Playground planning
Playground Surfacing Options
Commercial playground surfacing
Selecting the ideal surfacing for your playground has its challenges. We recognise the utmost importance of prioritising safety, durability, and compliance with regulations in playground surfacing. The surfacing is a crucial component of your playground planning, just as vital as the design and equipment.
Playground surfacing serves as a protective layer that absorbs impact energy, lessening the severity of fall-related injuries. It offers a softer landing surface compared to hard materials like concrete or asphalt. Here are some key factors to consider:
Safety and durability
Fall height protection
Compliance with playground safety regulations
Installation process
Design and aesthetics
Accessibility
1. Safety & Durability
Playground safety surfacing adheres to rigorous commercial safety regulations and Australian standards, ensuring a safe and enjoyable play environment for everyone. There are several functional surfacing options available, including sand, engineered wood fiber, and rubber playground surfacing like FLEXOTOP™.
Sand and engineered wood fiber are generally more budget-friendly options, but they require regular top-ups and daily maintenance. On the other hand, rubber surfacing is initially more expensive but offers greater durability over time, making it a cost-effective choice in the long term.
The most commonly used playground surfacing materials are:
Sand
Sand serves as a traditional playground surface, providing effective impact absorption and offering an enjoyable experience for digging and building. However, it necessitates regular maintenance to avoid compaction and contamination.
Engineered wood fiber
Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) is crafted from shredded wood fibers and engineered to deliver impact absorption while adhering to accessibility compliance standards. It boasts an organic appearance and is frequently chosen for playgrounds seeking a natural aesthetic.
Rubber playground surfacing
Made from recycled rubber, rubber provides excellent impact absorption and is highly durable. It's available in various colours and textures, making it a versatile playground option. Flexotop™ is made from recycled sneakergrind. Learn more about Flexotop™ here.
2. Fall height protection
The selection of surfacing is linked to the type of playground equipment present.
The depth of a playground surface varies based on the material and the required critical fall height. When installing playground equipment with rubber surfacing, the overall thickness of the surfacing must align with the Critical Fall Height of the equipment. Flexotop™ ECO undergoes testing in accordance with EN1177 & EN1176 standards by TÜV.
AS4685 standards require loose-fill surfacing like sand to be installed at a minimum depth of 300mm and maintained at no less than 200mm.
3. Playground safety regulations
Understanding your local government regulations and safety guidelines may seem daunting, but it's a crucial step in ensuring your playground is a safe environment for all users. Your local playground consultant is ready to assist you, alleviating the burden of navigating these requirements.
For comprehensive knowledge of the rules and best practices regarding playground safety, refer to the Australian Playground equipment and surfacing standard AS4685.
4. Installation
Installing playground surfacing demands careful planning, precision, and strict adherence to safety standards to establish a durable and accessible play environment. Here are five important considerations for the installation process:
Site preparation: Clearing the site, grading the terrain, and ensuring proper drainage are vital initial steps to establish a suitable foundation for the surfacing material.
Base preparation: Installing a stable base layer, such as crushed stone or gravel, offers support and aids in drainage, enhancing the durability and longevity of the surfacing.
Material delivery: Coordinating the delivery of surfacing materials and equipment ensures timely installation and minimizes disruptions to the project schedule.
Surface application: Applying the surfacing material evenly and following manufacturer guidelines is essential for optimal performance and safety, whether pouring rubber, laying tiles, or spreading mulch.
Safety compliance: Adhering to safety standards and regulations, including fall height requirements and impact attenuation guidelines, is critical to mitigate the risk of injuries and ensure compliance with industry standards.
Engaging experienced playground installers is paramount for best practices. Installing playground surfacing can transform an ordinary play area into a safe, inclusive, and inviting space for children to explore, learn, and thrive. Don't hesitate to reach out to our installation team for guidance on the installation process.
Learn more about playground installation here.
5. Design and aesthetics
The choice of surface option is also influenced by aesthetic preferences. It's crucial to evaluate the specific requirements of the playground and choose the most appropriate surface option. As mentioned earlier, selecting the right type of surfacing for your playground project can enhance both the design and the overall playground experience.
With a diverse range of colour options, Flexotop™ offers playground designers ample opportunity for creativity. Different colours, shapes, and graphics can be incorporated to complement and accentuate the design. Incorporating zoning, route guidance, and 2D and 3D visuals in the design can help integrate playground equipment seamlessly, enhancing the overall play experience—particularly beneficial if your playground project has a specific theme.
6. Accessibility
Surfacing plays a crucial role in ensuring playground accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The choice of surfacing greatly impacts the access and enjoyability of the playground for all children, including those using mobility aids like wheelchairs or walkers. Here's how surfacing affects accessibility and fosters inclusion in playgrounds:
Smoothness and firmness: Accessible surfacing should be smooth and firm to accommodate mobility aids like wheelchairs and walkers. Options such as rubber tiles, poured-in-place playground surfacing, and rubber playground mats provide stable and smooth pathways for easy manoeuvrability.
Level changes: The surfacing should be level and devoid of sudden elevation changes to ensure seamless transitions between different areas of the playground. Uneven surfaces can pose challenges for individuals with mobility impairments and increase the risk of trips and falls.
Traction: Playground surfacing options must offer adequate traction to prevent slips and falls, particularly during wet or rainy conditions. Surfaces like rubberised materials and textured tiles can enhance traction and improve safety for all playground users.
Accessibility standards: Many countries have established accessibility guidelines, such as the 'Everyone Can Play' resource in NSW and the guidelines from Inclusive SA, that outline requirements for playground surfacing. These standards ensure that playgrounds are designed to be inclusive and accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Wheelchair accessibility: Accessible surfacing enables individuals using wheelchairs to navigate independently throughout the playground, including accessing play equipment, sensory panels, and interactive elements.
Transition zones: Transition zones between different types of surfacing should be smooth and level to facilitate seamless movement for individuals with disabilities. Ramp access and clear pathways help ensure that everyone can access and enjoy the playground area.
Here is some more information on how to make playgrounds more accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What material is used for playground turf?
Playground turf, also referred to as artificial turf or synthetic grass, is commonly constructed from polyethylene or polypropylene fibres. These fibres are tufted into a backing material, typically made of polypropylene or latex, to form a resilient and natural-looking surface. Infill materials, like silica sand or rubber granules, are frequently incorporated to enhance stability, cushioning, and support for the turf fibres. Playground turf offers a hassle-free alternative to natural grass, providing a soft and consistent surface for play areas.
How does public playground surfacing prevent injuries?
Public playground surfacing serves a crucial role in injury prevention by offering a cushioned, impact-absorbing surface for children to play on. The main objective of playground surfacing is to reduce the severity of injuries resulting from falls or impacts during play.
What are the Australian safety standards for playground surfacing?
Australian Standards AS 4685.1:2021 provides guidelines for playground surfacing to help reduce the risk of injuries from falls. These guidelines should be followed to ensure your playground is compliant and safe for all.
What is playground surfacing called?
The rubber material frequently employed in playgrounds is commonly known as "wet pour," , "pour in place", "rubber safety surfacing," or "rubber playground tiles." Made from recycled rubber, these materials are engineered to offer impact absorption and cushioning, thereby reducing the risk of injuries from falls on playgrounds. These rubber materials are favoured options for playground surfacing owing to their durability, safety attributes, and low maintenance requirements.
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