Rubber surfacing for playgrounds is built to last in harsh outdoor settings where it can be exposed to damaging environmental factors. Rubber crumb surfacing is made of resilient post-consumer vehicle tires allowing it to be a long-lasting surfacing option for both indoor and outdoor playgrounds. Recycled rubber crumb is the ideal material for creating reliable and safe play mats for children to play on without worry of slips and falls due to its outstanding compression set and naturally grippy surface. In addition, these properties of recycled rubber allow rubber surfacing for playgrounds to last through years of running and jumping children and in physically abrasive settings. Furthermore, rubber surfacing for playgrounds is highly moisture resistant and easy to clean with the use of simple common household cleaning appliances.

How Long Do Rubber Playground Tiles Last?

Rubber playground tiles are designed to last for years in both indoor and outdoor settings without worry of degradation caused by everyday wear and tear as well as damaging environmental factors. Rubber surfacing for playgrounds is often made of recycled rubber crumb which derives from post-consumer vehicle tires. Vehicle tires are extremely durable products that retain excellent resistance properties against damaging environmental factors, such as UV rays, ozone, oxygen, and moisture. Case in point, tires are designed to be virtually indestructible under a wide range of abrasive factors, including environmental and physical – i.e., concrete roads and changing weather patterns (recycledrubberfacts.org). Rubber surfacing for playgrounds is made of non-biodegradable vehicle tire rubber, allowing it to remain out in the environment for years. Not only will rubber crumb surfacing last for years in the face of environmental factors, but it is also resilient against impacts and abrasions. Rubber surfacing for playgrounds, or just playground surfaces in general, are subjected to constant wear and tear brought on by running and jumping kids while playing. For instance, “The energy absorbed by the rubber in the transition from the static to the shock load is supposed by Morrison to be that energy which is absorbed by the rubber in its deformation by the shock” (meridian.allenpress.com). This means that rubber’s deformation/indentation at the moment of impact helps absorb the energy. Rubber surfacing for playgrounds will not remain indented and can essentially “bounce back” to its original form thanks to its low compression set. Having a low compression set means that the material is less likely to remain permanently deformed or indented after being compressed for a significant amount of time (sciencedirect.com). Rubber’s low compression set along with its outstanding environmental resistance properties allows safe play mats to remain long-lasting and rubber surfacing for playgrounds for both indoor and outdoor settings.

• (a) Is Rubber Surfacing Waterproof?

  Rubber surfacing is waterproof, allowing it to remain a safe, durable, and reliable option for outdoor playground mats. The seams between each interlocking tile allow for effective drainage to prevent moisture from pooling on the playground surface. Interlocking rubber surfacing for playgrounds also offer a waffle-patterned underside to further help drain moisture out from under the playground surface. The recycled rubber crumb material itself is a highly moisture resistant material which helps keep moisture from seeping into the material until it can be drained. This makes recycled rubber crumb the perfect material for creating a waterproof outdoor play mat as it is an outdoor friendly material that is also highly moisture resistant. Due to its excellent moisture resistance, recycled rubber crumb surfacing is often used outdoors where it may be subjected to frequent precipitation. For example, “These flooring products each can satisfy established performance standards relevant to their application, such as…moisture/vapor transmission…” (calrecycle.ca.gov). Even when used indoors, rubber surfacing for playgrounds will keep the liquid at its surface until it can be cleaned up or drained. Its moisture resistant nature also makes rubber crumb surfacing non-slip and safe for children to run on without worry of slipping and falling. Their moisture resistance helps these safe play mats retain their naturally grippy surface even when moisture is present.

  (b) How Do You Clean Rubber Surfacing?

  You can clean rubber surfacing with the use of water, a broom, or a mild chemical cleaner. Generally, because vehicle tires are made up of a mixture of synthetic and natural rubbers, recycled rubber surfacing for playgrounds can withstand contact with moisture and some mild chemical solvents. Case in point, “The two main synthetic rubber polymers used in tire manufacturing are butadiene rubber and styrene butadiene rubber. These polymers are used in combination with natural rubber” (ustires.org). Butadiene rubber and styrene butadiene rubber, or SBR, are durable synthetic rubber materials that are known for their excellent outdoor resistance properties – including outstanding moisture resistance. Natural rubber, or gum rubber, is not as resistant to damaging environmental factors as butadiene and SBR are, but it is “resistant to most acids, salts, ammonia, and alkalis chemicals…” (engineersedge.com). Due to rubber’s excellent moisture resistance, rubber surfacing for playgrounds can often be cleaned using just water, a damp rag, or common household cleaning appliances, such as a broom or mop. Indoor rubber crumb surfacing can be cleaned using a broom or dry mop to sweep away loose debris; a damp rag can be used for harder, stuck-on messes. Outdoor playground mats can be cleaned using a hose since there is more space for this process. Due to rubber’s mild chemical resistance, certain chemical detergents can be used to further sanitize a rubber surface, whether they be indoor or outdoor playground mats.

Recycled rubber crumb surfacing is the ideal material for creating rubber surfacing for playgrounds. Made up of post-consumer vehicle tire rubber, recycled rubber retains excellent physical and chemical properties. The natural and synthetic rubber materials used in the composition of tires give rubber crumb surfacing excellent resistance against damaging environmental factors, such as UV rays, ozone, oxygen, and moisture, as well as heavy impacts, abrasions, and some chemicals. These properties of recycled rubber give rubber surfacing for playgrounds an excellent non-slip surface that is easily cleaned with the use of water or mild chemical detergents. Furthermore, it is also a softer material than other types of surfacing materials making it a safer landing surface. Therefore, recycled rubber surfacing for playgrounds makes for excellent safe play mats for children to play on without worry.