 
Playground
Surfacing
Every year, more than 200,000 kids
are injured on playgrounds. The most common cause of injuries is
from children falling onto the ground. Making the right choice can
make a significant difference in the safety of the children playing
on it. In the past, playgrounds used to be covered in gravel, sand,
or wood chips. While these provided a basic level of safety, it
wasn’t always enough. In addition, these surfaces could be labor
intensive, and, in the case of woodchips or bark mulch, seldom would
a day go by that some parent or teacher wasn’t raking the material
back into place under slides and swings from where it was kicked
out.
In
the world of playground surfacing, there are two primary types of
surfacing systems - loose-fill and unitary. Loose-fill systems
include sand, pea gravel, Engineered Wood Fiber (or EWF), and rubber
nuggets. Unitary systems would be Poured-in-Place rubber (or PIP),
rubber tiles, and artificial turf. Most clients prefer playground
surfacing that is designed to combine high levels of safety with
minimal maintenance requirements. One of the common drawbacks to
loose-fill systems is the maintenance required to constantly deal
with kick-out under slides and swings. Engineered wood fiber (or
EWF) differs from ordinary wood chips in that the wood is
mechanically shredded in such a way as to facilitate the material to
thatch together. This thatched material makes for a more reliable
and consistent surface and resists movement within the play area
more than chips. Another consideration with wood products is the
inevitable annual replenishment of material that naturally
bio-degrades each year.
Poured-in-place rubber forms a solid base across the entire
playground. It is slip-resistant when either wet or dry, and meets
safety standards for the prevention of head injuries. Another
benefit of poured-in-place rubber is that it can be shaped and
colored to easily meet a variety of playground designs. Shredded
rubber performed best in tests done by the National Center for
Injury Prevention and Control. It consists of high-density rubber
shreddings spread over the playground.
Artificial turf systems seem to be the current craze. They
combine the best of all desired by clients. As a unitary system, it
offers little or or no maintenance and it is priced below PIP and
Tiles.
The
final type of playground rubber surfacing is rubber tiles. They
bridge the gap between the poured-in-place rubber and the shredded
rubber, providing more safety than the poured-in-place rubber and
they are easier to maintain than the rubber shreddings or
nuggets.
Artificial turf is another material used for playground
surfacing. Not all artificial turf is suitable for playgrounds,
however, because without a thick enough rubber pad, it will not
provide enough protection against falls. Good quality artificial
turf will last for many years. Our artificial turf products come
with an eight year limited warranty. Engineered wood fiber tends to
be more affordable and still provide a high level of protection.
Unlike traditional wood chips and bark mulch, engineered wood fiber
ground covers are made entirely from smooth, clean hardwood. This
reduces the amount of slivers and scratches a child may get while
playing.
Choosing a suitable surfacing material for a playground can
be a difficult task, as there are many factors to consider including
initial price, durability, safety, and the maintenance required. A
careful comparison of all the possibilities is necessary to ensure
you make the best choice for your playground.
We offer all types of Safety Surfaces
from loose fill products to Pour-n-Place rubber and Astro
Turf
Playground
Tiles:
Rubber has become the
material of choice for many new playground surfaces. It can be used
as tiles, poured-in-place, or can be loose as nuggets. Rubber has
many advantages over other types of playground surface material. It
is an excellent impact absorbing surface. Depending on its
thickness, it provides good protection against injuries caused by
falls. Rubber is also highly durable, and requires less maintenance
than materials like wood or sand. Rubber playground surfaces are
available in a wide range of colors and patterns, allowing a
playground designer to create a vibrant and exciting area for
children.
Playground tiles are available in a range of thicknesses and
colors. They are designed to be installed directly over a hard
surface like concrete or asphalt. Tiles have the advantage of being
more flexible and much easier to install than poured-in-place
rubber. They are slip resistant when either wet or dry and are quite
durable under a wide range of climates and conditions. There are
several different types of playground tiles and each has different
methods of joining together, as well as different cushioning
characteristics.
Poured-in-place playground rubber must be installed by a
professional. It is poured as a thick liquid into a framed area.
Poured-in-place rubber forms a solid base across the entire
playground. One advantage of this method is that is can be used to
create an irregular and rounded playground area. Another advantage
is that various designs and logos can be worked into the final
area.
Loose products like playground rubber nuggets or shredded
rubber is another alternative. Loose rubber has been shown by some
tests to have the best cushioning properties. It is also fairly easy
to install. It is installed in a similar manner to wood chips. The
advantages of using these over wood products are that rubber nuggets
are heavier and less likely to blow away, They are also better at
retaining their cushioning abilities after time and exposure to rain
and ice. Additionally, they do not bio-degrade over time like wood
products, thus relieving the client of an annual maintenance cost.
Rubber nuggets can also come in a variety of
colors.
Playground rubber is non-toxic and resists insects and fungi.
It has become very popular in playground design due to its many
advantages. The one drawback of rubber versus wood products is that
rubber tends to be more expensive. Some facilities operating on a
fixed budget have chosen to use both wood a rubber, concentrating
the rubber in the more crucial areas like beneath swings, slides,
and climbing structures.
