inflatable

Poured-in-Place (PIP): is typically a one-piece, seamless EPDM rubber surface, usually about 3/8” thick, which is placed over a layer of cushioning from 1” to 5” inches deep, consisting of rubber particles bound playground surface together with a polyurethane binder. The surface comes in a wide range of colors and even mixtures of colors. Striking effects can be achieved, especially when the color is chosen to work with the colors of the play equipment or adjacent buildings. At considerable cost, this surface can also be configured as colorful designs. A typical poured-in-place surface meets national standards for safety and wheelchair accessibility.

On the downside, the sun’s rays and power washing may cause PIP colors to fade and degrade after a few years. Contrary to common opinion, a PIP surface is not maintenance-free. Removing debris, such as soda caps, dirt, and cigarette butts, has to be factored into ongoing costs. Its longevity varies and is often a function of the installer’s skill. But its main disadvantage is high cost, relative to engineered wood fiber.

ATP Rubberized Unitary Surface: ATP stands for Aliphatic Thermoplastic Monomer. Based on new technology, this surface also meets safety and accessibility standards. It consists of a layer of almost-spherical rubber particles, about one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter, which are chemically bound by a color-fast binder. This surface, in turn, is bonded to a layer of Engineered Recycled Foam (ERF) to absorb shock. The colors are vibrant, and they will not fade from the sun or power washing. As with PIP, its main disadvantage is high cost. But this limitation is somewhat offset by long life: Data from Europe and the U.S. indicate these surfaces have a useful life of at least 10 years.

Shredded rubber: Finding alternate uses for used tires has become an increasing burden for many municipalities. One use is to shred the tires to a particle size of about 1” by 1/8” and then use the loose particles as a playground surface, which absorbs shock effectively and meets the ASTM F1292 standard.

But there are certain drawbacks. The material moves around in a playground as children play, creating an uneven surface that is not wheelchair accessible. Wear areas under swings and at the base of slides are particularly prone to scuffing out. When this occurs, the thickness of the shredded rubber surface may not be enough to cushion falls from originally specified heights. There is also a risk of fire. Only a small number of such fires are reported each year, but they are apt to be extremely hot and may not respond to conventional fire-fighting equipment. When this occurs, the playground equipment above the surface may be totally destroyed.

Sand and gravel: The extent to which these surfaces meet safety standards depends on the exact type and depth of the material used. When sand is wet, the surface becomes hard and unyielding (think of walking along the beach at the water line). In such a condition, the ability of a sand surface to absorb impact is seriously compromised. Neither sand nor pea gravel meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act for wheelchair accessibility. Based on these prohibitive limitations, authorities agree that sand and pea gravel should never be used as a safety surface in playgrounds.

Beach at the water line. In such a condition, the ability of a sand surface to absorb impact is seriously based on these

Tags: playground surface, surface

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 10th, 2010 at 12:36 am and is filed under amusement equipment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.