That rubber stuff in playgrounds is called safety surfacing, often made from recycled tires, and comes in forms like poured-in-place (PIP) rubber (seamless), rubber tiles, or rubber mulch, all designed to absorb impact and prevent injuries from falls. It's also known as soft-fall, wet pour rubber, or crumb rubber, providing a cushioned, durable, and accessible surface.
The rubber stuff in playgrounds is called crumb rubber and it is available in the form of interlocking tiles. The playground surfacing tiles are made of recycled crumb rubber that derives from post-consumer vehicle tires that have been ground up into a fine crumble and glued back together to form a solid product.
While we are continually creating and developing new types of playground equipment, the names of playground equipment are typically broad categories of classic play structures. Swings, slides, playground climbers, see saws, merry-go-rounds, spring riders, and tubes are just a taste of playground equipment's variety.
Playground surfacing, sometimes referred to as safety surfacing, is the material used underneath play equipment, such as play sets, swings, slides and monkey bars. This material usually comes from rubber, wood, sand, pea gravel or another type of recyclable product.
Pour-in-place rubber is a unique product that offers a cushioned, shock-absorbing surface that looks great all year round with minimal upkeep. This low maintenance requirement makes Aloro's wet pour rubber surfacing kit a great option for home gyms, playgrounds, walkways, patios and verandahs.
This makes playground rubber mulch a top choice for areas under swings and at the base of tall slides. It also meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines for playground safety, making it a trusted choice for schools, parks, and backyard play areas.
Black EPDM wet pour granules are used to create impact-absorbing rubber crumb safety surfaces, traditionally used in play areas, playgrounds and other recreational areas. This safety surfacing solution is highly popular with nurseries, schools and universities.
Poured-in-place rubber is a two-layer surface with a bottom layer of solid rubber and a top layer of rubber granules. It can last anywhere from 10-15 years, and it does not require heavy maintenance because it is one of our most durable surfacing options.
Modern playgrounds usually include a combination of swings, slides, climbers, spring riders, spinners, and sensory panels to maximize fun, safety, and accessibility. Many new types of playground equipment will also help improve coordination, strength, and critical thinking (among other benefits).
Rubber surfacing is a type of flexible and durable flooring made primarily from recycled rubber materials. Often mixed with a binding agent and poured in place or applied as tiles, it creates a seamless, cushioned, and weather-resistant surface.
A roundabout (British English), merry-go-round (American English), or carousel (Australian English), is a piece of playground equipment, a flat disk, frequently about 2 to 3 metres (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) in diameter, with bars on it that act as both hand-holds and something to lean against while riding.
Material Options. For today's commercial playgrounds, the most common surfacing materials are rubber, synthetic turf and engineered wood fiber or mulch.
Children volunteer to be a Playground Pal and make the commitment to help encourage happy and sociable play-times. They will be a point of contact for children during breaks and can help encourage games, make sure no-one feels alone and are able to sort out any minor concerns.
What is Rubber Softfall? Rubber softfall is a form of impact attenuation matting that is made from multiple layers of rubber.
Modern and New Playground Types and Names
Installing the Product
The rubber used on playgrounds is most likely safety surfacing such as recycled rubber mulch or poured-in-place rubber. Safety surfacing is the primary way that rubber is used on playgrounds. There are a handful of different types of rubber surfacing, but they share some similarities.
Modern playgrounds often have recreational equipment such as the seesaw, merry-go-round, swingset, slide, jungle gym, chin-up bars, sandbox, spring rider, trapeze rings, playhouses, and mazes, many of which help children develop physical coordination, strength, and flexibility, as well as providing recreation and ...
Make sure surfaces around playground equipment have at least 12 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand, or pea gravel, or are mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials. Check that protective surfacing extends at least 6 feet in all directions from play equipment.
Playground safety surfacing often involves the use of recycled rubber tire products such as poured rubber, rubber tiles or loose rubber mulch.
In its Public Playground Safety Handbook, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends using rubber mulch on playgrounds to cushion children's falls.
Poured-in-place rubber is an innovative surfacing solution that is created from recycled rubber materials. The rubber granules are mixed and bonded together in order to allow for a seamless pour, and multiple layers can allow you to achieve the look and functionality that you desire for your space.
The deeper you want the rubber surfacing, the higher the cost will be, but the safer the playground will ultimately be as well. The average cost of poured in place rubber is approximately $10-$15 per square foot, depending on the options selected.
Cons of Rubber Mulch
Rubber mulch can also get very hot in the sun. This can be problematic for plants that prefer cooler soil temperatures. Additionally, there are concerns about the potential leaching of chemicals from the rubber into the soil.
While there are many playground surfacing options available, engineered wood fiber (EWF) best playground surface material for affordability. It offers a good balance of cost, safety, and accessibility, making it a popular option for any playground surface.