Find out how rubber surfacing benefits municipal splash pad surfaces for your next project!!

How Rubber Surfacing Benefits Municipal Splash Pad Surfaces

 

 

If you represent a municipality that is thinking about building a splash pad in local parks, or if you already have splash pad surfaces that you need to have repaired, then rubber surfacing by No Fault is ideal for your application.

 

Rubber surfacing is what your splash pad needs to give it exceptional wet-deck grip and added safety. Rubber Safety Surfaces are fast becoming the new industry standard when it comes to surfacing for splash pads. They can substantially decrease the chances for injury, which also lowers liability issues that come from unexpected slips and falls.  The increase in traction helps to eliminate tripping hazards and also delivers comfort to anyone walking on bare feet. Overall, a rubber surface optimizes the aesthetics of the park while it minimizes injuries.

 

Getting the right contractor for your Rubber Surfacing is crucial for obtaining the desired results.  There are a lot of very common mistakes that arise from improperly installed Rubber surfacing on municipal projects. One of the most common mistakes is the de-lamination of water play surfaces.  This is when a Rubber Surface separates itself and tears away from the substrata. Improper base installation, along with ground movement, debris, low quality rubber, can cause cracking, flaking and chipping. Smoothing of the rubber is another concern that is brought on by water, foot traffic, and sand.

There are many ways to address these concerns and avoid them altogether. Knowledge, skill, and experience in regard to all the products available on the market are important. Selecting the proper materials and the right climate for installation are just a few items that can help to avoid repairs down the road that can extend the life of a Rubber Surface.

 

At No Fault, water play surfaces are our expertise. We make all the right decisions concerning splash pad surfaces and are able to assist you in all aspects of Rubber Surfacing Safety. Take charge of your investment while maximizing the public works budget. Give your community the safest, most functional, and best-looking surface available.

Safety First! Avoid Plaground Hazards!

Playground Safety Tips - Summer Safety!

Keep your child safe this Summer with these Playground Safety tips!        Each year, about 200,000 children are treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for playground equipment-related injuries. An estimated 148,000 of these injuries involve public playground equipment and an estimated 51,000 involve home playground equipment. Most of the injuries are the result of falls.   Since almost 60% of all injuries are caused by falls to the ground, protective surfacing under and around all playground equipment can reduce the risk of serious head injury. No Fault Safety Surface can help prevent critical head injuries to your child. Avoid playgrounds with non-impact absorbing surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete, grass, dirt or gravel, as they lose their ability to absorb shock through wear and environmental conditions. Always use protective surfacing on your playground! Certain loose-fill surfacing materials are acceptable, such as rubber mulch.   Summer brings long, hot days, which are perfect for water play, travel or a trip to the playground. It is important to remember that excessive heat can be a hazard! Heat-related illness can occur when your body can't properly cool itself. To avoid wilting in the heat, go to the playground before 10:00 a.m. or after 3:00 p.m., rest often in shady spots, wear UVA/UVB sunscreen and most importantly stay hydrated!   Before you visit a playground, check to make sure that play areas are designed to allow an adult to see children clearly while they're playing on all the equipment. Adult supervision can help prevent injuries by making sure kids properly use playground equipment and don't engage in unsafe behavior around it. Always supervise, and teach your child safe play! For more information regarding playground safety and injury prevention, you can visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website at www.cpsc.gov.

Trend Alert: Indoor Elevated Jogging Tracks

No Fault is famous for their track systems here in the South; however, we are also experts in indoor elevated jogging track installations as well.   No Fault has installed these jogging tracks for several decades and even more so recently due to the upward trend of joint health and safety.  

No Fault has completed several indoor elevated jogging tracks by applying No Fault Safety Surface. This is a great application for tracks because it offers a cushion-like surface that is easy on joints and it’s slip resistant. We are able to make any color combination with our extensive color lineup and create patterns and logos! Another great feature is the ability to apply line paint, which creates jogging lanes. 

Contact us today to discuss the many options we offer!  

Let’s give your members a reason to get up and running!

No Fault Sponsors the Fat Boy 5K!

