The Department of General Services (DGS) and its client-agency partners at the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and DC Public Schools (DCPS), are prioritizing the safety and well-being of District residents and visitors by announcing the summer schedule for the FY2024 GMAX hardness testing for the District's synthetic turf fields. This testing is crucial for maintaining the safety and quality of our fields.
Testing will occur between June 24, 2024, through July 8, 2024. There will be no testing on July 4. District fields will not be closed while testing is underway. However, if a field fails impact testing, it will temporarily go offline to complete necessary repairs for maximum field life expectancy and usage. Testing dates may vary at the city's 73 synthetic turf field locations based on weather conditions and field accessibility.
“Ensuring the safety of our athletes and the public is a top priority,” said DGS Director Delano Hunter. “Implementing rigorous GMAX testing on our synthetic fields underscores our commitment to high standards of safety and performance.”
GMAX testing is the standard method developed for testing and determining the shock attenuation of artificial turf and natural athletic fields. The American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) International's standard F1936-10, the most used standard, established a GMAX value of 200 for the maximum allowable limit for safety.
DGS values the continued partnership with client agencies in ensuring the well-being of District residents and visitors. We are committed to monitoring any innovative and relevant advances in scientific research regarding field and playground surface materials.
Additional information from the Interagency Working Group on Artificial Turf and Playgrounds is available here.