Mon Nov 24 2014, 5:00pm
District Meeting Room
Regular Meeting

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Turf Field Infill Options

After concerns were raised about alleged but unsubstantiated health risks associated with the crumb rubber used as the infill material on the vast majority of turf fields, we began to explore the body of information regarding the risks (or lack of risks) associated with crumb rubber.   Different options to crumb rubber were surfaced and they have been explored.

  • Crumb rubber is made primarily from recycled waste tires.  
  • Nike Grind is made from ground athletic shoe souls
  • Sprinturf CoolFill is a coated crumb rubber product used by our field manufacturer in their fields. 

There is a lot of information on the web regarding crumb rubber.  There is less on the other two products.   I did find one particularly comprehensive review by the state of NY that looked at all of the research data on crumb rubber.  The report also addressed coated crumb rubber products like CoolFill.   It is a lengthy read, but comprehensively covers the topic.  Additionally, they publish a very nice executive summary that deals with the questions with much more concision.

As we have reviewed the options with the contractor, we found that Nike Grind is produced in a very limited quantity and current demand far exceeds supply of the product.   Skanska has proposed a “ROM” price estimate to change to CoolFill of $80,000. 

Based on the data I have reviewed, there is no empirical evidence that suggests crumb rubber is a dangerous or toxic surface.

I would like input from the board regarding this topic.  Is there interest on the part of the board in further pursuing the option of CoolFill. 

Several documents are attached for your review.

 

Attached Files:
CRM SBR CRUMB RUBBER Sales Sheet - Corporate.pdf application/pdf 670K
CRM Spec Sheet & Sieve Analysis - 10-20.pdf application/pdf 122K
NY Crumb Rubber Fact Sheet.pdf application/pdf 98K
turf_report_05-08.pdf application/pdf 958K