Playground planning
Playground Surfacing Options
Commercial surfacing for playgrounds
Choosing the perfect surfacing for your playground is a crucial decision. Safety, durability, and compliance with regulations are vital when it comes to playground surfacing. Surfacing is an essential part of your playground planning project, just as important as the design and the playground equipment. Public playground surfacing acts as a cushioning layer that absorbs impact energy, reducing the severity of injuries from falls. It provides a softer landing surface than hard materials like concrete or asphalt. Here are some of the key considerations you should keep in mind:
Safety and durability
Fall height protection
Playground safety regulations
Installation
Design and Aesthetics
Accessibility
We can help guide you in deciding between rubber playground mats or bespoke creative Flexotop™ and everything in between. Our team of playground experts are here to help.
1. Safety & Durability
Creating safe playground surfacing is part of stringent commercial safety regulations and standards, guaranteeing a secure and enjoyable play experience for all. Sand, engineered wood fibre, and rubber playground surfacing, such as FLEXOTOP™, are all functional options. Sand and engineered wood fibres are generally cheaper but require regular top-ups and daily maintenance. On the other hand, rubber surfacing is more expensive initially but is a more durable option in the long run. The most common playground surfacing materials are:
Sand
Sand is a popular choice for playground surfaces due to its good impact absorption and the enjoyment it provides for digging and building. However, it requires regular maintenance to prevent compaction and contamination.
Engineered wood fibre
EWF is a playground safety surface that is manufactured from shredded wood fibres and is designed to provide impact absorption while maintaining accessibility compliance. It has a natural appearance and is often used in playgrounds with a more rustic or natural aesthetic.
Rubber playground surfacing (Flexotop™)
The Flexotop™ playground surface is made from recycled rubber, providing excellent impact absorption and durability. It comes in various colors and textures, offering a versatile option for playgrounds. Learn more about Flexotop™ here.
2. Fall height protection
The choice of playground safety surfacing is determined by the type of playground equipment present.
The thickness of a playground surface depends on the material used and the critical fall height requirement. When installing playground equipment and using Flexotop™, the total thickness of the surfacing must be adapted to the Critical Fall Height of the play equipment. Flexotop™ ECO is tested according to EN1177 and EN1176 by TÜV.
Playground sand should be a minimum of 12 inches deep to provide adequate impact absorption and cushioning for falls.
3. Playground safety regulations
Learning about UK government regulations and safety precautions can be challenging but necessary. You need to ensure that your playground is a safe space for all users. Your local playground consultant is more than happy to help you with this. To learn the rules and best practices for playground safety, please refer to your local safety guidelines.
4. Installation
Installing playground surfacing requires careful planning, precision, and adherence to safety standards to ensure a durable and accessible play environment.
Site Preparation: Clearing the site, grading the terrain, and ensuring proper drainage are essential preliminary steps to create a suitable foundation for the surfacing material.
Base Preparation: Installing a stable base layer, such as crushed stone or gravel, provides support and aids in drainage, contributing to the durability and longevity of the surfacing.
Material Delivery: Coordinating the delivery of surfacing materials and equipment ensures timely installation and minimises disruptions to the project schedule.
Surface Application: Applying the surfacing material evenly and according to manufacturer guidelines is crucial for optimal performance and safety, whether pouring rubber, laying tiles, or spreading mulch.
Safety Compliance: Adhering to safety standards and regulations, including fall height requirements and impact attenuation guidelines, is essential to mitigate the risk of injuries and ensure compliance with industry standards. Be sure to hire experienced playground installers for best practices. Installing playground surfacing can transform an ordinary play area into a safe, inclusive, and inviting space for children to explore, learn, and thrive. Feel free to contact our installation team for guidance on the installation process.
Learn more about playground installation here.
5. Design and Aesthetics
It's important to consider aesthetic preferences when choosing the right safety surface option for a playground. It's essential to evaluate the specific needs of the playground and select the most suitable surface option accordingly. As mentioned earlier, choosing the right type of surfacing for your playground project can enhance the design and overall playground experience.
With a wide range of colour options, Flexotop™ allows playground designers to be very playful in their designs, as different colours, shapes and graphics can support and highlight the design. Zoning, route guidance, and 2D and 3D visuals in the design can help tie playground equipment and play together, extending the overall play experience, especially if your playground project has a theme.
6. Accessibility
Surfacing is crucial to ensure playground accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The type of surfacing can significantly impact all children's ability, including those using mobility aids like wheelchairs or walkers, to access and enjoy the playground. How do you know the best playground surfacing for those with disabilities? Here's how surfacing can affect accessibility and, ultimately, inclusion in playgrounds:
Smoothness and Firmness: Accessible surfacing must be smooth and firm to accommodate mobility aids like wheelchairs and walkers. Surfaces such as rubber tiles, poured-in-place playground surfacing, and rubber playground mats provide smooth and stable pathways for easy manoeuvrability.
Level Changes: The surfacing should be level and free of abrupt elevation changes to ensure smooth transitions between playground areas. Uneven surfaces can pose challenges for individuals with mobility impairments and increase the risk of trips and falls.
Traction: Playground surfacing options should provide adequate traction to prevent slips and falls, especially during wet or rainy conditions. Rubberised surfaces and textured tiles can help improve traction and enhance safety for all playground users.
Accessibility Standards: The UK Equality Act 2010 states there's a duty to make reasonable adjustments if someone is placed at a substantial disadvantage because of their disability compared with non-disabled people. These standards ensure that playgrounds are designed to be inclusive and accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Accessible surfacing allows individuals using wheelchairs to navigate independently throughout the playground, including reaching play equipment, sensory panels, and interactive elements.
Transition Zones: Transition zones between different surfacing types should be smooth and level to facilitate seamless movement for individuals with disabilities. Ramp access and clear pathways help ensure everyone can access and enjoy the playground area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What material is used for playground turf?
Artificial turf, also known as playground turf or synthetic grass, is typically made from polyethene or polypropylene fibres. These fibres are tufted into a backing material, usually made of polypropylene or latex, to create a durable and realistic-looking surface. Infill materials, such as silica sand or rubber granules, are often added to provide stability, cushioning, and support for the turf fibres. Playground turf offers a low-maintenance alternative to natural grass and provides a soft and uniform surface for play areas.
How does public playground surfacing prevent injuries?
Playground surfacing is crucial for preventing injuries by offering a cushioned, impact-absorbing surface for children to play on. Its main purpose is to minimise the severity of injuries resulting from falls or impacts during play.
What are the Equality Act 2010 guidelines for playgrounds?
The Equality Act 2010 says that disabled people legally have the right to 'reasonable adjustments' that make services accessible to them. Inclusion is about going a step further. It’s not just about removing barriers but introducing play opportunities that ensure that disabled children are included.
An accessible playground might have:
Wide paths
Flat paths with a well-maintained, solid surface both into and around the playground
Inclusive play equipment on solid surfaces such as rubbery ground
What is playground surface called?
The rubber material commonly used in playgrounds, known as "rubber mulch," "rubber safety surfacing," or "rubber playground tiles," is made from recycled rubber. It provides impact absorption and cushioning to reduce the risk of injuries from falls. Rubber mulch is used as loose-fill surfacing, while rubber playground tiles offer a stable and uniform surface. These materials are popular for playgrounds due to their durability, safety properties, and easy maintenance.
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