The newly revised national mandatory standard for plastic running tracks, GB 36246-2018, titled 'Synthetic Material Surface Layers for Primary and Secondary School Sports Fields', was officially approved on the website of the Standardization Administration of China on May 7, after more than two years of revision. Upon implementation of the new standard, the previous standard GB/T 19851.11-2005, 'Sports Equipment and Facilities for Primary and Secondary Schools Part 11: Synthetic Material Surface Layers for Sports Fields', released and implemented in 2005, will be abolished. The Chinese sports flooring industry will use this new benchmark for measurement.
A strong youth makes a strong China, and a strong sports sector contributes to a strong China. The dream of a sports powerhouse is closely linked to the Chinese Dream. Physical fitness and sports as part of a healthy China and the sports industry have gradually permeated from national strategy into schools, sports venues, fitness trails, and everyday life for the public. Therefore, the healthy development of the green sports flooring materials industry is particularly important. The release of the new standard marks the beginning of a quality development era for the sports surface materials industry.
According to reports, the revision of the standard is based on a comprehensive outcome of scientific research, technological advancements, and practical experience. Its objectives include ensuring student health during physical activities, improving product quality, and guiding industry self-regulation. The new standard, while meeting usage requirements, optimizes social resource allocation and provides guidance for the design, construction, and acceptance of synthetic sports surfaces in schools. This will create a healthy exercise environment for students, foster their lifelong sports awareness, and promote the green and sustainable development of school sports.
Industry experts generally believe that the new standard will raise the quality threshold for the sports flooring materials industry, leading to an upgrade in product performance and quality. High-performance and high-quality products are expected to gain more market attention.
The new national standard for synthetic sports surfaces in schools will come into effect on November 1, 2018. The release of the new standard undoubtedly provides reassurance to school staff, students, and parents, signaling the end of the era of fear surrounding synthetic sports surfaces and the arrival of a new era of quality development.
II. Interpretation of New Standard GB 36246-2018 (Refer to 'Read More' for details)
01 Ground Foundation Requirements
02 Thickness Requirements
Physical Properties (6 Items)
Weathering Resistance
Requirement for Inorganic Fillers Content
Requirement for Anti-Slip Rubber Particle Content
Limit on Harmful Substances in Surface Finish (18 Items)
Limit on Harmful Substances in Non-Solid Raw Materials (12 Items)
Limit on Harmful Substances in Solid Raw Materials (7 Items)
Raw Material Evaluation MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)
Sampling Requirements
Inspection Rules
Judgment Rules
II. History of Polyurethane Rubber Track Development
III. Main Drafting Units of the New National Standard
Ministry of Education Equipment Research and Development Center, Tsinghua University, China National Building Material Inspection and Certification Group Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Metrology and Quality Inspection Institute, Shanghai Jianke Inspection Co., Ltd., Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Shandong Provincial Product Quality Inspection Institute, Zhejiang Furniture and Hardware Research Institute, Ministry of Ecology and Environment Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Technology Center, Guangzhou Tongxin Kangti Equipment Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Provincial Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Research Institute, Guangzhou Quality Supervision and Inspection Institute, Shanghai Chemical Building Materials Industry Association, Wuhan Sports Institute, China Polyurethane Industry Association, Guo Zheng Inspection and Certification Co., Ltd., General Administration of Sport of China Sports Equipment Center, Shandong Taishan Sports Engineering Co., Ltd., Shanghai Hangkuan Stadium Facilities Engineering Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Ocean Yuanheng Chemicals Co., Ltd., DBC Group New Materials Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Jierui Sports Facility Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Leading Kangti Industrial Co., Ltd., Madeira Artificial Grass Co., Ltd., Qingdao KeXing Educational Equipment Co., Ltd.
Principal Drafters
Zhang Pengyi, Li Ping, Guo Zhongbao, Wu Haitao, Che Yanping, Jiandang Wei, Yu Ruozhen, Luo Zhenyang, Cai Chenmin, Ding Qiong, Huang Difei, Zhu Xiaocui, Zhang Yaodong, Zhang Bin, Wang Weishan, Meng Qingsheng, Lou Minggang, Li Jianbo, Zheng Weitao, Chen Shao, Hou Libo, Wu Ying, Chen Lin, Huang Yuliang, Wang Gang, Jia Zhiyong, Wang Ji'an, Yu Xin, Zhou Licheng, Guo Fei, Bian Zhiyong, Li Zhishi, Guo Long, Shi Jianhua, Lin Fanqiu, Wu Xue, Sun Zhen.
IV. Process of New National Standard Development
From 2015 to 2016, the 'problematic track' incidents spread across a wide range of regions in China. According to incomplete statistics, at least 25 cities in Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Henan, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Beijing, and Shenyang were affected by problematic tracks in 2015.
On June 24, 2016, the Ministry of Education issued a notice requiring local authorities to conduct special inspections on rubber tracks in schools. The tracks were to be registered, inspected, and those found non-compliant with environmental and quality standards were to be removed immediately. Officials responsible for negligence or corruption were to be held accountable.
On September 1, 2016, the Ministry of Education website reported on the progress of the comprehensive management of rubber tracks in schools. It stated that there were 68,792 rubber tracks in primary and secondary schools across the country, with 4,799 under construction, and 2,191 had been halted. Ninety-three problematic tracks had been removed. The Ministry also indicated that it was working with the National Standardization Administration to revise relevant standards. It also urged local authorities to develop their own mandatory standards for rubber tracks before the national standards were issued.
In November 2016, a draft standard for 'Synthetic Material Surface Layers for School Sports Fields' was proposed by the Ministry of Education's Research and Development Center for Educational Equipment. It was publicly announced on the website of the National Standardization Administration of China for project initiation and public consultation.
From January to April 2017, a survey team from the Ministry of Education conducted an applicability survey in nearly ten provinces and cities across the country. The survey included discussions on opinions and suggestions, as well as on-site sampling inspections of school grounds.
On October 26, 2017, the website of the Ministry of Education's Research and Development Center for Educational Equipment released a notice soliciting public comments on the draft national standard 'Synthetic Material Surface Layers for Primary and Secondary School Sports Fields'.
On May 7, 2018, the National Standard Committee proposed to release the national standard 'Synthetic Material Surface Layers for School Sports Fields' GB 36246-2018.
According to Zhongzheng, this new national standard was organized by the Ministry of Education and took over two years to revise. It involved more than 100 expert meetings and nationwide field investigations and sampling inspections, collecting validation experiments from hundreds of companies in the market. The new standard, with its professionalism, scientificity, and comprehensiveness, will promote advancements in technology and quality levels in China's sports flooring industry, ensuring the healthy physical activities of millions of students across the country.
Zhongzheng Sports represents professional media in the sports flooring industry to commend the Ministry of Education! We applaud every staff member who contributed to the standard! Thank you for your hard work and dedication, which have yielded rich and forward-looking results.
※ Related Downloads ※
Download the White Paper on the 'Standard Price for Synthetic Material Surface Layers for School Sports Fields' - Dual-Track Approach to Addressing Environmental Durability Challenges
GB 36246-2018 'Synthetic Material Surface Layers for School Sports Fields' New National Standard
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