Playground safety should be one of your top priorities. When it comes to its surfacing, you may want to find the most capable as it could drastically influence the number of playground-related injuries in children.
Of course, this is never an easy process. There are a number of factors that affect the decision of choosing the best playground safety surfacing. Luckily, this article will focus particularly on that topic.
Why is Playground Surfacing Important?
Let’s start by identifying and assessing why playground surfacing is important. Well, it is a key factor in the safety and security of everyone in the playground, especially the children. Moreover, the Consumer Product Safety Commission states that around 70% of all playground-related injuries are caused by improper installation or lack of the right playground surfacing.
Not to mention, the Americans with Disabilities Act is responsible for all cases concerning all public playgrounds. They require that the ground cover materials should be able to accommodate all kinds of people. This includes those that are physically challenged and those that require mobility devices to be able to move.
With that in mind, here are some of the top options!
Loose-filling playground surfacing
playground rubber mulch and other loose-filling playground surfacing materials should grace the top of your list. This may also include Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF). Here’s why you should consider this:
More affordable
Amazing fall protection
Excellent shock absorption
Easy to install
EWF is recycled from used tires
Very durable
Splinter-free
On another note, there are also some downsides to using EWF. Here they are:
The fact that it is a loose material makes it hard to maneuver in.
EWF naturally decays.
There is a chance that it may get displaced. Thus, there is a higher demand for its regular maintenance.
Unitary Materials
Aside from playground rubber mulch, unitary materials are smooth and seamless. Thus, it will be easier for children with mobile devices to maneuver in. Furthermore, unitary materials pertain to rubber mats or tiles – or both. People often opt for unitary materials because of the following reasons:
Playable on almost any kind of weather
Easy to clean
It can last to about 10 to 15 years
Available in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes
Requires less maintenance
On another note, the downside to using unitary materials are as follows:
You may need a concrete base for this.
You also need more infrastructure when using unitary materials.
This will cost you more than a playground rubber mulch.
Now that you are familiar with two of the most common types of playground surfacing materials, it is now time to ask yourself some of the basic questions. Read on to find out more!
How many years has the playground been in use?
Is there any chance that the surface material can become a choking hazard?
How much can you spend initially and over time?
What is your budget for maintenance and care?
In the end, you have to look at how each of the playground surfacing material affects the various factors presented above. With that, you’ll be able to choose one over the other.
If you are looking for playground safety surfacing, General Recreation has several options for you. One of the top choices for this is playground rubber mulch. Contact us for more details!