Safety Surfacing and Flooring Types for Climbing Frames
It is a requirement that all climbing frames and playground equipment for commercial use are installed with an adequate safety surface or floor. It is important that the correct safety flooring is used with individual climbing frames and kids play equipment. The thickness of the safety surface that is needed will depend on the critical fall height of the particular play frame it is being used with, and therefore this will also determine the type of safe flooring that will suit the climbing frame.
For domestic climbing frame use or for other domestic play equipment, it is strongly encouraged that you think about installing a safety surface, particularly with larger climbing frames. However it is not compulsory and is down to the owner of the climbing frame or the parents of the children who will be playing on it.
Seek advice about different safety surfaces to determine whether they will suit your climbing frame and garden. Types of safety flooring/ surfaces available include:
Rubber Bark:
Rubber bark chippings used for safety flooring is recycled rubber that has been shredded. It is an ideal surface for use with commercial and domestic play sets and has a few advantages over natural bark or wood chippings. Rubber bark does not break down like natural bark and therefore requires much less maintenance and does not need replacing very often at all. Rubber bark also does not attract animals in the same way as wood chippings and is in general easier to clean when necessary. Rubber chippings are available in different colours which make them a slightly more exciting safety surface for play areas.
Natural/Wooden Bark:
The best thing about natural bark safety flooring is that it is environmentally friendly. It has many disadvantages however, making it way down the list of top safety surfaces for children’s play equipment. Natural bark is not so absorbent as rubber bark and other surfaces and therefore a greater depth of chippings is needed which can mean more money! Wooden chippings degrade quickly compared to rubber flooring types and therefore needs to be regularly replaced. Wooden bark is high maintenance and does attract a lot of bugs and other animals.
Rubber/Grass Mats:
Rubber grass matting is an environmentally friendly solution to safety flooring for playgrounds or domestic climbing frames. These mats are generally made from recycled rubber and provide a great non-slip safety flooring for large play areas or for use with play frames. These mats are capable of high impact absorption and are a fantastic investment that will last for years.
Bonded Rubber Bark:
Bonded rubber safety flooring is similar to wet pour but is a cheaper alternative. Rubber mulch is bound together with a resin which acts like a glue and when dry, it creates a smooth and springy safety surface with no risk of tripping. Bonded rubber provides a fantastic shock absorbing floor for use in playgrounds and underneath play frames and other play equipment. Bonded rubber mulch is also available in a range of colours, making play time more exciting.
Wet Pour:
Granulate wet pour rubber safety flooring is made with top quality materials and once installed it has a continuous non-slip finish. Wet pour is available in a huge range of different colours and it can make extremely attractive and highly absorbent safety flooring for any play area.
Every safety surface has its own advantages and disadvantages so not all types will be to everyone’s taste or requirement. Speak to a professional before installing a safety surface in your garden at home or in a commercial play area.
For help and advice with the installation of climbing frames and safety flooring, contact the climbing frame installers now at install@climbingframeinstaller.co.uk. Our experienced team of professional climbing frame builders are here to help.
