While there is no legal requirement for a playground to have protective surfacing, it is recommended by a variety of safety organisations, including RoSPA, CAPT, BSI, and NPFA. Anything that can help improve the safety of a playground for children is not to be dismissed, and in this article, we’re going to run through the different surfaces available for a children’s playground.

Grass

Grass is one such surface that is used in playgrounds, and it carries a few benefits, as well as some drawbacks. One of the advantages of grass is its versatility – it can be used to around climbing frames, slides and other equipment, but can also be used for sports areas. However, despite its versatility, it isn’t the most durable of surfaces – it can get torn up easily, particularly if used after a spell of heavy rain. 

Synthetic surfacing

The synthetic surfacing option has three sub-types of its own: 

Tiles: Tiles are durable and enjoy a long life span, but their installation can be complex. 

Wet-pour: An efficient, durable surface that requires expert laying to ensure an effective, safe surfacing job. It may also come with a higher cost than other synthetic surfaces. 

Layered: An efficient surface, but of the three synthetic sub-types, this one requires the most maintenance. It can also be subject to wear and tear. 

Loose-fill materials

Materials in this category include sand, bark and pea shingle. Sand, in particular, provides a soft landing and has good impact-absorbing properties, but all loose-fill materials are easy to displace, whether that’s through general usage or deliberate action. 

In order to ensure that your playground has the safest possible surface, opt for the high quality work of UK Surfacings Ltd. For over 30 years, we’ve been providing our expertise for projects of all shapes and sizes, from primary school playgrounds to outdoor playing surfaces in public parks, working closely with local authorities and major contractors to ensure first class results and excellent value for money.

For more information about our playground surfacing work, please get in touch with us today and we’ll be happy to help.