Your Playground Surface Material Options

The safety of a playground is integral to its operation. It is crucial at all times during both a playground’s installation and use that it remains a secure environment where the safety of its users is never in question. One of the primary methods of ensuring this safety is the incorporation of playground surface materials into the playground’s design. Playground surface material is a kind of playground surface option that pads the foundation upon which the playground is built. There are multiple types of playground surfacing materials, and each type has its own drawbacks and limits of effectivity. “Hard” surfacing (such as concrete or grass) is one kind of surfacing that is often used as the foundation upon which the protective playground surface materials.

“Soft” surfacing (like sand, wood bark, rubber mulch or rubber tiles) will, more often than not, be the type of playground surfacing material that will be used to maintain playground foundational safety. Proper playground surface material is critical because, according to the United States Product Safety Commission (CPSC), about 200,000 children are treated in United States hospitals each year for playground related injuries – with approximately 60% of these injuries caused by falls. In addition, it is a sad reality that the majority of playground related deaths in the US (of which there are around 15 a year) are caused by falls from playground equipment. This article will focus on these varying types of playground surface materials and will list these drawbacks to allow you, the playground owner, to make the best decision when perusing playground surfacing material.

• “Hard” Surface: Concrete. Concrete is a composite material that is made when fluid cement is mixed with a solid aggregate (usually, gravel). Often the foundation upon which many playgrounds are constructed, concrete is usually a poor choice for providing a safe base for children to play above. In fact, the CPSC’s “Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook” recommends that a playground owner should not “install home playground equipment over concrete, asphalt, or any other hard surface.” While playgrounds can be constructed over and on-top of concrete, it should by no means remain uncovered while children play on said playground. An unprotected playground foundation (that is, one devoid of proper playground surface materials) is an unsafe playground foundation. To combat this problem, it is crucial to examine the other playground surface options available and select the one that provides the maximum level of security for your individual playground equipment. In short, though concrete provides a stable foundation for which to install playground equipment, such equipment should not be used without proper playground surface materials.

• “Hard” Surface: Grass. Grass is often considered to be a safe playground surface material for children to play on and, in turn, for playgrounds to be built upon. In truth, however, grass is generally considered by the CPSC to be, ultimately, an unsafe playground surfacing material. The CPSC states that “grass and dirt are not considered protective surfacing because wear and environmental factors can reduce their shock absorbing effectiveness.” Excess rain, erosion, or just general wear-and-tear caused by running or roughhousing can lead to the loss of grass’ protective properties and/or the exposure of underlying rock or stone. While grass or dirt foundations obviously are relatively cost-effective when compared to more comprehensive playground surface options, it must be said that no price can be put on safety, and proper surfacing should not be forfeited for grass regardless of the costs incurred in obtaining it.

• “Soft” Surface: Sand. Fine sand, which is typically considered to be a safe playground surfacing material, can be satisfactorily incorporated into a playground’s construction to provide an efficient protective barrier between children and the playground foundation. Per the CPSC’s “Home Playground Safety Tips” page, the amount of sand necessitated in order to create a safe surface scales upwards relative to the height of the playground equipment. For home playgrounds where equipment up to 5 feet high is present, at least 9 inches of sand should be provide to effectively cushion all falls. In playgrounds with equipment of up to 9 feet or higher, 12 inches of sand is mandated when seeking to provide a proper safety net. Regardless of the height of a playground’s equipment (whether it be as low as 3 feet or as high as 9 feet), a minimum depth of 6 inches for all playground surfacing material should be maintained at all times. At depths of less than 6 inches, the protective material in question can become too easily displaced or moved.

• “Soft” Surface: Wood Bark. Wood bark mulch or chips are a kind of protective playground surface material that is made up of crushed and minced treated lumber that functions as another kind of loose-fill material. Wood mulch can be made from several different hardwood and softwood species and is both an environmentally conscious playground surfacing option as well as a relatively safe choice when compared to “hard” playground surface materials. Similar to other loose-fill playground surface material, the CPSC mandates that home playgrounds’ feature at least 6 inches of wood mulch at all times in order to be effective. In addition, the CPSC also recommends that at least 9 inches of loose-fill wood mulch should be used for playgrounds with equipment of up to 8 feet high. More mulch can be used as desired, but can risk becoming scattered or strewn by playing children.

• “Soft” Surface: Rubber Mulch. Rubber mulch made from shredded or recycled rubber is an ideal kind of loose-fill playground surfacing material that can offer a great deal of protection when installed correctly. Though generally not quite as environmentally friendly as wood mulch (as it is typically non-biodegradable), rubber mulch made from recyclable material is still a smart playground surfacing material in terms of environmental consciousness as its inherent reusability allows it to be maintained as a playground surface practically indefinitely. At least 9 inches of rubber mulch is required (in accordance with CPSC policy) to be an effective protective foundation for playground’s with equipment up to 8 feet high. Furthermore, as will other kinds of loose-fill material, at least 6 inches needs to be maintained at all times in order to be an effective playground surface material. A downside to the usage of rubber mulch is that it can pose a choking risk to small children, and, as a result, warrants increased supervision of said children when in use.

• “Soft” Surface: Pour-in-Place Rubber: Pour-in-Place rubber is just one more of the myriad of playground surface options that can be implemented in the course of making safe a playground. Pour-in-Place rubber is often a 2-layer system that consists of a base of post-consumer recycled heavy-duty rubbery, and a top surface that is composed of a mix of rubber and polyurethane. Typically, this playground surfacing material is installed by professionals and is utilized in primarily outdoor playgrounds. The usual thickness of Pour-in-Place rubber can range from 1-3/4 inches to up to 6 inches, and is certified by the International Play Equipment Manufactures Association of being generally safe for falls from up to 13 feet high, though individual specifications should be consulted prior to installment. Though Pour-in-Place rubber foundations typically possess long lifespans, they still should be checked often and thoroughly for cracks and defects. It is this durability, however, that makes Pour-in-Place rubber a sensible and –often- safe playground surfacing material.

• “Soft” Surface: Rubber Tiles. Rubber tile playground mats are another kind of playground surface materials that are known for its longevity and its resilience. Capable of being installed as a Do-it-Yourself project, rubber tiles can be an easy and effective playground surfacing solution. Similar to Pour-in-Place rubber surfacing, rubber tiling can come in multiple shapes, colors, and styles, though interlocking mats designed for easy installation are most common. What’s more, rubber tiles are range in thickness from 1-1/2 inches to around 5 inches thick, with 2-1/2 inches being a very common measurement. Checking with individual manufacturer specifications when installing rubber tiling is critical in determining the protective capabilities of the tiling in question. As with all form of playground surface options, rubber tiling should be frequently surveyed and maintained to ensure playground foundational integrity.

Conclusion: There are many different options available to consumers when it comes to playground surface options, and it is important to remain informed in order to make the best decision possible when selecting playground surface materials. Grass/dirt and concrete are two types of playground surface material considered to be “hard” materials, and are generally deemed unsuitable by the Consumer Protection Safety Commission for use as the sole surfacing for playgrounds. The playground surfacing materials that are generally thought to be the safest options for consumers are the “soft” surfaces. These include fine sand, gravel, wood bark/mulch, rubber mulch, Pour-in-Place rubber, and rubber tiles. These kinds of playground surfacing material offer both relatively great amounts of aesthetic variety and functional safety when it comes to safeguarding the well-being of all those who wish to use playgrounds of all kinds. By keeping in mind the pertinent information listed above for each of the options, the consumer can remain informed and knowledgeable at all stages of their playground’s foundational installation process.