Safety Surface | What's Underneath Your Playground?

What's Underneath Your Playground?
The task of researching and selecting the proper safety surface for playground equipment can be overwhelming. Each year over 200,000 children are sent to the emergency room for playground related injuries. Nearly eighty percent of these injuries are directly related to falls to the surface. This makes it easy to see why choosing the right surfacing for a playground is important. It is imperative that playground surfacing be durable, and more importantly, provide a safety net for children on the playground.
A great way to ensure you have a durable safety surface under your playground is to install rubber tiles that lock into place. The compression molding process of these tiles provides a greater level of durability than traditional poured in place surfaces. Also, opting to use tiles that lock into place help prevent vandalism, curling, and separating at the tile edges. This surface provides the best long-term value in that it cuts costs associated with maintenance that alternative safety surfaces require.
The primary consideration when choosing a safety surface is the protection of children on the playground. A recent study conducted by the California EPT found that 69% of synthetic surfaces on playgrounds failed to meet the impact attenuation standards. Lock in place tiles that are engineered with a hollow core impact pedestal are specifically designed to absorb the impact of a fall. The mechanical recoil action ensures that the cushion offered by the safety surface is consistent and that it meets safety standards. In fact, these tiles perform at least 40% better than safety regulations require of playground surfaces. Now that should give you peace of mind when your children are climbing on play structures!
As you evaluate your playground safety surface options, keep in mind that durability and safety are the most important factors. Lock in place tiles offer a functional, resilient surface that looks great at an economical price.
Written by:
Luci Vopalensky
Creative Recreational Systems, Inc.
http://www.creativesystems.com
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http://www.877playsystems.com
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