Selecting a Safety Surface for PlaygroundsSelecting a Safety Surface for Playgrounds
Kids play, and kids will fall. Injuries are a fact of life on playgrounds, but they can be minimized by choosing the right safety surface. The right surface will absorb the impact of a fall, protecting head injuries that are so common. Depending on where the injury occurs, these impacts can range from minor to life-threatening.Check this out:https://www.playground-surfaces.com/
When selecting a safe playground surface, it’s important to consider the overall look and feel you want to achieve. There are many different surfacing options available, from rubber mulch to engineered wood fiber (EWF) and more. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, but the choice ultimately depends on your specific project needs and budget.
Playground Safety Surfacing: Which Material Is Best for Your Community
Unitary surfacing materials like poured-in-place and bond-in-place rubber provide a durable, low-maintenance option for your playground. They are also ADA-approved, meaning they are highly accessible for people using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. This is because they are poured to a thickness that aligns with your equipment’s critical fall height attenuation.
While a unitary surface may be more expensive up-front, it will save money in the long run thanks to its durability and maintenance costs. Rubber tiles are a popular option that offer the look of concrete with a colorful, customizable appearance. These tiles can be placed in a pattern to complement the design theme and layout of your playground while providing maximum traction.
This type of surfacing is ideal for the environment since it is made from recycled tires and is bug-free. Studies have shown that kids do not ingest crumb rubber or dirt (a source of lead) while playing on rubber-based surfaces, and it is easy to clean, reducing the risk of introducing new toxins to the playground environment.