Choosing the Best Soft-Fall Surface for Your Playground

Posted by Jason Waler on July 9th, 2019

The meaning of viable delicate fall is "an effect retaining medium that backs the falling tyke off finished the best conceivable separation". That implies the kid is decelerating as gradually as conceivable – which decreases the stun of the fall. Be that as it may, there is no such thing as the ideal delicate fall material for each circumstance, especially when playground structures are brought into question.

While mulch materials, (for example, pine bark chips) are by and large the mildest, it needs a ton of upkeep so as to keep its respectability. Manufactured materials, for example, foam padding for playgrounds are awesome for ranges that would somehow or another require high support however the static idea of the elastic doesn't have the "give" of a free fill item. So when you’re considering which soft-fall is best for your playground, you need to think about:

Softness: what is the softest option you can use given the location?

The environmental impact – is the product an environmentally responsible choice?

Cost – does your budget fit the product maintenance?

Design Opportunities – Do you want to include shapes, colors or designs in the surface to enhance the play area?

Ease of Maintenance – Do you have a maintenance plan?

Synthetic Grass

  • Made from: Polyethylene fibers
  • Softness: Good
  • Maintenance required: Medium
  • Environmental impact: Medium
  • Availability: Good
  • Initial cost: Medium-High
  • Note: A softer “leaf” than tufted synthetic turf

Playground Sand

  • Made from: Washed, filtered beach sand 
  • Softness: Good if maintained
  • Maintenance required: Medium
  • Environmental impact: Low
  • Availability: Fair
  • Initial cost: Medium – Low – Medium
  • Note: Only available from specialist suppliers

Pine Bark Chip

  • Made from: Waste from plantation pine industry 
  • Softness: Excellent if maintained
  • Maintenance required: Medium
  • Environmental impact: Low
  • Availability: Fair
  • Initial cost: Medium – Low – Medium
  • Note: Comes in several different variations

Rubber Soft-Fall (Recycled) + Oxide Colour

  • Made from: Recycled Tires
  • Softness: Good
  • Maintenance required: Medium
  • Environmental impact: Positive recycled product
  • Availability: Good
  • Initial cost: Medium
  • Note: Lowest cost, but colors can “patch”

Rubber Soft-Fall (Recycled) + UV Paint

  • Made from: Recycled Tires
  • Softness: Good
  • Maintenance required: Low
  • Environmental impact: Positive recycled product
  • Availability: Good
  • Initial cost: High
  • Note: UV paint holds color

Rubber Soft-Fall EPDM

  • Made from: Man-made rubberized plastic
  • Softness: Good
  • Maintenance required: Low
  • Environmental impact: High
  • Availability: Good
  • Initial cost: Highest
  • Note: the Best vibrancy of color

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Jason Waler

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Jason Waler
Joined: July 9th, 2019
Articles Posted: 16

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