What Can I use for Playground Flooring?

Have you ever wondered what is beneath a swingset or beneath a play pit? It's playground flooring, which has been built with safety and shock absorption in mind to keep youngsters active and safe while keeping parents at ease.

The effects of being on your feet all day might be detrimental to your health. If your job needs you to stand or walk for lengthy periods of time, you have two options: sturdy, durable rubber flooring that helps reduce fatigue, or fugly orthopaedic shoes.

Rubber tiles, mulch, matting, and synthetic turf are among options for playground flooring. It can be difficult to know where to begin if you're new to playground flooring. Let's have a look at it in more detail.

 

Playground Flooring Safety

The priority is always safety.


We talk a lot about "fall height" when it comes to playground flooring. A child's fall height is the highest point on which he or she may safely stand. The shock absorbency of the flooring is tested to estimate fall height.


The short version is that something like concrete has essentially no shock absorption — you wouldn't want your (or anyone else's) child to fall from a high playground structure onto hard concrete!


Thick, shock-absorbing playground flooring is carefully engineered to keep kids safe at various heights, ensuring that there is a solution for every need.


The thickness of the playground flooring determines the level of safety, fall height, and shock absorption. In other words, thicker tiles/mulch equals higher fall height, which allows you to use higher playground equipment.


Because safety is such a major concern, it's critical to be thorough and ensure that your flooring satisfies all safety requirements. Each type of tile, mulch, and turf has its own set of regulations and safety requirements.

 

 

What Are Playground Tiles?

The most common type of safety surfacing we supply is playground tiles. These tiles are available in a variety of colours and thicknesses.


Because playground tiles are porous, water may easily pass through them, guaranteeing a dry playing area even after a severe downpour. It's also simple to keep your playground tiles clean. To restore them to their former grandeur, all you need is a blower and a garden hose or broom.


Because safety is such a major concern, it's critical to be thorough and ensure that your flooring satisfies all safety requirements. Each type of tile, mulch, and turf has its own set of regulations and safety requirements. 

Pros of Playground Tiles

  • Safety: Playground tiles create a safe environment for children to run, jump, and even tumble while they are playing.
  • Playground tiles are a terrific way to create an appealing play area without having to use gallons of dirt or pebbles.
  • How many times did you get a rock in your shoe as a kid? Rubber playground tiles provide a safe and comfortable environment for children. 

Cons of Playground Tiles

  • Cost: Rubber playground tiles are costly, but we believe that the investment in safety is worthwhile. 

Playground Tile Fall Height Rating and Safety

When choosing a playground tile, one of the first things to consider is the fall height rating. The density of the tile determines this rating. It's also linked to the thickness of the tiles. The thicker the playground tile, the greater the fall rating in most cases, according to a general rule of thumb.


What is the definition of a fall height rating? That is a grade given to a safety surface that shows the maximum height at which a person can fall without being seriously injured. So, what are some of the most common fall height classifications? The fall ratings for various tile thicknesses are listed below.



Thickness

Fall Height

Recommended Usage

1"

1.5'

Landscape or No Falling Hazards

1.5"

2'

Landscape or No Falling Hazards

1.75"

3'

Landscape or No Falling Hazards

2.25"

4'

Most Residential Playgrounds

2.5"

6'

Most Residential Playgrounds

2.75"

6'

Most Residential Playgrounds

3.25"

8'

Residential and Commerical Playgrounds

3.5"

8'

Residential and Commercial Playgrounds

4"

10'

Residential and Commerical Playgrounds

  

 

Recommended Playground Accessories

In order to make sure everyone can enjoy playtime, we offer play fall edging that help eliminate tripping hazards.

We also offer Foam Playpads used in conjunction with Playfall rubber tiles to increase absorption for fall heights 6 feet and higher. Available in 1" and 2" thicknesses, these 4' x 5' mats are used as the base for the Playfall Tiles.