Rubber Playground Surfacing
Attractive, Durable and Safe

One of the greatest innovations in playground safety has been the recent trend to require resilient  surfaces in kid's play areas. Many public facilities are now required to meet strict standards when it comes to protecting children from injuries caused by falling from playground equipment. While these regulations do not necessarily apply to backyard play areas, the danger and risk of injury is ever-present there as well.

Recycled rubber playground tiles and rubber playground mulch offer the best protection against injuries in this environment. In addition to improving safety, these products are aesthetically attractive and extremely durable. Rubber playground materials are available for every kind of playground application and environment.

Fall Height Protection is the phrase that is used to describe the amount of impact attenuation offered by a playground surfacing material. Some applications, a toddlers play area at a day care center for example, may not contain tall playground equipment and therefore will not have much of a fall height protection requirement. In this kind of facility, a relatively thin rubber play surface may be all that is required to create a safe environment. For this type of application, colorful resilient rubber tiles and interlocking mats are available in thicknesses ranging from 3/8" to 1".

On the other end of the spectrum is the typical playground facility that contains swings, jungle gyms and climbing walls. An area such as this can have fall height protection requirements of ten feet or more. A child, or even an adult falling onto a hard surface from a significant height can suffer life altering injuries. For this environment, special playground tiles have been developed that meet the government impact protection specifications from fall heights of up to twelve feet. These Recycled Rubber Playground Tiles come in a variety of sizes, thicknesses and colors.

Using Rubber Mulch is another excellent way create a safe surface under playground equipment. Rubber Mulch is basically old tires that have been ground into small pieces. When a layer of this material is placed around play equipment it can provide provide the same kind of fall height protection that is offered by the playground tiles. The thicker the layer, the more impact protection. Rubber mulch is available in several grades and many colors.

Uncolored black rubber mulch is the most economical playground surfacing product available. For those who want a more attractive play area, a wide variety of colored rubber mulch products are available as well. Some of the best materials are specially shaped and offered in natural looking colors designed to mimic organic materials. This premium grade of rubber mulch is nearly indistinguishable from high quality organic mulch or wood chips. The difference is that this material provides more than twice the amount of impact protection as the organic materials and it will not rot or attract animals or insects.

Regardless of whether you use playground tiles or rubber mulch, a play area covered with these kinds of materials will provide the highest level protection against fall-related injuries. For more information about these and other athletic flooring products offered by Diamond Safety Concepts, please visit our Rubber Playground Surfacing Products page.