounding playing
provide some characteristics of cohesiveness and color. It is
surface must be of enough contrast such that the player can
often desired for the color of the warning track to match as
sense the change without looking. Most often, warning track
closely as possible the color of the skinned areas of the field. In
surfaces are devoid of turf or other vegetation. However, turfed
these instances, the clay material used in the skinned infield
warning track areas may be used in instances where such
constructions may be included in smaller proportions in the
purpose is to “warn” the player of an impending hazard where
material mixed for the warning track areas.
the primary playing surface is a skinned area. This may be the
case in softball where the entire infield playing surface is a 5.2 Dimensions—Typically, warning track dimensions are
skinned area and a turfed warning track is used along the first not included in rule books and the recommended widths are
base and third base fencelines. Undulations, rough surface, typicallybaseduponsuchfactorsastheage,size,andabilityof
hard or soft surface, weeds, stones, debris, wets spots, etc. the players. For warning track areas adjacent to the backstop
detract from a good, safe warning track. The safety and
fence and extensions, the distance used for a warning track is
effectiveness of the warning track is largely affected by typically ⁄3 of the distance from home plate to the back stop.
construction and maintenance procedures and this guide ad-
For example, where the rule book specifies a home plate to
dresses those procedures. back stop distance of 7.6 m (25 ft), the appropriate dimension
4.2.1 During construction, consideration should be given to
for the warning track in this instance would be 2.5 m (8.2 ft).
factors such as the physical and chemical properties of mate- The warning track dimension therefore would tell the catcher
rials used in the area, freedom from stones, sticks, and other and infielders that they have covered two thirds of the distance
debris, and surface drainage and internal drainage. Consider- to the backstop/fence. Other criteria for warning track dimen-
ation should also be given to the surface elevation such that a sions include the rule of thumb for a distance equivalent to
drastic change is not produced by the transition from the three full strides of a running player. The concept here is that
playing surface to the warning track area which may create a the player has a distance equivalent to three strides in order to
tripping or falling hazard. adjusthisposition/speedtoprotecthimselffromtheimpending
4.2.2 Maintenance practices that influence the playability of obstruction.Adistance of three full strides of a running player
the surface include edging, dragging, rolling, watering, vegeta- can vary from about 2.5 m (8 ft) for youth players up to 5.5 m
tion control, and removal of stones and debris that may (18 ft) for collegiate or professional-level athletes. It should be
adversely affect play and safety. notedthatwarningtrackdimensionsthataretoogreatmaylose
theireffectivenessinthatadimensionthatistoovast(toomuch
4.3 Those responsible for the design, construction, or
playing area contained within the warning track area) will fail
maintenance, or a combination thereof, of baseball and softball
to provide effective “warning” of the impending obstruction.
fields,orplayareaswheretheneedforawarningtrackareahas
5.2.1 A warning track construction should be designed to
been identified, will benefit from this guide.
allow for surface drainage. A surface slope between 1 and
1.75 % should be incorporated as a design element in the
5. Design
warning track.
5.1 Composition—Most warning track constructions will be
5.3 Performance—Awarning track could be constructed by
an area devoid of vegetation as a transition from a turfed
blending an aggregate amendment into the on-site or existing
(natural or artificial) playing surface. While areas devoid of
soil or could be constructed of entirely imported materials.
vegetation are technically “skinned” areas, for the purpose of
this guide the term “warning track” is utilized to differentiate 5.3.1 Aggregate—The aggregate material used for a warn-
ing track blended material (whether blended with on-site
the areas of the playing surface that are not part of the skinned
infield area. materials or imported materials) should meet the following
criteria:
5.1.1 Warningtrackscanbeconstructedofvariousmaterials
and still meet the objectives of an effective warning track 5.3.1.1 Particle Size Criteria for Aggregate Component of
surface. Various soil components and amendments may be Warning Track Material:
specified. The concept of a warning track surface with firm (1) Less than 5 % material greater than 6.35 mm (0.25 in.).
(2) Relatively uniform or homogeneous in size fractions
footingisthattheparticlesizesofthematerialsusedorblended
fortheconstructionareofawideenoughrangesoastoprovide between 6.35 and 0.3 mm. Sieve sizes used for characterizing
the aggregate material shall include: 6.35 mm, 4.75 mm, 2.36
a substrate that binds together or has good interlock of the
components. Clay soil materials may be used in such construc- mm, 1.18 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.3 mm, and 0.05 mm.
(3) Lessthan20 %oftheparticlesinthe<0.3mmfractions
tions in that they will bind together. However the plastic nature
of clay materials when wet could preclude high-clay warning combined.
(4) Less than 5 % silt and clay size particles (<0.05 mm).
tracks in that they would not provide safe and effective footing
under conditions of high moisture. 5.3.2 Soil—If on-site soil materials are used in a warning
5.1.2 The most effective warning tracks
...
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