PRODUCT INFORMATION
DON’T CALL IT A TRM
Since the InstaTurf® Soft Armor products most closely resemble a traditional TRM, it would be easy to lump them into that category…until you understand how they work. Then you quickly realize that these products deserve a category all their own. These “hybrid-turf instant armor mats” are easy to install like conventional TRMs, but have the added benefits of immediate rock-like erosion protection with the look of natural grass from day one of installation. You’ll wonder why it took so long to create this solution that secures like rock and is easy to install like a TRM…just don’t call it a TRM.
GROW WITH THE FLOW
What makes the InstaTurf Soft Armor products so effective is that they utilize a patent-pending combination of simulated turf and engineered filtration fabric to protect, grow and eventually reinforce natural vegetation. This hybrid vegetative armoring system marries the many advantages of soft armor systems with the immediate and long-term erosion control performance of rock riprap and other hard armor materials. The simulated grass blades of the turf deflect rainfall impact and flow-induced shear stress away from the fabric backing, substantially reducing erosive forces acting upon the underlying soil. Furthermore, the filtration fabric backing, specifically engineered to trap and retain fine soil particles while allowing seedling emergence, keeps the soil and grass seed in place even during the worst conditions. The monolithic simulated turf structure of the InstaTurf products further acts as a reinforcing grid to permanently support and increase the natural vegetation’s erosion resistance during and after establishment, providing the look you want and the long-term performance you need.
BRING ON THE WEATHER
Patent Pending InstaTurf® Soft Armor solutions come in two distinct products; Shearforce™ 10 and Shearforce™ 12. These hybrid-turf instant armoring products reduce risk by virtually eliminating erosion under very high-flow conditions from the first day of installation.
SHEARFORCE™ 10
A hybrid-turf instant armor mat for protecting severe slopes, channels, streambanks and shorelines. The hybrid-turf instant armor mat shall provide the immediate finished look of natural grass along with the high flow erosion protection of large rock riprap, while establishing permanently reinforced vegetative cover. The mat shall consist of a UV stabilized; monolithic polyethylene simulated turf structure with approximate 7/16-inch by 5/8-inch rectangular apertures, backed with an engineered lightweight polyester geotextile. The geotextile must be dense enough to retain fine soil particles and seed, yet open enough to allow seedling emergence. The mat shall have an unvegetated permissible shear stress rating, as determined by ASTM D6460 large-scale channel testing, of 10 lbs/sf or greater for immediate as well as long-term erosion protection against high shear stress water flow. The hybrid-turf instant armor mat shall have the following characteristics and dimensions, and meet or exceed the minimum physical and performance properties as specified below.
Color: Grass green
Roll Sizes: 3ft x 45ft – 135 sf, 6ft x 45ft – 270 sf
Roll Weights:Approx. 49 lbs/99 lbs
ShearForce™ 10 Hybrid-Turf Instant Armor Mat: Features and Benefits
- Available in 3ft x 45ft, 50 lb rolls and 6ft x 45ft, 100 lb rolls for easy handling
- Aesthetically pleasing natural grass-like appearance
- Typical installed cost savings of 50% - 65% vs rock riprap, tied concrete block mats, and other hard armor materials
- Much smaller carbon footprint than hard armor materials
- Worry-free rock-like erosion protection under flow-induced shear stresses > 10lbs/sf, from day one of installation
- Highly UV stable and weather-resistant
- Simple installation, just lay it over seeded area and anchor it with standard staples, stakes or pins
- Grows and reinforces natural vegetation for permanent stabilization and mower-friendly maintenance
SHEARFORCE™ 12
The simulated turf high flow scour control/transition mat shall provide the immediate finished look of natural grass along with the high flow scour protection of large rock riprap, while establishing permanently reinforced vegetative cover. The mat shall consist of a UV stabilized, monolithic polyethylene simulated turf structure with approximate 7/16 inch by 5/8 inch rectangular apertures adhered to a ½ inch thick, weather resistant, rubber core with 1.5 inch diameter openings on 2.5 inch centers, backed with an engineered lightweight polyester geotextile. The geotextile must be dense enough to retain fine soil particles and seed, yet open enough to allow seedling emergence. The mat shall have an unvegetetated permissible shear stress rating, as determined by ASTM D6460 large-scale channel testing, of 12 lbs/sf or greater for immediate as well as long-term scour protection against turbulent, high shear stress water flow. The high flow scour control/transition mat shall have the following characteristics and dimensions, and meet or exceed the minimum physical and performance properties as specified below.
Color: Grass green
Panel Size: 3ft x 4ft, 1.33 Sys
Panel Weights:Approx. 30 lbs
Added ballast to prevent uplift in turbulence
In culvert and pipe outfalls and other areas subject to turbulent water flow, conventional mattings can be lifted off the soil surface between anchor points and allow erosion to commence. The ShearForce12’s ½-inch high specific gravity perforated rubber core will not float and adds nearly 2.5 lbs/sf of ballast to the mat to resist uplift. This additional ballast ensures that the mat performs as expected in the worst of conditions while still promoting vegetation when the sun is shining.
ShearForce™ 12 Hybrid-Turf Instant Armor Scour Mat: Features and Benefits
- Available in 3ft x 4ft, 30 lb panels for easy handling
- Typical lower installed costs than other scour mats, large rock and concrete blocks
- Worry-free rock-like scour protection under turbulent water flow at shear stresses > 12 lbs/sf, from day one of installation
- All in one scour protection mat, no additional TRM or sod underlay required
- Aesthetically pleasing, natural grass-like appearance
- Smaller carbon footprint than hard armor systems
- Highly UV stable and weather-resistant
- Simple installation, just lay it over seeded area and anchor it with standard staples, stakes or pins
- Grows and reinforces natural vegetation for permanent stabilization and mower-friendly maintenance
