Knowledge Builders

what is the rubber stuff in playgrounds called

by Walton Langworth DVM Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Researching playground surfacing means you're going to learn about poured rubber, also commonly called pour-in-place (PIP) rubber or poured playground surface.

Full Answer

What is the difference between rubber playground safety tiles and poured playgrounds?

Unlike rubber playground safety tiles, poured playground surfaces are seamless. Poured-in-Place rubber playground surface, customized for your play space. The rubber playground surface material we use is also highly-customizable for depth, color, shape, and design.

What is a rubber crumb playground?

The texture of a rubber crumb play surface is produced during the manufacturing process of recycled crumb playground rubber tiles. Instead of being melded together, recycled crumb playground floor material is bonded together using an adhesive – producing a texture rather than a smooth surface.

What type of playground surface material do you use?

The rubber playground surface material we use is also highly-customizable for depth, color, shape, and design.

What is the best playground flooring for kids?

Rubber playground tiles offer cushioned playing surface options that also provide a sure footing for kids. These tiles use recycled tires. So this type of playground safety flooring has some environmental benefits too. Just as importantly, rubber playground flooring provides a high level of durability.

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What is the rubber mat at the playground?

Playground Rubber Mulch On a playground, rubber surfaces are a popular safety option. Rubber mulch surfacing can protect children from injuries resulting from falls from playground climbers and other equipment. This type of playground safety padding is one of the more popular playground surface options.

What is playground material called?

Playground surface feature comparisonSurface typeASTM 1292 protectionCost range/sq.ft.Poured rubber surfacing (flooring)YesHighPlayground rubber tilesYesHighArtificial turf grassYesHighRubber mulchYesMedium9 more rows

What is playground turf called?

Synthetic Turf Synthetic turf is easy to maintain, and you do not need to worry about objects getting lost in the “grass.” Synthetic turf is also an accessible playground surface material. Like other unitary surfaces, synthetic turf is more expensive than loose-fill surfaces and requires professional installation.

What is the material on the floor of playgrounds?

Rubber mulch, engineered wood fiber (EWF), playground sand, pea gravel and other bulk materials are considered loose-fill material. While loose-fill material has the least expensive upfront costs and is easy to install, it also requires more frequent maintenance to stay within safety and ADA guidelines.

What is this playground equipment?

Playground Equipment means any apparatus which is designed for recreational use in a playground and includes swings, seesaws, stationary spring-mounted animal features, rider- propelled merry-go-rounds, climbers, slides, trampolines and physical fitness devices; Sample 1.

What do you fill a playground area with?

Top 5 Playground Surface Materials1.) Solid Rubber Surface. This is first on the list because it's not only the safest, but it requires the least amount of maintenance. ... 2.) Artificial Grass or Turf. ... 3.) Play Sand and Pea Gravel. ... 4.) Rubber Mulch (Nuggets or Shredded) ... 5.) Engineered Wood Fiber aka: EWF.

What is the soft ground at playground?

EWF is the most cost-effective loose-fill material for playground surfacing and has superior abilities for cushioning falls or impacts. Loose-fill surfaces, like EWF, are easy to install and maintain to adesired depth. Other examples of loose-fill include sand, pea gravel and wood chips.

What is poured rubber?

Poured rubber is playground flooring that's seamless and contains very small rubber granules that are stuck together. It's not a loose material (like rubber mulch, wood chips, sand, or dirt). It's a “solid” rubber surface for playgrounds or unitary playground surface, meaning that it's not made up of rubber tiles.

How much is pour in place rubber?

On average, poured-in-place rubber costs about $16 per square foot. But high-end products like extra thick material and more complex projects can cost up to $25 per square foot. This number depends on the thickness, color and square footage.

Is rubber mulch toxic?

While wood mulch continues to be a popular option for playground safety, rubber mulch made from recycled rubber has been proven to be a non-toxic alternative that may provide better fall protection and long-term value.

How much is wet pour rubber?

Wet Pour Rubber Cost (Installed) Depending on safety requirements, color choices, patterns, the condition of the existing surface, location, and a few other factors, the cost of a poured rubber surface for a 1,000+ sq. ft. area generally ranges between $8 to $14 per sq. ft.

What material is playground equipment made of?

The most common plastic used for playground equipment, including slides, is high-density polyethylene, or HDPE.

What materials are used in playground equipment?

Timber and steel are still the main materials used in equipment. Safety standards and surfacing have improved so children are less likely to hurt themselves while playing on the equipment.

What is the best material to use as ground covering?

Sand has long been the ground cover of choice for play areas, most likely due to its affordable cost and ability to absorb falls.

How is Poured in Place surfacing installed?

Poured in place rubber safety surfacing is mixed and hand-troweled on site. The surface depth is set to meet or exceed ADA safety standards for pla...

