Matching articles for Surfaces - Playground Safety Surfaces: 22
Feature Article - July 2019
Before making decisions about playground safety surfaces, it's important to consider how your specifics—from climate and usage to maintenance capabilities and budget—will affect the surface over time.
Feature Article - November 2018
Given that falls to the surface are the cause of most playground-related injuries and E.R. visits, understanding playground safety surfaces is crucial.
Feature Article - November 2017
What kind of playground safety surface is best? The answer is, it depends. The context of your site, as well as your long-term maintenance capabilities can have a big impact.
Feature Article - October 2016
There's a lot more than meets the eye to playground safety surfaces, and despite any claims about safety, the context of your site—including prevailing weather, use and much more—can have an impact.
Problem Solver - August 2015
Talk to your manufacturer about the various elements that can affect the performance of your surface, from maintenance to weather, and more. And, don't forget that the more the surface is used, the less effective it may become. Some manufacturers offer post-installation field testing as part of the contract for a new surface. This can demonstrate the surface's effectiveness at your specific site. The clearest way to evaluate any safety surface is to conduct post-installation drop testing.
You'll occasionally need to top off the surface, adding more wood fiber, to maintain proper protection. Keep a schedule for staff members, and be sure to conduct regular inspections of the surface. Remove foreign objects and rake the fiber to keep the surface level.
Supplement Feature - September 2014
Falls to the surface are the number one cause of injury on the playground, which is why it's so important that those surfaces are maintained regularly and composed of the appropriate materials to maximize safety and prevent serious injuries.
Problem Solver - August 2014
Well-designed playgrounds must include a safety surface to protect children from injuries due to falls. Many parks rely on engineered wood fiber and other cost-effective products, but these require careful attention to provide the proper levels of protection. Solutions are available that can simplify maintenance and ensure your surface is effective.
One of the most important elements of playground safety is the surface installed beneath the equipment. Falls to the surface are the cause of the majority of playground injuries, so ensuring your surface is performing as expected is a crucial task.
Supplement Feature - September 2013
It wasn't always that way. In fact, not until 1975, when the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) analyzed playground safety hazards and guidelines, did the trend toward installing safer, shock-attenuating surfaces begin. After that study, woodchips, gravel, rubber and other "softer" materials began to replace harder surfacing materials like concrete, asphalt, hard-packed earth, grass and sand. And all those surfaces eventually had to meet guidelines first outlined in 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed by Congress.