Often imitated but never duplicated, The Fat Boy 5K is in cities across America (Las Vegas, New Orleans and more!) but the original started right here in Baton Rouge, LA!  With the Fat Boy growing (pun intended) the Original Fat Boy Running Club  knows how to celebrate!  Many people participated in this year’s race and showed up for some pre-race donuts and chocolate milk, and after the race for Manda Sausage Po-boys, Mockler beverages, Moon Pies, and Coca-Cola products. Chocolate Easter bunnies were given to the winners!  Participants could enter as a skinny runner, man up to the Clydesdale division or bring friends and compete in the team competition. 

No Fault has sponsored this race for the past 20 years. It is a fun community event that we participate in and provide giveaways to the variety of participants. The crowd is always excited to catch No Fault t-shirts! Check out more photos here.

Outdoor Gyms are Becoming More Common in U.S. Parks

Outdoor gyms are extremely common is both Europe and Asia; however, they have been slow to catch on in the U.S. The first outdoor gym which appeared in Los Angeles about six years ago was basically a collection of outdoor strength, cardio and balance equipment. During the past six years, other California communities have adopted the trend as well. In the past year, outdoor gyms have popped up in New York and Miami and are becoming contagious!

 

Outdoor gyms offer new options for the community.  This new park feature allows adults to get in shape while their children play; however, please make sure children are being supervised by an adult.  It also attracts athletes and other health conscious individuals to enjoy the park!  Outdoor gyms are an investment in healthier lifestyles while building better parks and stronger communities.

Project Spotlight: McWayne Science Center

No Fault recently sent materials to McWayne Science Center, located in the Birmingham, Alabama Airport for a safety tile installation. No Fault ULTRA tiles were installed in an indoor application under unique play equipment. See how great the safety tile install turned out.

National Playground Safety Week!

It’s that time of year again! The weather is nice and it’s time to go outside and play. But do you know what to look for to ensure the playground your child plays at is safe? Sometimes the risks do not appear very obvious, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. You just need to know what to look for.

 

National Playground Safety Week is April 21-27, 2013 and is sponsored by the National Program for Playground Safety (www.playgroundsafety.org). The National Program for Playground Safety provides many schools, other children’s facilities and parents with the knowledge to prevent injuries and promote safe play.

Follow these tips this Spring and Summer and your kids will definitely have safe and fun play!

• Look for playgrounds with shredded rubber, mulch, wood chips or sand. Grass and soil are not the ideal surface for playgrounds.
• Playground surfacing material should be 12 inches deep and extend 6 feet in all directions around equipment.
• Make sure playground equipment is inspected frequently and kept in good repair. If it’s not, report this to your local Parks and Recreations office.
• Remove hood and neck drawstrings from children’s clothing and outerwear and don’t allow them to wear helmets, necklaces, purses or scarves on the playground.
• Prohibit children to engage in, or play near, any pushing, shoving or crowding around playground equipment.
• Keep toddlers under the age of five in a separate play area, away from equipment which is designed for bigger kids.
• Actively supervise kids on a playground. Just being in the same area isn’t good enough – they need your undivided attention while playing on or around the equipment.

 

Boland Recreation Visits Baton Rouge!

No Fault recently had the pleasure of hosting Mark Boland, owner of Boland Recreation in Marshalltown, Iowa.  Mark received a full day of sales and marketing training as well as insight into our production and management processes.  With over 100 years combined experience, No Fault has an intensive and thorough product knowledge program; we host representatives year round as part of our continuing education process. 

 

“I appreciated the warm reception you gave me when I visited your facility on March 4th and 5th.  It was great to meet you all and learn more about the products you offer. I am now able to put a face with the voice/emails and was able to sense the team atmosphere that happens every day between you all in the office.  My visit helped me feel like I was a part of this team and I look forward to working with you all in the years to come” said Mark Boland.

 

Find out more about Boland Recreation at www.bolandrecreation.com and No Fault Sport Group at www.nofault.com

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

It's almost here... SPRING and that means baseball season! In this weeks product feature we will showcase our No Fault Safety Surface in baseball applications. No Fault has applied our safety surface to a variety of baseball applications, including custom logo halos, warning tracks and dugouts.

