When a player hits a wall surface, the impact is absorbed either by the playing surface or the player's body. The harder the surface material is, the greater the likelihood that a player will sustain an injury.
The most common and severe injuries are traumatic brain injuries. The effects of individual concussions are most often fairly mild. In the case of multiple concussions, however, the effects of running into a hard surface can accumulate over time and cause extensive damage to the brain.
If a player has already experienced one concussion, they are more likely to experience another, thus, increasing the risk of serious injury or fatality. For this reason, it is important to monitor the impact-related characteristics of your wall pads.
g-max Wall Pad Testing
g-max testing measures the shock-attenuation performance of protective sports surfaces such as wall pads. g-max values are assessed using a simple ration:
The maximum acceleration of an impact vs. an established normal/accepted rate of acceleration
For instance, a person walking into a wall might, at most, may stub a toe, bruise a knee, or break a nose. A person running full-throttle into a wall, however, could sprain an ankle, sustain a concussion, or break a bone.
The higher the g-max value, the poorer the shock-attenuation performance of the surface. Measuring impact-attenuation is a fundamental tool of athletic facility safety testing. It is also useful in assessing the playability of a field or gym. Testing g-max values involve measuring the shock-attenuation performance of a playing surface and comparing the results against a standard.
ASTM Impact Standards
The most commonly used standard is the one established by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). For synthetic surfaces such as wall pads, ASTM requires that the reported g-max value for every test point along the pad be less than 200 Gs. If your wall pads do not meet the standard, your facility is considered unsafe.
Keep in mind, the standard represents the minimum requirements for shock-attenuation. Wall padding companies like Fieldwallpads.com, design their products to far exceed the standard. So, when you purchase our wall pads, you can feel confident that your collegiate athletes are safe in both indoor and outdoor competition.
How Often Should You Test Your Wall Pads?
On synthetic surfaces such as wall pads, g-max values will generally increase as the field ages. The amount of the increase and the rate at which it occurs depends on factors such as:
● Pad construction
● Pad materials
● The average level of impact (i.e., the level of athletes running into the wall)
● Environmental conditions
● Frequency and level of maintenance
Since the average wall pad has a lifespan of seven to fifteen years, the industry standard for testing the pads is once a year. Testing and maintaining the pads keeps the g-max ratings low and your players safe.
How to Get Your Wall Pads g-max Tested
If you are interested in getting g-max testing and result for your wall pads, then contact g-max Testing Services. You can visit their website by clicking on this LINK.
Wall Pads for Your Sports Complex
If you are looking for a dependable wall pad that keeps your players safe during a competition, then contact Fieldwallpads.com. We offer customizable padding for both indoor and outdoor facilities in a wide range of sports.
To find out more about our products or schedule a consultation, call us at 800-257-6406.