Artificial Grass Football Pitch in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Intro paragraph
UNIGRASS delivered an artificial grass football pitch for an international school campus in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia — the coldest capital city on earth.
This project’s biggest specification comes from the local harsh climate. Ulaanbaatar records a January average temperature of -21.3°C, with record lows hitting -43.9°C, around 62 snowfall days per year, and sporadic permafrost where frost-heave pressure reaches up to 2.8 MPa at 1.0–1.5 m underground. Sitting at 1,350 m elevation, its summer UV index peaks at 8. Standard artificial turf designed for warm regions simply cannot survive here.
What the campus received is a quartz-sand and EPDM infilled system with white markings inlaid into the turf itself, laid out on a platform graded to a 1–1.5% fall, enclosed by fencing and lit by floodlights so that the field stays in use after the school day ends. It is the surface the school plays on whenever the ground is clear — with no irrigation, no mowing schedule and no renovation shutdown inside the school year.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia |
| Climate | Highland, extreme cold winter, strong UV radiation, dry and windy |
| Project type | Outdoor campus football pitch |
| Yarn | UV-stabilised monofilament football yarn |
| Pile height | 50mm |
THE CHALLENGE
1. Freeze damage underground, not just cold air
Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital worldwide. Winter temperatures regularly drop below -25°C and can hit -43.9°C. The hidden danger comes from underground permafrost. Freezing soil expands and pushes upward, which can lift and twist a poorly built pitch base. While artificial grass can survive freezing temperatures, weak base layers built for warm climates will fail. Proper drainage, stone layers and compaction are essential for this project.
2. Long-lasting snow: only one safe way to clear it
Snow stays for months here. Wrong snow removal is the main cause of turf damage:
Salt and melting chemicals ruin grass fibres. Metal tools slice the turf. Heavy fast machines crush the grass and pull away rubber infill. Any snow additives may void your warranty.
The right way: leave ~0.5 inch snow as a protective layer and wait for spring melt.
3. High altitude and strong UV sunlight
At 1350m elevation, Ulaanbaatar has very high UV radiation in summer. Snow in winter reflects UV back onto the grass. UV slowly weakens turf fibres, making them brittle, flat and faded. When fibres cannot spring back, ball bounce and roll become unstable.
4. Shared multi-age pitch with tight construction schedule
This school pitch is used by preschoolers, middle school students and youth match teams, also available for external rental. One surface must be safe for small kids while performing well for fast football play. Stable traction and predictable ball behaviour are practical requirements.
Construction has a narrow window. All groundwork, turf laying and infill must be completed in dry months, ready for immediate use once the short outdoor season begins.
The Solution
1. Frost-proof base, designed for freezing ground not just rain
We built the pitch from the bottom up. Frozen soil can lift the ground, so we use three measures:
• Well-drained stone foundation with even compaction
• 1–1.5% gentle slope so meltwater flows away
• Weed control fabric to stop soil blocking drainage
Good ground work is more important than turf colour. Drainage is part of the pitch design, not just maintenance.
2. Dual infill system
Two filling layers are used. Quartz sand holds fibres upright. Top EPDM rubber creates soft cushioning. EPDM stays flexible down to -40°C for Ulaanbaatar’s cold winter. It is also safer for kids than common recycled tyre rubber. Our engineers calculate the sand amount based on turf type and site conditions.
3. UV-resistant yarn and permanent inlaid lines
At 1350m high, strong UV rays plus snow reflection damage grass. Our yarn has built-in UV protection to keep fibres strong and colour stable. White lines are inlaid into turf, not painted. They won’t chip or wear off during snow clearing and daily use.
4. One turf surface for all age groups
This pitch fits junior, youth and senior goals. It works safely for young children and performs well for teen players. Even fibre height and infill depth ensure steady grip and consistent ball bounce everywhere on the pitch.
5. Full supply and on-site technical support
UNIGRASS supplies the whole turf system. Our technicians worked on site with local crews. We checked base quality, laid turf, joined seams, aligned lines and installed goals. We arranged construction around the school timetable to shorten field closure time.
RESULTS
• The UNIGRASS football pitch was handed over and accepted as part of International School’s sports complex. Alongside the outdoor basketball courts, it becomes the landmark outdoor sports zone of this premium IB international campus.
• The turf retains good flexibility during frigid winters and resists discoloration under highland UV radiation, stable enough for daily PE classes and regular student football training all year round.
• Efficient drainage design handles snowmelt and sudden rainfall, greatly lowering the school’s seasonal maintenance burden.
• This project serves as UNIGRASS’s key school sports reference case in Mongolia. It fully validates the performance of UNIGRASS cold-resistant artificial grass for high-altitude, freeze-thaw heavy-use educational sports facilities.