Back in 2009 No Fault installed No Fault Safety Surface in Louisiana State University's Alex Box Stadium. Our surface was installed on the infield warning track and on both playgrounds. We also installed No Fault Sport Turf throughout the indoor batting facility. Check out the Alex Box installation below along with a few other installations.

Alex Box Stadium

LSU Softball

LSU Softball

    

Southern University

Recess is Crucial

In the past decade, the value of recess has been debated. Many school systems are reallocating recess time to academics, however, many childcare experts believe recess plays an optimal role in the development of the whole child. Recess provides a break from concentration and academic challenges. Well supervised play can provide cognitive, social, emotional and physical benefits.

According to the Academy of Pediatrics, recess needs to stay! It is crucial in the development and well being of our children.

    Have a Great Day!

    Hailey Hill
    Marketing Administrator
    No Fault Sport Group

Playgrounds Inspired by the Victims of Sandy Hook Elementary

The New Jersey Firefighter’s Union, with more than 5,000 members, has created a charity to raise funds for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre. They are building 26 playgrounds in honor of the 26 lives lost in the Sandy Hook tragedy.  They are building 10 playgrounds each in New York and New Jersey and six playgrounds in Connecticut.

 

The goal of these playgrounds is to restore hope in a region where there has been devastation from Hurricane Sandy and Sandy Hook Elementary. The playgrounds will be a representation of the victims and the things they loved most. The first playground is set to open the first week of March and honors teacher, Anne Marie Murphy.

 

The New Jersey Firefighter’s Union needs to raise $2 million dollars to fund the playgrounds; they have already raised nearly $300,000. Find out more about this phenomenal charity at www.thesandygroundproject.org.

Common Questions About Rubber Mulch

When mulch is suggested for use in any project, whether it's landscaping or playground applications, a common question arises: wood or rubber mulch? Check out some of the commonly asked questions regarding rubber mulch.

1. Is No Fault Rubber Mulch Safe for Plants?
Since rubber mulch is permeable, moisture and nutrients will travel directly through the soil. No Fault Rubber Mulch then acts as an insulator to the soil from sun and heat. This achieves better plant stability and root growth. By comparison, wood mulch actually absorbs the majority of the moisture before it has a chance to reach the soil, where the moisture needs to be. Also, wood mulch can generate heat and acids that can burn plant roots.

2. Is rubber mulch harmful to humans, animals or plants?
No Fault Rubber Mulch is non-toxic and not considered harmful.

3. Will No Fault Rubber Mulch decompose?
Generally, rubber mulch does not decompose for many years.

4. Will No Fault Rubber Mulch heat up and damage plants?
Since rubber mulch does not compact, it will allow for constant circulation, which keeps mulch cooler than traditional wood mulch.

5. Is rubber mulch cost effective?
No Fault Rubber Mulch is cost effective with its one-time application. When you consider that pine straw and wood mulch generally fade as well as begin to deteriorate in as little as 6 weeks, No Fault Rubber Mulch maintains its color for as much as 10 years without the need for replacement, so the cost-effectiveness along with aesthetic benefits are evident. 

6. Does the color fade?
No Fault Rubber Mulch uses a special UV protective coating that has been lab-tested for color-loss. While minimum fading may occur over time. No Fault Rubber Mulch's color can be maintained for a period of up to 10 years with proper installation, maintenance and utilization.


7. Does rubber mulch help with weeds?
No Fault Rubber mulch is great for reducing weeds, mainly because most seeds germinate in wood mulch. Also, No Fault Rubber Mulch does not attract insects.

8. What about steel belting and threads?
No Fault Rubber Mulch is 99.9% steel free.

9. Is rubber mulch good for playgrounds?
All No Fault Rubber Mulch is ASTM certified and ADA compliant.

10. What depth should mulch be applied for playground applications?
This depends on the fall height of the playground equipment. It also depends on what type of rubber mulch you choose nuggets, shreds or mini nuggets. Check out our fall height charts on our website www.nofault.com

These questions are about No Fault Rubber Mulch, other mulches may use different processing methods that may change the answer to some of these questions. 

Have a great day!

Hailey Hill
Marketing Administrator
No Fault Sport Group

Is there a difference between accessible and inclusive play?

