The IBV is the only Spanish laboratory accredited by FIFA approved artificial turf football fields
on July 30, 2013
The Institute of biomechanics (IBV) is one of seven laboratories in the world and the only one in Spain FIFA-accredited for the certification of artificial turf football fields.
As pointed out the director of innovation in the field of sport of the IBV, Enrique Alcántara, "such laboratories aims to certify that the properties of those fields which will develop international official competitions are optimal for the practice of football, both from the point of view of the safety of the players and of the spectacular in-game", as collect the FIFA Quality Concept program for Artificial Turf since its launch in 2001.
This program distinguishes two grades of artificial turf depending on usage: if he has conceived for high use (e.g., municipal football fields) or if it has instead been conceived for professional use (regulated by the FIFA competitions). These qualities are called one- and two-star respectively (FIFA * and FIFA *) and have been tested in the laboratory for the evolution of their properties with the use by submitting to the lawn to simulations of actual use.
Thus, as Alcantara, explains "selection of pavement of artificial turf on a football field happen to know the use which will be having" (intensive or professional use). Once selected and installed artificial turf floor, the homologation of the field as specified by FIFA will go through to assess the properties of the in situ, analyzing both properties related with the interaction of the pavement with the player as the ball.
There are currently around the world seven laboratories certified by FIFA for the homologation of artificial turf fields for the practice of football, being the only one in Spain the Institute of biomechanics.