Playground Surfaces

Smithers Rapra has developed a level of expertise around the testing of various floor coverings & finishes for durability, wear & degradation. Smithers Rapra has been involved with the evaluation of Sports & Safety surfaces since the early 1970’s & were involved with the preparation of BS 7188.

Playground surfaces have become one of the most common surfaces we test.

The safety of impact absorbing playground surfaces is critically dependent on the quality of materials used & the workmanship involved during installation. A surface designed with child protection in mind is quite often an expensive but necessary choice & it is essential that all aspects of quality are checked through a correctly formulated quality plan including checks during laying & testing the finished installation.

Errors are extremely expensive, either for the contractor or the owner, & are usually difficult to correct once the installation of the surface has been completed.

The current standard for Impact absorbing playgrounds in the UK are BS 7188 & BS EN 1177 which cover tests for; critical fall height, Slip resistance, Indentation, Durability & Flammability.

Whether the playground safety surface is installed beneath a low level round-a-bout or a high climbing frame, the thickness & composition of the installed surface combined with the substrate must be adequate to protect a child from injury in the case of a slip or fall.

The friction characteristics of the surface must also prevent injuries occurring from slipping accidents. To ensure good service life, resistance to penetration & good wear performance needs to be maintained whilst being exposed to the elements. Playgrounds are increasingly prone to vandalism, some of the materials are potential fire hazards & flammability tests are also conducted to eliminate easily ignited materials.