Matching articles for Playgrounds - Playground Safety Surfaces: 32
Supplement Feature - September 2012
Playgrounds should be fun, carefree places that inspire physical activity and young imaginations. And, fortunately, they can offer children both those things as long as recreation managers uphold their obligations to build and maintain safe sites. Such work starts with the selection of the correct protective surface, the foundation of any safe and inviting playground design. The options are endless, and the necessity is indisputable.
Problem Solver - August 2012
Generally, owners ask the surface manufacturer for the third-party test reports that show the safety performance numbers achieved by that surface. After this, there is typically no verification that the actual installed surface has achieved these same measurements. In fact, many surfaces do not meet standards within just a few short years—sometimes even immediately—after installation.
On a monthly basis, check the depth of the wood fiber and be prepared to add more material if necessary. You can lessen the need to redistribute and add more material by installing surface-level wear mats in all wear areas. Having such mats, including custom-sized mats where necessary, can save your maintenance staff countless hours of raking.
Many playground owners rely on loose fill, including wood chips, sand, wood fiber or rubber mulch. These types of surfaces typically come with a lower initial cost. However, you should be aware that proper maintenance is required to ensure the fill remains at the proper depth to protect children from injuries. Rubber mulch offers some benefits over wood, in that it does not create dust, decompose, rot, absorb water, displace or attract insects in the same way that wood chips can. And, you can even find bonded rubber mulch that acts more like a unitary surface, and requires much less maintenance than typical loose-fill applications.
Feature Article - March 2012
No matter how carefully a playground is designed, children will still fall and can potentially get hurt. Close attention to safety standards, especially the surface beneath the equipment, will help keep kids safer.
Guest Column - February 2012
Loose-fill surfacing, especially wood mulch, is very popular, largely due to its lower initial cost. But if you're employing such a solution at your playground, you need to be aware of the impact winter's deep freeze can have on safety.
Supplement Feature - September 2011
Independent users and safety experts say that no one surface can be called the unqualified best. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages; most have to do with maintenance (loose fill constantly needs to be raked back into high-wear areas), cost (loose fill is cheaper, but what is total cost of ownership in the long term), safety (various disagreements about what's actually safest) and accessibility.
Problem Solver - August 2011
You can find a wide range of surface types, from loose fill like wood and rubber mulch to poured-in-place and tile surfaces made of rubber and other materials. Choosing the right surface is critical to ensuring you are providing adequate fall protection. On top of this, the right surface can ultimately lower your total cost of ownership.
On a monthly basis, you should check the depth of the wood fiber, and add more material as necessary. It can be helpful to use markings on the supports of your play structure to indicate the proper depth.
Feature Article - March 2011
On the playground, it's all about fun and games for the kids, but beneath and surface and behind the equipment, there's a whole world of careful design and research to help improve safety.
