Choosing the Right Playground Surfacing

Types of Playground Surfacing

Playground Outfitters offers several types of safety surfacing to fit a variety of applications and budgets. We also offer borders and access ramps to keep loose-fill material in place and allow ADA compliant access.

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While adhering to all of these standards may seem confusing at first, remember that our CPSI certified Playground Outfitters representatives are here to help you through these and make sure that your new playground complies with these standards to the highest degree. Once you have a basic measurement for surfacing, you can get a better idea of what you costs may be as your project progresses.

How much should I budget based on my playground structure?

As a general rule of thumb, safety surfacing will cost about 50% of the cost of your commercial playground project. That is to say, you can expect about 50% of your project budget will go to surfacing and labor for surfacing, and the rest will go to the playground itself and labor to build/install that playground. For example, if you had $50,000 to spend on your new commercial playground project, we would recommend that you reserve $25,000 of that for surfacing. That may seem high (especially for a cost they may not have even considered), but it is important to remember that safety surfacing will protect children in case of a fall, and will also ensure your project abides by standards that are set by ASTM and ADA.

What is Critical Fall Height and Why Does it Matter?

Critical fall height is a measurement described as the “vertical distance between a designated play surface and the protective surfacing beneath it” (1). This height determines the thickness or impact attenuation a play surface must have as defined in ASTM F-1292. Essentially, the higher the fall height, the thicker the surfacing will need to be in order to absorb the fall and provide adequate cushioning. Additional thickness of surfacing material will need to be factored into the total cost of the project, and you’ll need to budget accordingly. Not to worry though; a Playground Outfitters representative will be happy to discuss any questions you may have about safety standards to ensure your play area meets the necessary requirements.  

What can’t be used for playground surfacing?

There are some surfaces that you’ll want to avoid using. These include pea gravel, grass, sand, asphalt, and concrete, as they are not considered approved play surfaces, and most are prohibited by ASTM and CPSC standards. Each have their reasons for not being approved; for example, sand makes it so that your playground is not accessible to anyone in a wheelchair, therefore possibly violating ADA guidelines and standards. Concrete is too hard of a surface and will not cushion a fall properly. In order to comply with safety standards and provide the best possible play experience for your guests, we recommend choosing one of the previously mentioned ASTM approved surfacing options

Additional Surfacing Considerations

ADA Ramps & Playground Borders, Boundaries, Additional Materials, etc.

When constructing a commercial playground in the United States, it is important to comply with ADA standards. This is also true when it comes to providing the surface that the commercial playground structure sits on. But don’t worry, there are many affordable solutions that allow for this. What you actually need to provide depends on the specific surfacing that you choose. ASTM F1951, which was dictated by the ADA, states that every new playground surface must be firm and stable enough to support a standard wheelchair for accessibility. This includes allowing proper access to the playground structure via a wheelchair. For example, if you intend to use rubber or wood mulch, you will need to factor in an ADA ramp. Many solutions work with specific playground borders to create a nice and clean finish when installation is complete. If wood or rubber mulch is your surfacing of choice, you’ll also need landscape fabric to kill of any existing plant material and prevent it from coming through the newly installed mulch. However, landscape fabric is typically not a permanent solution. An application of an herbicide or manual picking of weeds will likely be required on an ongoing basis to keep the area clean and free from weeds and plant matter. Ready to get a quote? First, you’ll need to know the approximate square footage of the area that needs safety surfacing. Once you have those measurements, the next requirement for an accurate quote will be the type of surfacing you’d like to use. With those pieces of information, you should be able to do a fairly accurate cost comparison. Of course, our CPSI certified representatives are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about safety surfacing and provide you with a custom quote for your project. Give us a call at (888) 342-8228. References: 1. ASTM International Standard F1292, “Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials Within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment,” 3.1.3, p. 2.