ACCESSORIES
Safety Surfaces
Care and Protection. Safety Surfaces Options.
PLAY BARK
WET POUR
RUBBER MATTING
SYNTHETIC PLAY GRASS
No playground is complete without safety surfacing to cushion falls and stumbles.
Safety surfaces are designed to cushion the impact when a child falls from playground equipment and therefore reduce the severity of an injury. Safety surfaces make play equipment and playgrounds safer and more accessible for children of all ages and abilities.
We recommend that a safety surface is installed under all outdoor play equipment with a free height with a fall greater than 0.6 mts. If the existing surface is tarmac or concrete, then we recommend that safety surfaces should be installed underneath all your school playground equipment regardless of the free height of fall.
Our playground safety surfacing options include:
Play Bark
Play bark is an example of a loose fill safety surface for playgrounds that can be installed using either a raised or sunken pit to a depth of 300mm for a critical fall height of 3 metres. It is a natural, attractive solution though requires frequent attention to ensure the correct depth is maintained.
It can be used as a playground surface but also in landscaping, planters and play pits. Play bark should meet two standards – BS 4790 (ignition resistant) and BS EN 1177: 1998 (an Impact Absorbing Playground Surfacing test).
Wet Pour
Wet pour is a hard-wearing, slip-resistant continuous rubber safety surface. Wet pour may be laid in black or a variety of colours, mixes and patterns. This surface is professionally laid on site and varies in thickness depending on the equipment and fall height required. Wet pour is a premium quality, hard-wearing, slip-resistant surface that requires very little or no maintenance.
We can also add coloured shapes, school logos, game markings and lines for added value from your school play safety surface.
Rubber Matting
Rubber matting over grass is a great safety surface option for schools and nurseries as it combines that natural feel of grass but ensures the surface is safe if an impact occurs.
It is installed over grass that grows up through the matting and can be mown normally. The matting also protects the grass so you get no more worn-out areas or muddy patches. Play matting has a critical fall height of 3 metres.
Natural grass can be used as an impact-absorbing safety surface up to 1.5m given certain conditions. Rubber mats can be used to reinforce areas of high wear to make the maintenance of grass as a safety surface more achievable.
Synthetic Play Grass
Today artificial grasses are almost indistinguishable from real grass. Synthetic play grass is laid onto a prepared surface and is always ready for play. The surface will not graze the skin and provides a sterile surface. No more muddy footprints: children stay clean and do not bring any mess inside.
Artificial grass can be laid over a shock pad to achieve a critical fall height of up to 3 metres. Alternatively, it can be installed as a hard-wearing landscaping product, or for sport and ball games. Once laid, it requires very little maintenance and is guaranteed for five years.
We offer a range of European manufactured products for different applications, including a flame retardant Bfl-s1 product suitable for indoor use!
Points To Consider When Installing a School Playground Safety Surface
Your Outdoor For Schools sales consultant will help you decide on the correct safety surface for your particular school or nursery play area. Factors to consider include:
- Type of play equipment
- Aesthetic appearance
- Cost and budget
- Durability
- Maintenance & on-going costs
- Critical fall height to be achieved
- Existing surface or base
Whatever Your Requirements, We Can Help
Whether you need inspiration or have in mind exactly what you want, we will bring your ideas to life with the help of our experienced school sales consultants and design team.