According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, falls to the surface account for nearly 70 percent of all playground injuries. Such injuries can be reduced with a shock-absorbing playground safety surfacing that has a critical height rating equal to or above your play equipment’s highest accessible part (CPSC/ASTM).
Surfacing Options
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“Loose-fill” material with retaining edger is one option for your playground surfacing. Engineered wood fiber, sand, pea gravel, rubber products and other bulk materials are the least expensive and are easy to install, but they do require more maintenance to meet CPSC guidelines. The
CPSC Handbook shows “critical height” values for adequate protection with the most common loose-fill materials.
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Resilient tiles, like
TuffTurf® or other factory-engineered materials, provide a guaranteed critical height value and require little maintenance. Such playground safety tiles are mainly used for wheelchair access paths and high wear areas because of cost considerations.
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Poured-in-place rubber surfaces are available in a wide variety of colors and shapes. These surfaces are usually more expensive but are extremely durable and require significantly less maintenance than other
playground surfacing options.
Costs of these playground surface materials vary widely and can account for up to 50 percent or more of your playground’s total cost. And remember, some types of surfacing are more environmentally friendly than others.
Once you've assessed all surfacing options, you're ready to move on to Step Six: Prepare Your Plan.