How Heat Refraction Testing Confirms the Benefits of Natural Design

At Notts Sport, we’ve always believed that innovation should serve both performance and safety. That’s why we are proud to share the results of recent independent heat refraction testing conducted by Sports Labs Ltd, which demonstrate how our CocoTurf surface performs impressively under heat stress compared to traditional artificial surfaces.

Using FIFA Test Method 14, Sports Labs examined six different surface types over a standard 180-minute heating cycle to measure the maximum surface temperatures they reached. Among these, our CocoTurf infilled with sand stood out, achieving the lowest recorded surface temperature of 52.4 °C (classified as Category 1–2). This was notably cooler than the artificial turf infilled with sand and SBR, which peaked at a much higher 69.8 °C (Category 3).

Heat refraction — the way materials absorb, store, and re-radiate heat — directly affects how hot a surface feels underfoot and how quickly it cools once the sun sets. Natural materials like CocoTurf, particularly when combined with a sand infill, help dissipate heat more efficiently than traditional rubber or synthetic infills.

The test further showed that CocoTurf without infill still performed better (58.3 °C) than wetpour or artificial turf with SBR but benefited most when combined with sand, underscoring the value of our design approach that blends natural and sustainable fibres.

These results reaffirm our commitment to creating surfacing solutions that are not only high-performing but also more comfortable underfoot in warmer climates and during peak summer months. By focusing on heat refraction properties and sustainable design, CocoTurf offers pupils, schools, and communities a genuinely cooler choice.

For more information about CocoTurf and our full range of surfacing solutions, visit www.cocoturf.co.uk