Mitigate the Risk of Slip & Fall Accidents

When you mix water with the typical types of surfacing used around pools and splash play areas, including concrete, ceramic tile and pour-in-place surfaces, floors become slippery, and accidents are bound to happen. Safer surfacing can provide peace of mind, helping to mitigate the risk of slip-and-fall accidents.

Q: We're concerned about slips and falls around our pool and splash pad. What should we consider?

A: Slips and falls are always a concern at aquatic facilities-especially around splash play areas. If you rely on concrete, tile, or a pour-in-place material, these accidents will be difficult to prevent. Instead, consider a surface that is specifically designed to provide safety in aquatic venues.

Look for a surface that meets NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50, which outlines the performance requirements of safety surfaces installed around interactive water play venues like splash pads. This standard covers six performance testing criteria for safety surfaces: slip resistance, impact cushioning, impermeability, cleanability, chemical resistance, and UV resistance. Surfaces that have been tested and verified to meet the performance criteria will provide a safer environment. What's more, because the testing covers topics related to durability, surfaces that meet this standard represent a long-term solution to your safety concerns.

Q: What else should we consider?

A: When you replace your existing surface with one that meets the standard, you'll get a number of benefits. The combination of slip resistance and impact cushioning will provide traction while protecting patrons from critical injuries if they do fall. Products that meet the standard also are much easier to clean, showing a dramatic 99.9% decrease of bacteria after cleaning. Impermeability is also an important performance requirement of the standard, ensuring that foreign or hazardous substances don't absorb into the tile.