How long does playground surfacing last?

Both poured in place and rubber tile flooring can last as long as 12-15 years. If maintained properly, this lifespan is VERY attainable. The longev...

How can I save money on poured rubber playground surfacing?

Poured in place surfacing can be installed in a variety of different ways to meet different budgets. The best way to save on the materials and inst...

Is my playground or pool too small for a poured rubber surface? What are my options?

Poured rubber surfacing is a safe, durable and excellent flooring choice for most playgrounds and swimming pool surrounds (also called “rubber pool...

What playground flooring design options are there?

Designs can be as unique as your playground. Okay, so we may be biased, but one of the coolest things about poured in place surfacing for playgroun...

What is rubber playground flooring?

Sometimes called “wet pour rubber flooring”, “rubberized playground surfacing”, “safety flooring for playgrounds”, or “playground base”, it can be installed when a playground is being built or for an existing playground. Unlike rubber playground safety tiles, poured playground surfaces are seamless.

How can I save money on poured rubber playground surfacing?

The best way to save on the materials and installation cost is to use a 50/50 color/black mix. The colored rubber is still dominant in appearance. Believe it or not, the colored rubber is the most expensive portion of the cost of installation. We are happy to help our customers find ways to achieve the look they desire and save money in the process. Check out our playground installation project gallery, which includes mostly 50/50 black/color installs. This will give you an idea of what your project could look like utilizing a 50/50 color/black mix.

How long does playground surfacing last?

Both poured in place and rubber tile flooring can last as long as 12-15 years. If maintained properly, this lifespan is VERY attainable. The longevity it this flooring product is one of its biggest selling points. Please see our product warranty.

What playground flooring design options are there?

Designs can be as unique as your playground. Okay, so we may be biased, but one of the coolest things about poured in place surfacing for playgrounds, is that design and color options are almost limitless.

What is PIP rubber?

The rubber playground surface material we use is also highly-customizable for depth, color, shape, and design. The pour-in-place (PIP) method allows us to install a recreational flooring surface that is not only safe (it’s a soft playground surface, which is why some people refer to it as a “playground foam surface”) and durable, but also practically limitless in design options. Because the components are mixed and applied on site, school colors, logos, games and/or geometric shapes can be permanently incorporated into the surface allowing for a visually appealing and even functional rubber surface design.

What is stenciling in playground?

Stenciling is a really attractive way to add unique designs to make your playground surface stand out. We’ve worked on playground surface stencils in a variety of shapes, such as stars, suns, moons, clouds, butterflies, and even school logos or mascots. Read more….

What is recycled rubber?

Recycled rubber: Rubber surface materials made from post consumer and pre/post-industrial recycled flooring materials. Porous, ideal for outdoor or indoor flooring surfaces that might get wet. Customizable designs with 24 standard colors and combinations.

What is the best material for a playground?

Compared to various other materials, rubber mulch provides superior fall protection and is the best material for playground surface for both commercial and residential use.

What is the most popular playground surfacing material?

Playground wood chips have been the most popular playground surfacing material for years, despite needing regular replacement and causing splinters and slivers. Wood chips decay over time, attract pests, can be blown or washed away in harsh weather.

How to reduce the chance of playground injuries?

Reduce the chance of playground injuries by utilizing rubber mulch. Unlike other playground surface materials, rubber mulch will not compact or turn into a hard surface, even after frequent use. It will continue to provide superior fall protection, keeping your playground safe through many years of daily use.

How much fall protection does sand provide?

Playground sand provides up to 5 feet of fall protection, compared to rubber mulch clearance of 10 to 12 feet, and it compacts quickly upon impact, making for a more painful fall. Sand is messy, gets scorchingly hot in the sun, and attracts animals like a giant litterbox.

What is pour and play?

Pour N’ Play Playground Surfacing. Pour N’ Play (sometimes called PlayPour or Pour and Play) consists of rubber granules combined into a solid surface. This prevents the material from getting pushed out of the way and absorbs some of the impacts from falls.

How deep should rubber play flooring be?

For residential play area application, a depth of 3” rubber playground flooring is recommended. This will provide incredible fall protection for residential play areas. Depending on the structure in your backyard, you can adjust the depth accordingly.

Is rubber mulch safe for children?

Rubber mulch is non-toxic and safe for use around children and pets. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a playground safety surfacing guideline for public playgrounds, stating rubber mulch is an appropriate loose-fill surfacing material for use on commercial playgrounds.

What is rubber playground?

With a rubber playground surface residential product, kids will receive cushioned surfaces to guard against a tumble. They also provide a sure footing for young ones. These often use recycled tires. So they have environmental benefits too.

Why do playground mats need to be placed under swings?

