Playground safety surfacing is one of the most important considerations when designing or upgrading a playground, though it can be overlooked. According to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), approximately 40,000 children end up in hospital each year after injuring themselves on a playground, with 40% of this related to accidents with playground equipment. Keeping the children in your care safe is a top priority, and having the right safety surfacing for your playground can help prevent children from sustaining more serious injuries.
This blog will outline what safety surfacing for playgrounds is, the benefits of safety surfacing, and the different types that are available for use in your playground.
What is safety surfacing?
Safety surfacing is the material used for playground surfaces that keep children safe from falls and reduce the risk of serious injury. There are many different types of safety surfacing, each with its own function and benefits. The material you choose for your playground surfaces will depend on a variety of factors, such as site conditions and your playground’s aesthetic.
Is safety surfacing legally required in play areas?
It is not legally required to include safety surfacing in children’s playgrounds, though it is recommended by various safety organisations and throughout playground health and safety documents, legislation, and guidance. For example, the Health and Safety Executive suggests that there should be a ‘balanced approach’ to playground safety and play providers ‘should use their judgment and expertise, as well as, where appropriate, the judgment of others when deciding what safety measures they should implement in their playground. So, although there is no legal requirement to have safety surfacing in your playground, you should consider whether it would help keep children safe while maintaining the benefits of play.
What are the benefits of safety surfacing in playgrounds?
There are many benefits to implementing safety surfacing in your playground, particularly when you invest in high-quality safety surfacing materials. Benefits include:
- Keeping children safe when playing by absorbing the impact of falls and creating non-slip surfaces.
- Providing a versatile design option that can be used to create beautiful, bright aesthetics to match the fun spirit of the playground and existing play equipment.
- Saving overall costs as high-quality safety surfacing is durable and long-lasting, meaning there is less need for regular repair or replacement.
What are the different types of safety surfacing?
Safety surfacing is highly versatile and there is a huge range of options to choose from. There are three main types of safety surfacing; grass, loose-fill, and synthetic surfaces. Below is an overview of the most popular safety surfaces available from Sovereign Play:
Grass
You can choose varying types of grass, depending on the purpose and space of your play area. It is important to upkeep this type of surfacing as harsh weather will affect the ground, particularly over Winter. Booking a playground maintenance appointment early will ensure the surface is ready for Spring and Summer play times.
Artificial Grass
Artificial grass offers a softer impact-absorbing surface and is durable and easy to maintain. Although artificial grass does not provide as much protection as alternative safety surfacing options when used on its own, shock pads can be installed underneath to improve its overall shock absorption.
Artificial grass is also bright and attractive, providing a more natural look to your play area.
Vivid Grass
Similarly to artificial grass, vivid grass has a soft texture and is easy to maintain. However, vivid grass is available in bright, beautiful colours that can enhance your playground area far beyond the look and feel of standard artificial grass. It’s the perfect option if you’re looking for the feel and convenience of artificial grass while ensuring your outdoor play space still has a big visual impact.
Needlepunch Grass
Needlepunch sports surfacing is a similar option to the artificial grass as it is safe, durable and easy to maintain. It comes in a huge range of colour options and design possibilities, making it ideal for creating a bespoke school sports area that matches your exact specifications and needs.
Grass Guard
Grass guard is the perfect way to protect a playground with lush, real grass surfacing. Real grass can yellow and become eroded from areas with high foot traffic, like the area under swings. Grass guard helps to keep the grass alive and in better condition, for better playground aesthetics and overall natural surface protection.
Loose-Fill Surfacing
Bark Chippings
Bark chippings are softer to the touch than the kind of wood chip found in horticulture, making it a great surfacing option for your playground and for keeping children safe. Bark pits look great and blend in with the natural outdoor surroundings of the playground. The highest grade of bark chippings is Deluxe Hardwood Chip which has the majority of dust and fine particles removed from it, as well as a high level of fire resistance.
Synthetic Surfaces
Rubber Mulch
Rubber mulch is a spongy tarmac and has high shock absorbency which reduces the risk of injury when children fall. It can be placed directly onto a hard surface as long as the surface is in good condition. It can also be placed onto a pre-prepared base.
Rubber mulch is an incredibly versatile safety surface because it is laid wet meaning you can create a dynamic play area with all kinds of shapes and contours. With a huge range of bright wet pour colours available, you can greatly enhance the aesthetic of your playground.
Wetpour Surfacing
Wet pour safety surfacing has a smoother appearance. It is also almost completely free from maintenance needs and is known for being great value and cost-effective compared to other options. Wetpour will be used for intricate designs because of its viscosity, so it’s easy to make refined lines/shapes for patterns. With rubber mulch being flakes, this cannot be done.
Contact Sovereign Today To Choose The Perfect Safety Surfacing For Your Playground
If you would love to enhance your school outdoor area with safer surfacing options, contact us at Sovereign Play today to find out about the different options available and how they could work for you.
Our specialist team can help create expert designs that enhance your outdoor space. With our high-quality products, installation, and fantastic maintenance and warranty details, your playground safety surfacing can keep children safe for many seasons after it has been placed.
If you have any further questions or would like to book a quotation, contact us online or call us on 01702 804200.
FAQs
What is the safest surface for a playground?
Wet pour, or rubber mulch safety surfacing, is frequently considered one of the safest surfaces for use in a playground. This is because it is durable, has high shock absorbancy, and is also slip-resistant. Despite being one of the more expensive safety surfacing options, wet pour surfaces typically require less maintenance and offer more versatility in terms of design.
How do I make my playground safer?
You can take many actions to improve your playground’s safety. Examples include:
- Investing in appropriate safety surfacing.
- Ensuring there is plenty of space between each piece of equipment.
- Ensuring corners and edges are not sharp, and there are no protruding bolts or screws.
- Installing guardrails on taller equipment to prevent falls from height.
- Removing any trip hazards that might be present.