When designing a playground many questions arise when “accessible play” is mentioned. In fact, “inclusive play” may be mentioned as well. This leads to more questions! Is there a difference between accessible and inclusive play? And if there is, what is the difference?

Let’s start by defining each!

Accessible Playgrounds

Accessible playgrounds are outfitted with equipment and surfacing that allows children and adults from all walks of life the opportunity to play! They are equipped with ramps and a variety of other accessible play equipment that is compliant with ADA standards.

Inclusive Playgrounds

Inclusive playgrounds not only embrace the physical aspect of play but also the emotional, social and psychological aspects. These playgrounds encourage children to interact with one another, which as anticipated builds social skills.

There is indeed a difference between accessible and inclusive play. Having an accessible playground may not be enough to promote inclusive play.

 

*All playground surfaces provided by No Fault are ADA compliant.


Have a great day!

Hailey Hill
Marketing Administrator
No Fault Sport Group

No Fault Attends LRPA 2013

This week, No Fault attended the Louisiana Recreation & Parks Association Conference in Ruston, La. We had a great time visiting with exhibit attendees, other vendors and even some of our friends that represent the No Fault brand. We were very excited to exhibit our new booth that displays a collage of our products and a variety of applications.

The Louisiana Recreation & Parks Association Conference was a success and we look forward to the national conference in October. We hope to see you all there!

See you in Houston!

Hailey Hill

No Fault Sport Group

Project Spotlight: Perkins Road Community Park

No Fault Safety Surface

No Fault has installed a variety of surfaces in many BREC facilities. In 2012, we had the privilege of installing our surfacing at Perkins Road Community Park. Perkins Road Community Park is an extremely unique park situated on roughly 53 acres and located in southern East Baton Rouge Parish. This is BREC’s most visited park, mainly because it includes many recreational opportunities that are not offered anywhere else. Recreational activities offered include a skate park, BMX track, rock climbing tower, community playground and much more!

Check out our surfaces at Perkins Road Community Park. We installed our No Fault Bonded Rubber Mulch in the community playground and our No Fault Safety Surface under the rock climbing wall.

No Fault Bonded Rubber Mulch

Have a Great Day!

Hailey Hill

Marketing Administrator

No Fault Sport Group, LLC

Choose the Right Safety Surface

When you’re planning a playground, you need to pay just as much attention to what goes beneath the equipment as you do to the equipment itself. Many children are injured due to falls to the surface from the playground every year. Knowing your options and making an informed decision that meets your site’s particular needs is critical. 

Q: What should we know about playground safety surfaces?

No Fault Safety Surface, Poured-in-Place

A: There are several varieties of playground surfacing, and each comes with its own advantages. Many playground owners rely on loose fill, including wood chips, sand, wood fiber or rubber mulch. These types of surfaces typically come with a lower initial cost. However, you should be aware that proper maintenance is required to ensure the fill remains at the proper depth to protect children from injuries. Rubber mulch offers some benefits over wood, in that it does not create dust, decompose, rot, absorb water, displace or attract insects in the same way that wood chips can. And, you can even find bonded rubber mulch that acts more like a unitary surface, and requires much less maintenance than typical loose-fill applications.

Unitary surfaces, which include poured-in-place surfacing and safety tiles, offer different advantages. They are less maintenance-intensive, while providing much better accessibility. With these types of surfaces, you’ll want to check regularly for wear, especially in high-traffic areas.

You also can find synthetic grass surfacing systems that are designed specifically to go beneath playgrounds to provide fall protection. These surfaces feature a long life and provide a more natural-looking surface.

No Fault Safety Tiles

Q: Can we find a safety surface that will fit in with the look of our site?

A: No matter which type of surface you choose, loose fill or unitary, you should be able to find colors that will complement your playground equipment and other site elements. With tiles and poured-in-place surfacing, a variety of colors are available with the option to add a design right into the surface, which adds even more fun and excitement to playgrounds. A more natural site might benefit from rubber mulch (loose-fill or bonded), which will resemble wood chippings and are available in neutral colors typical of many modern playgrounds that are aiming to reconnect kids with nature. 

Have a Great Day!

Hailey Hill

Marketing Administrator

No Fault Sport Group