Building a playground is hard and one of the most important aspects is the material on which the playground rests. When it comes to the surface there are many different options to choose from and some are safer than others. Deciding on the wrong surface can be devastating with regards to injuries and toxic materials. Children have a tendency to fall and the outcomes of that fall will depend on the surface they happen to land. If they happen to hurt themselves, injuries can be mild to severe in some cases.
Asphalt, concrete, and black top are unsafe on any playground under any condition. Materials like this are also unacceptable for playgrounds to built on top. It is also unacceptable to use grass, soil and packed earth since these material deteriorate and can erode based on ever changing weather conditions. This can make for unsafe landing conditions for children when they’re running around and falling down.
You need to make sure the playground is away from tree roots, stumps, rocks and other dangerous items that could potentially cause injury. You need to make sure there are no other items like broken glass and dangerous trash in the area when building the playground. Learn about poured rubber playground flooring here!
There are so many safe materials you can pick from when building a playground for your children. These specific materials will help ensure that you are creating a safe environment for your children.
Fill the playground and its surface with materials like pea gravel, shredded rubber, sand, wood chips and mulch. If you use wood chips please be aware that they should be free of the chemical chromated copper arsenate, as this can pose a potential health hazard.
It is important to keep a few things in mind when you’re trying to decide upon a material for your playground surface and the structure of the base. If your playground happens to be no higher than 8ft you need to keep the surface material at least 12 inches deep, if not more.
The playground you build should extend at least 6ft past the playground equipment for safety purposes. If the slides or swings are higher than you may need more coverage for unexpected accidents like jumping from a swing. It is also greatly beneficial to provide wheelchair access using rubber mats so the disabled can play, or help their kids. If your playground happens to be built over a hard surface make sure you use a layer of geo-textile cloth to help protect against hard impacts, like from falling children.
The main goal of a playground is to have fun, but it’s also important to keep children playing safe. It is important to follow all the safety protocols in order to achieve these things and keep kids free from injury. Learn about playground flooring suppliers here!