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
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.
