What are appropriate surfaces for playgrounds?
There are no perfect playground surfaces. Playground safety experts highly recommend the use of various loose-fill or synthetic surface materials. The selection of cushioned surfacing varies from playground to playground. Purchasers need to ask the following questions. Does it meet American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) standards and CPSC guidelines? Does it have a proven track record in similar climates? Is it readily available? What are the maintenance costs? Will it meet the playground’s needs as far as durability, drainage, and accessibility? Acceptable loose-fill materials include hardwood wooden fiber, shredded rubber, sand, and pea gravel. Recommended synthetic surfaces include rubber tiles, rubber mats, or synthetic poured surfaces. Loose-fill surfaces should be maintained to a depth proportionate to the height of the equipment. Manufacturers should provide testing results to indicate appropriate depth of surfacing materials. New surface materials are being developed d
