SIST EN 14808:2006
(Main)Surfaces for sports areas - Determination of shock absorption
Surfaces for sports areas - Determination of shock absorption
This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of shock absorption characteristics of sports surfaces.
NOTE The method specified is commonly known as the Artificial Athlete (Berlin) method.
Sportböden - Bestimmung des Kraftabbaus
Diese Europäische Norm legt ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Kraftabbaus von Sportböden fest.
Sols sportifs - Détermination de l'absorption des chocs
La présente Norme européenne spécifie une méthode de détermination des caractéristiques d’absorption des chocs des sols sportifs.
NOTE La méthode spécifiée est communément désignée sous le nom de méthode de l’athlète artificiel (Berlin).
Podloge za športne dejavnosti – Ugotavljanje ublažitve udarca
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 28-Feb-2006
- Technical Committee
- SPO - Sports
- Current Stage
- 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
- Start Date
- 01-Mar-2006
- Due Date
- 01-Mar-2006
- Completion Date
- 01-Mar-2006
Relations
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
Overview
SIST EN 14808:2006 is an important European standard developed by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST) for assessing the shock absorption properties of sports surfaces. Shock absorption is a critical performance and safety characteristic for sports flooring, directly influencing player comfort, safety, and injury risk. The standard outlines a laboratory procedure, commonly known as the Artificial Athlete (Berlin) method, for determining the shock absorption of both natural and synthetic sports surfaces, ensuring consistent evaluation and reliable comparisons across different materials and installations.
Key Topics
- Shock Absorption: Defines the ability of a sports surface to reduce the impact force when a body falls onto it. High shock absorption can help decrease injury risk and enhance athlete performance.
- Test Method: Specifies using a falling weight (Artificial Athlete apparatus) to measure the peak force transmitted through the sports surface onto a rigid base, then calculates the force reduction compared to an unyielding surface.
- Surface Types:
- Area-elastic sports surfaces: Deflect over a wide area.
- Point-elastic sports surfaces: Deflect locally at the point of impact.
- Combination-elastic and mixed-elastic surfaces: Combine properties of area and point-elasticity.
- Measurement and Reporting:
- Conditioning test samples and maintaining controlled environments.
- Recording essential parameters such as temperature, humidity, and precise force values.
- Expressing results as a percentage reduction in impact force.
Applications
The scope of SIST EN 14808:2006 is broad, with practical applications for a variety of stakeholders:
- Manufacturers of Sports Flooring: Enables objective measurement and documentation of shock absorption qualities in product specifications, supporting market differentiation and compliance with regulations.
- Facility Designers and Contractors: Provides a standardized method for specifying and verifying that installed sports surfaces meet safety and performance requirements in gyms, athletic tracks, playgrounds, and multi-purpose sports arenas.
- Certifying and Testing Laboratories: Serves as the reference method for laboratory and on-site testing, ensuring results are reproducible and comparable.
- Sports Federations and Safety Inspectors: Supports risk assessment and ongoing maintenance to ensure playing surfaces remain within acceptable safety thresholds.
By using this standard, stakeholders help ensure sports facilities deliver optimal protection for athletes, from amateur to professional levels, and comply with European safety and performance codes.
Related Standards
- EN 12229: Surfaces for sports areas - Procedure for the preparation of synthetic turf and textile test pieces.
- ISO 6487: Road vehicles - Measurement techniques in impact tests - Instrumentation, referenced for measuring equipment requirements.
- EN 14904: Surfaces for sports areas - Indoor surfaces for multi-sports use - Specification.
These related standards provide additional methods for sports surface sampling, instrumentation setup, and comprehensive testing required for complete safety and performance evaluation.
Keywords: sports surface standard, shock absorption, SIST EN 14808:2006, Artificial Athlete method, sports flooring testing, impact resistance, sports safety standard, European sport facility standards
Frequently Asked Questions
SIST EN 14808:2006 is a standard published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Surfaces for sports areas - Determination of shock absorption". This standard covers: This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of shock absorption characteristics of sports surfaces. NOTE The method specified is commonly known as the Artificial Athlete (Berlin) method.
This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of shock absorption characteristics of sports surfaces. NOTE The method specified is commonly known as the Artificial Athlete (Berlin) method.
SIST EN 14808:2006 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 97.220.10 - Sports facilities. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
SIST EN 14808:2006 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to SIST EN 12229:2014, SIST EN ISO 23611-4:2012, SIST EN 14877:2006, SIST EN 14904:2006, SIST EN 14877:2013, SIST EN 15330-1:2007, SIST EN 15330-2:2008, SIST EN 15330-1:2013, SIST EN 15330-2:2017. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
SIST EN 14808:2006 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2006
Podloge za športne dejavnosti – Ugotavljanje ublažitve udarca
Surfaces for sports areas - Determination of shock absorption
Sportböden - Bestimmung des Kraftabbaus
Sols sportifs - Détermination de l'absorption des chocs
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 14808:2005
ICS:
97.220.10 Športni objekti Sports facilities
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 14808
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
December 2005
ICS 97.220.10
English Version
Surfaces for sports areas - Determination of shock absorption
Surfaces de sols sportifs - Détermination de l'absorption Sportböden - Bestimmung des Kraftabbaus
des chocs
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 28 November 2005.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official
versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36 B-1050 Brussels
© 2005 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 14808:2005: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
Foreword .3
1 Scope.4
2 Normative references.4
3 Terms and definitions.4
4 Principle.4
5 Test piece.5
6 Conditioning and test temperature.5
7 Apparatus.5
8 Measurement of reference force, F .6
r
9 Procedure.6
10 Expression of results.6
11 Test report.8
Foreword
This European Standard (EN 14808:2005) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 217 “Surfaces for
sports areas”, the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or
by endorsement, at the latest by June 2006, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by
June 2006.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
1 Scope
This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of shock absorption characteristics of sports
surfaces.
NOTE The method specified is commonly known as the Artificial Athlete (Berlin) method.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this European Standard. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document
(including any amendments) applies.
EN 12229, Surfaces for sports areas — Procedure for the preparation of synthetic turf and textile test pieces
ISO 6487, Road vehicles — Measurement techniques in impact tests — Instrumentation
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this European Standard, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
area-elastic sports surface
sports surface, to which the application of a point force causes deflection over a relatively large area around the
point of application of the force
3.2
point-elastic sports surface
sports surface, to which the application of a point force causes deflection only at or close to the point of application
of the force
3.3
combination-elastic sports surface
area-elastic sports surface with a point-elastic top layer, to which the application of a point force causes both
localized deflection and deflection over a wider area
3.4
mixed-elastic sports surface
point-elastic sports surface with an area-stiffening component
NOTE A mixed-elastic sports surface has deflection characteristics between those of an area-elastic surface and a point-
elastic surface.
3.5
shock absorption
ability of a sports surface to reduce the impact force of a body falling onto the surface
NOTE Shock absorption is a physical quantity consisting of damping and resilience due to a certain impact.
4 Principle
A weight is allowed to fall onto a spring placed on the test piece and the maximum force applied is recorded. The
difference between this force and the maximum force measured on a hard surface is reported as the force
reduction.
5 Test piece
For
...