Long gone are the days of unyielding concrete playgrounds as a feature of our schools and communities. With children’s wellbeing paramount, there are now many different safety surfacing options to choose from, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. In fact, with surface types varying so greatly, it can be confusing trying to choose which option would be best for your playground.
You may have come across the rubber wetpour surfacing ¬– made of a continuous solution of rubber granules that is ‘poured’ onto an existing surface – which is now a popular feature of many community playground spaces. Whilst there are several benefits to this type of safety surface, its main disadvantage is its high cost. Wetpour is an expensive type of surfacing, particularly when applied over large areas, and can be cost prohibitive for schools and nurseries with increasingly strained budgets.
However, there are several highly effective and more cost-efficient alternatives to wetpour surfacing that can provide play spaces with the right level of safety, durability and versatility to create a stimulating and secure environment for playing children. In this handy phs Matta guide, we explore the alternative options on offer to suit your playground project.
Should I invest in playground safety surfacing?
First thing’s first, if you’re considering installing a playground – however large or small – you may be asking yourself the question of whether safety surface is even a requirement? The answer to this is, categorically, yes.
Playground safety surfacing helps to cushion the potential fall of a child, minimising impact and reducing the risk of injury. Children will inevitably take a tumble in the playground at some point or another, but the right safety surface means they are unlikely to sustain any serious injury when they do. All play equipment, especially with a Critical Fall Height – i.e. a Free Fall Height (FFH) in excess of 600mm ¬– need to be installed with an appropriate safety surface.
So, what are the options available? Let’s take a look.
Rubber grass protection mats
Grass protection mats are a highly shock and noise absorbent rubber grid system, manufactured from recycled rubber and used on natural grass areas. They allow the grass to grow through them and are often used around low-level play equipment or on high footfall areas of grass. They help prevent slips, stop the grass from becoming worn through overuse and reduce soil displacement.
The softness of rubber grass protection mats does not fluctuate in a variety of weather conditions. When it comes to safety surfacing, rubber is a good choice and boasts many benefits over alternative options such as hard plastic grass protection mats, which harden in cold conditions and offers little protection against slips, cuts, and grazes.
The main benefits of grass protection mats are their cost effectiveness and they’re easy to install – making them an excellent option for constrained budgets and limited labour capacity. The also offer exceptional impact absorbency, with rubber protection mats able to withstand a critical fall height well beyond 600mm.
Playground safety tiles
Playground safety tiles have very similar properties to wetpour surfaces and are a popular playground surfacing option. Made from recycled rubber, they have an anti-slip surface and good shock absorption qualities. Rubber tiles are typically installed to a concrete sub-base using a specialist adhesive and have a big advantage over wetpour, in that they are generally quicker and less labour-intensive to install.
The main benefits to rubber safety tiles are their availability in many different colours, making them excellent options for creating a stimulating play-friendly environment for children. They are also easy to maintain and replace and are a cost-effective option for limited budgets.
Artificial Grass
Artificial grass is one of the most popular surfacing choices for schools and nurseries. It is highly versatile and can easily cover uneven surfaces, which means it is a good option for most circumstances. It has an immediate impact on any playground – quickly transforming a tired and uninviting space into something vibrant and exciting. It is pleasantly soft and comfortable, and children love playing and sitting on it – making it the perfect surface to offer a sensory experience for young children. Unlike natural grass, it stays lush and green all year round and doesn’t turn into a boggy patch during the winter.
Artificial grass is also a great non-slip sports surface and lends itself well to running and ball play. Although on its own, artificial grass does not offer the same level of absorbency as rubber safety surfaces, in combination with an appropriately shock-absorbent underlay it can easily support usage under high surface playground equipment.
The main benefits of artificial grass is its cost effectiveness and adaptability to any surface – making it a great choice for uneven playgrounds, as well as it’s easy maintenance and ability to cheer up even the most drab-looking spaces.
Get in touch to find out more
At phs Matta, our expert customer account managers can help you make the right decision and give you peace of mind in terms of safety, durability and performance when it comes to surfacing your playground project. Our cost-friendly options can support your budget, so give us a call today to discuss how we can help.
