What are the different types of playground surfaces?
To provide the safest playground surfaces, use materials that are shock-absorbing and are regularly inspected and maintained. Loose fill materials such as shredded rubber, sand, or wood fiber or chips are some of the safest. Playground surfaces made with recycled rubber and PVC materials, such as shredded tires, provide suitable cushioning and are also considered environmentally friendly. Other playground surfaces that absorb-shock and therefore rank as acceptable include rubber mats or fine or medium gravel of suitable depth. Playground surfaces that are not recommended include concrete, asphalt, grass or soil. The problem with grass or soil lies in the fact that over time it becomes hard and packed. Loose fill materials must be maintained at a sufficient depth and should not be installed over any hard surface, such as asphalt or concrete. The depth varies according to the material and to the height of the equipment. One advantage of a loose fill playground surface is that it relative