Pour-n-Place:
Pebble-Flex® is a leader in providing comfortable,
safe, durable, light stable and easily installed soft surface
materials. Uses include Playground Safety Surfaces,
Swimming Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Driveways, Balconies and
many other applications. The proprietary surface system
developed and manufactured by the team at Pebble-Flex® will open a
whole new world of possibilities for your project. It is the
first truly light stable soft rubber surfacing material.
Pebble-Flex® is the way to go for all your
soft surface needs...
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We have a Breakthrough System -
Pebble-Flex®, to address your needs.
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The Pebble-Flex®
system, with a world-wide satisfied customer
provides: |
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Ease and
Speed of Installation
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No costly
Demolition |
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No need to repair
cracks |
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Covers just about
anything |
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One step,
efficient installation process |
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Durability
and Low Maintenance
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Doesn't fade,
discolor or chalk |
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Chlorine, salt,
bleach - no problem |
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Doesn't harden,
brittle or crack |
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Easy to clean
too! |
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Outstanding Appearance
and Safety
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Colors and
patterns |
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Traction even
when wet |
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A softer safer
solution |
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The
Most Economical Long Term Solution
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Last years and
years |
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Lowest total cost
of ownership |
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No constant annual repairs |
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RAINBOW TURF
POURED-N-PLACE:
Unitary Surfacing consists of a single density pour of
our colored Rainbow Turf® combined with our special polyurethane
adhesive.
This
surfacing meets the federal guidelines for HIC, ASTM, and the latest
Handicap Accessibility testing. Being cost effective
and it's natural appearance, it has attracted the attention of
such clients as Disney’s Epcot Center and Disney’s Blizzard
Beach, where
the product has been in place for several years.
EDPM SURFACING:
A unique combination of EPDM rubber granules and a
cushion layer of shredded recycled rubber tires utilizing a European
polymer that is poured in place on site providing a seamless surface
for endless applications – Primarily providing critical fall height
protection for children on playgrounds (NOTE: shock absorbing
surfaces can help disperse the momentum of a falling body or head,
thus, reducing the risk of life threatening injuries).
 
Artificial Turf:
Artificial
playground turf can be an excellent, low maintenance alternative to
PIP rubber, rubber tiles or wood chip filler.
A typical
playground synthetic turf will consist of a rubber pad with a thick
layer nylon or polyethylene grass. The turf can be installed
directly onto a hard surface like concrete or asphalt, or 4" of
compacted aggregate (road bed). The layer of compacted aggregate
should be at least 4 inches thick in order to properly cushion any
falls. The thickness of the under turf padding will vary as to the
type of substrate material (concrete or aggregate) and the critical
fall height that is required.
Playground grass
turf has many advantages over other playground surfacing materials.
Because it looks and feels like real grass, it is more friendly and
looks better than other, less natural alternatives. Artificial turf
has proven durable in countless applications. It also requires much
less annual maintenance than conventional loose playground covering,
and can cost less than unitary rubber surfacing.
It is
important to differentiate between playground turf and other types
of artificial turf. Regular artificial turf does not provide enough
cushioning to protect children from falls. Also, it has been known
to cause nasty slide burns. Our playground artificial turf has been
designed to meet safety standards for impact resistance. Make sure
the correct turf has been chosen for your child’s
playground.
Playground Wood Chips (Engineer Wood
Carpet)
Playground wood chips and other wood products fall under the
classification of organic loose materials. They are a popular choice
for many playgrounds. Three factors that usually determine the type
of playground surfacing installed are safety, accessibility, and
price.
Wood products are generally cheaper than other materials,
while still providing a high level of safety. The disadvantage of
wood products in the past has been that playgrounds surfaced with
wood products were not accessible to those with disabilities,
especially those who use wheelchairs or crutches. This has changed
with the development of engineered wood fiber (EWF), which has
proven to be cohesive enough to permit the use of wheelchairs and
crutches (meets ASTM F 1951), while at the same time as being
resilient enough to provide cushioning that protects children in
case of falls.
Playground EWF here at Cedar Creek Run, consists
of shredded hardwood without the other scrap pieces of trees like
bark or twigs, commonly found in wood chips sold to the consumer
market. This reduces the chances that a child will get scratched or
gets a splinter. Wood fiber also provides a higher level of
cushioning than almost any other playground surfacing material on
the market today.
Playground wood chips have been used for some
time as a surfacing material. This tends to be the lowest cost
option, while still retaining excellent safety characteristics. The
critical height of a material is a measure of how well it protects
someone who has fallen from a height onto it. It should be noted
that the critical height is not a guarantee that no injury will
result from a fall of that height. Rather, it is the standard level
of protection recommended for a playground containing equipment of a
given height. Wood chips have a better critical height than most
traditional playground materials, including various sizes of sand
and gravel.
While wood products have many advantages as a
playground surfacing material, they share some disadvantages with
any loose covering. Foreign material can get tracked into the
playground, either by children playing or by the wind. Too much dirt
mixed into the wood can reduce its effectiveness. Also, in public
areas, EWF can hide various dangers like glass, pencils or animal
excrement.
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