Common solid-surface playground material options include synthetic grass, rubber tiles, and poured-in-place rubber. Poured rubber is widely considered to be the best playground base material. Whether you choose loose-fill material or solid surfacing, it should comply with national safety standards and guidelines.
Solid rubber surface (aka wet pour)
The best surface for a playground is a solid rubber surface, also known as wet pour. Wet pour is a rubber surface that provides a high quality, hard wearing, slip resistant surface that requires little to no maintenance.
Rubber is completely immune to mold growth, so it stays safe and clean for your children. You'll never need to replace our mulch. In fact, the rubber mulch surrounding your swing set will last as long as the playset itself — which is a really, really long time.
There are different types of playground surface materials that are shock absorbing. The most common types are engineered wood fiber, poured-in-place rubber, rubber mats, shredded rubber, and artificial turf.
Swings are responsible for the most injuries on home playgrounds, while climbing apparatus is the most dangerous equipment on public playgrounds.
However, when it comes to safety, no other material outshines engineered wood fiber (EWF). EWF is the most cost-effective loose-fill material for playground surfacing and has superior abilities for cushioning falls or impacts. Loose-fill surfaces, like EWF, are easy to install and maintain to adesired depth.
The types of organic mulches that are the least likely to contain any pesticides or herbicides are going to be tree-based: shredded or chipped wood, shredded bark, and pine needles.
Rubber mulch doesn't attract animals and will not become burning hot after long exposure to the summer sun. Unlike sand, rubber mulch can also be washed off keeping it clean and free from bacteria. It's virtually maintenance free and will last without compacting for many years of outdoor playground fun.
Perforated playground tiles are another excellent way to keep surface temperatures down. With perforated tiles, air can flow throughout flooring, which helps keep things cooler. Plus, there is not as much surface area for the sun to heat up, so tiles simply do not get as hot.
Safer for kids
Wood playgrounds can have sharp edges and splinters, which can be very dangerous for children. Plastic playgrounds are smooth and don't have any hard edges, so you can rest assured that your child will be safe while playing on one.
Engineered wood fiber (EWF) is considered the cheapest playground surfacing option at roughly $3-$5 per square foot. Relatively cheap and easy to install, Wood Mulch is one of the most popular playground surfacing options.
Avoid playgrounds with non-impact absorbing surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete, grass, dirt or gravel. Recommended surface materials include: sand, pea gravel, wood chips, mulch and shredded rubber. Rubber mats, synthetic turf and other artificial materials are also safe surfaces and require less maintenance.
Dangers of rubber tire mulch
Some of the toxins in rubber tire crumb include VOC's, PAH's, MBT's, and latex. The EPA has found these chemicals cause cancer, headaches, nausea, contact dermatitis, and allergies. Not to mention damage to the lungs, kidneys, liver, central nervous system, and reproductive system.
Best Rubber Mulch® provides a Non-Toxic, Odor Free Alternative to Traditional Surfacing Materials. Our rubber mulch is made from 100% recycled tires, and is virtually wire-free. Rubber mulch provides exceptional fall protection, meeting ASTM standards F1148, F1487, F1292 and F1918.
Finally, avoid large, bark type mulch or big wood chips. Since these big pieces take a long time to decompose, and they end up depriving the soil and plants of nutrients.
Making rubber mulch the safest playground mulch all year long. Wood mulch can cause painful and irritating splinters keeping your child from playing on the playground. Rubber mulch is maintenance-free and lasts for years without losing its color or rotting, saving you both time and money.
Cedar Or Cypress Mulch
Chip or bark mulch is made from cypress or cedar trees and is very helpful for repelling bugs. Both cypress and cedar contain natural chemicals and oils like thujone that deter insects. Cedar chips repel, inhibit, or kill insects like: Cockroaches.
Types of Playground Injuries
The most common playground-related injuries that require a doctor's care are: Broken bones (fractures) Sprains and strains. Internal organ injuries.
Ground-cover materials. Materials that are often used to cover playground floor surfaces include bark soft-fall, impact-absorbing sand, wet pour rubber and rubber tiles and pavers.
"But playground equipment almost never gets cleaned." Harmful germs—such as those in the mucus that kids wipe from their noses—can linger for days. Sandboxes are gross, too: Squirrels and birds can leave behind fecal matter, which may cause stomach illnesses and skin infections in young kids.
Strangulation is the primary cause of playground fatalities, accounting for over 50 percent of the deaths. Falls to the ground are responsible for an additional 20 percent of the deaths.
Ground surfaces without at least 12” of wood chips, mulch, sand gravel, or safety mats. Strangulation hazards like nets, ropes, chains, or clotheslines in which a child can be caught. Litter, debris, or drug paraphernalia left lying where children can pick them up.