While overcrowding, lack of adult supervision and more “boring” equipment that children misuse have been blamed, the biggest culprit remains playground design. But the surprise is that it’s not just about what children are falling from but what they’re falling onto. Children are susceptible to injury when they fall onto a hard surface.
Surface materials
Having a well-maintained appropriate playground surface can significantly lower the risk of injury when kids take a tumble. But how do you know which playground surface will be safe and which one may contribute to a broken bone or worse?
In order to be safe, the surface under all playground equipment should be soft. The variety of playground impact absorbing surface materials each have their strengths and weaknesses but here are two things they should all have in common:
- Comply with the Australian standard.
- Absorb the energy of a child’s fall over a long period of time and over a great distance (when a child sinks into the surface and doesn’t rebound).
The following list explains the pros and cons of different types of surface materials available.
Bark soft-fall (composted lignin mulch)
|
Pros: Low initial cost |
Cons: Easily displaced Needs weekly maintenance and a top-up at least four times a year Impact absorption weakened if too shallow, wet, frozen or combined with dirt May conceal hazardous objects (eg. broken glass, syringes)Not suitable for wheelchair access |
Traps
- Watch out for timber-based products with sharp edges or product so fine it can be inhaled
- Must be installed to the suggested minimum depth of 40cm
Impact-absorbing sand
| Pros: Low initial cost Doesn’t deteriorate readily with usage Easy to install Readily available |
Cons: Combines with dirt; may compact May conceal hazardous objects (eg. broken glass, syringes) May conceal animal faeces Attractive to animals Easily displaced Not suitable for wheelchair access |
Traps
- Not all sand is good sand. Some sand types compact to concrete-like hardness. It must be impact-absorbing, suitable for playgrounds.
- Be sure to install to the suggested minimum depth of 40cm.
Wet pour rubber (AKA soft-fall rubber)
| Pros: Durable, low maintenance Water-permeable surface Environmentally friendly, as uses waste product Suitable for wheelchair access |
Cons: Can be expensive to install Can get very hot in summer Bounce can compound injuries Can be slippery when wet |
Traps
- A visual inspection cannot tell you a good rubberised surface from a poor one. Only certified testing can, so contact your school or council for information on their compliance testing if you are unsure.
Rubber tiles and pavers
| Pros: Durable, low-maintenance Water-permeable surface Suitable for wheelchair access Can be installed over concrete, asphalt or other hard surfaces |
Cons: Extremely expensive Often needs a level site Bounce can compound injuries Can be slippery when wet |
Traps
- Curling tiles can be a trip hazard.
- A visual inspection cannot tell you a good rubberised surface from a poor one. Only certified testing can, so contact your school or council for information on their compliance testing if you are unsure.
Bounce is bad
The big problem with rubber is it induces bounce. And when it comes to injury, bounce is bad: children can rebound several times on the injured part. Some companies overcome this problem with the insertion of polystyrene foam embedded in the rubber product. If you’re installing a playground they’re worth seeking out. But unfortunately, as a parent, there is no way of visually recognising a rubber playground surface with this protective property.
Maintenance
It’s no use having a perfectly installed playground surface, particularly of the high-maintenance bark mulch or sand variety, if it’s not regularly maintained. For sand or bark soft-fall, 30cm is the minimum safe surface depth and ideally, at least 40cm should be maintained at all times. In popular playground spaces, this means bark particularly should be raked on a weekly basis and topped up at least quarterly.
Protect your kids
If you’re putting a playground in at home:
- Take care getting the foundation right.
- Select a material you can and will maintain.
- Ensure you lay the material deep enough.
If you’re taking your child to the local playground:
- Be aware of how deep soft-fall materials need to be for safety.
- If the surface is rubber, be prepared to call your school or council and ask some hard questions about safety testing.