Rubberized outdoor playground mats for under swings are designed to help prevent ground erosion. They protect locations with high traffic from wear and tear. They’re not used for cushioning. When placed under a set of swings, heavier material is required than what’s placed at the end of a slide. They require weight to stay in place.

What plastic has interlocking edges?

Another option with interlocking edges is PVC plastic. We stock many different levels of hardness. Select harder for extra durability and softer for flexibility and comfort.

How thick is bounce back tile?

Bounce Back Tiles range from 1.75 to 4 inches in thickness. They have falling protection ratings of 3 to 10 ft. They are highly durable and are backed by a 10 year warranty.

What happens when you raise a plastic base?

With a raised base, air can flow between the ground and the underside of the plastic. This airflow removes moisture, reducing the chance of odor , mildew, and mold forming underneath.

Why are ramped borders used?

Because they are modular, they're usable in multiple coverage areas. To expand later on, just add onto the edges. Nearly all of our designs have ramped borders (sometimes sold separately) to yield a smooth, safe transition.

Do you need a level base for indoor playgrounds?

Indoor installations only require a level base. Lay playground mats directly on the subfloor. Plastics, foam, or rubber work here.

Why is the sandbox game extinct?

Thanks to the danger of getting smacked in the face, plus the steady stream of broken/jammed fingers as a result of kids hitting the pole instead of the ball , this game is slowly becoming extinct on public playgrounds.

What are swing seats made of?

Swing seats today must be made of vandal-proof rubber or some similar protectively coated material. It’s hard to find those thick steel or wooden seats that chipped many a tooth when they were thrown just so. The chains no longer have open S loops, and are quite often coated in vinyl … no more going home with orange palms from grasping rusty chains. And the swingsets aren’t nearly as tall, which takes a lot of the fun out of jumping from the seat when you’re at the highest point in your arc.

What is a scuba diver made of?

Or whatever they’re properly called. Today they’re all lightweight plastic with coated springs. But the real deal was made of solid steel, as was the coil beneath it. Heavy duty fun for all!

Is the playground safe?

Thanks to state laws and personal injury lawyers, the landscape of the typical playground has changed a lot over the years, making it a safer and more “educationally interactive” environment. On the other hand, maybe those rough-and-tumble recreation areas of yesteryear served as an early life lesson that the world was a harsh and unforgiving place. A place where Mom’s only admonition was “If you fall and break your neck, don’t come crying to me!” If you remember proudly displaying your stitches or plaster cast as a badge of honor after suffering a fall from the monkey bars, then you may also remember playing on some of this other equipment that is slowly disappearing from our public playscapes. (Sure, you might see versions of these things on playgrounds, but let's face it—they don't make them like they used to.)

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1.Top 5 Playground Surface Materials - Noahs Park and …

Url:https://noahsplay.com/blog/noahsplaytop-5-playground-surface-materials/

18 hours ago The rubber stuff in playgrounds is called crumb rubber and it is available in the form of interlocking tiles. The playground surfacing tiles are made of recycled crumb rubber that derives from post-consumer vehicle tires that have been ground up into a fine crumble and glued back together to form a solid product.

2.Playground Flooring with Poured-in-Place Rubber

Url:https://adventureturf.com/poured-in-place/playground-surfacing/

28 hours ago Poured-in-place rubber is also called poured rubber, wet pour rubber, pour-in-place rubber (PIP), rubber playground turf, bonded rubber stone, or a playground foam surface. There’s both pros and cons of using it for playgrounds, as with any playground surface.

3.Playground Rubber Mulch | Best Rubber Mulch® Safety …

Url:https://bestrubbermulch.com/usedfor/playgrounds/

16 hours ago Crumb rubber in the form of playground rubber tiles offer excellent anti-slip properties that can help prevent slip and fall accidents even when moisture is present on their surface. Rubber is naturally a traction-enhancing, non-slip material; however, the surface texture produced by crumb rubber further enhances the tiles’ non-slip properties.

4.Playground Flooring Mats, Tiles and Turf Surfaces

Url:https://www.greatmats.com/playground-flooring.php

32 hours ago  · Sometimes called “wet pour rubber flooring”, “rubberized playground surfacing”, “safety flooring for playgrounds”, or “playground base”, it can be installed when a playground is being built or for an existing playground. Unlike rubber playground safety tiles, poured playground surfaces are seamless. Poured-in-Place rubber playground surface, customized for your play …

5.11 Playground Essentials They Don't Make Like They …

Url:https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/52670/11-playground-essentials-they-dont-make-they-used

24 hours ago UltraTile™ Play is a patented product that combines an ultra-durable top wear layer and resilient underlayment – into one extraordinary rubber tile. Its expected life is more than 100% longer than other rubber playground tiles. Learn More

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