Does your school playground have the “right” surfacing? Budget constraints are hitting schools harder than ever and many principals are trying to “get by” with what they have. Unfortunately, playground injuries go up when safety surfacing goes down.

We’re often asked, “What is the best surfacing choice for our playground?” This question is quickly followed by, “I need the cheapest surfacing I can buy.” However when it comes to safety surfacing, cheap is not always the best.

The 9″ (nine inch) Rule-of-Thumb: Although sand and pea gravel are acceptable products, a depth of 9 inches protects to a critical fall height of 4 and 5 fee respectively. Note: sand and pea gravel are not ADA-compliant options for any playground.

A compressed level of 9″ nine inches of Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) protects up to a critical fall height of seven (7) feet. The majority of school playgrounds’ upper platforms and climbers stop at six feet. However, it is not unusual to have a slide of eight feet or higher. Depending upon the manufacturer, 9″ (nine inches) of loose-fill rubber should protect a fall height of ten (10) feet.

EWF will always be less expensive, but you must remember, wood fiber breaks down over time and must be replenished every so often. Loose fill rubber, while it will cost more upfront, will last for years. So, if you can “bite the bullet” and spend a little bit more up front, loose-fill rubber will cost less in the long run.