Safety Surfaces

While we advise customers to always use safety surfaces, there is no legal obligation when play equipment is for private domestic use.

However, if the equipment is to be used by the public, the situation is different and the implications of an accident can be very serious. As a result, commercially approved safety surfacing is essential.
The design of your safety area is determined by the height of your play equipment. This ‘maximum free fall height’ will allow you to calculate both the depth and extent of your safety area.

Depth
The depth of a safety surface is determined by the maximum fall height.
Below 0.6m, play equipment does not require a safety surface
Above 0.6m you have 2 main choices;
Loose - e.g. Rubber Mulch, Bark, Chippings, Playsand
Fixed - e.g. Wetpour, Playtiles, Grassmat, Lawnmat

Each material has it's advantages and disadvantages and we have more data on on our web pages but in summary;
While more expensive initially, synthetic materials tend to very hard wearing, consistent and require little maintenance.
Natural products are cheaper initially, more aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly but require topping up and the safety depth can vary. 

Extent
Below 0.6m, play equipment does not require safety surface
Above 0.6m, the minimum extent is 1.5m.
Above 1.5m fall height, you need to add 66% of the excess above 1.5m, an example may help!
e.g. for a 2.1m high deck, 2.1m - 1.5m = 0.6m excess
0.6m x 66% = 0.4m
1.5m + 0.4m = 1.9m extent

For swings the guidelines are different.
Assembled on synthetic materials (e.g. wetpour, grassmat, playtiles) measure the length of the chains ('suspension member') and times this by 0.867, then add 1.75m.
Maybe another example would help...
e.g. If chains are 2m long x 0.867 + 1.75 = 3.5m both front and back (7m total)

For swings assembled on loose-fill materials (e.g. bark, chippings, rubber mulch) measure the length of the chains ('suspension member') and times this by 0.867, then add 2.25m.
Using the same example...
e.g. Chains are 2m long x 0.867 + 2.25 = 4m both front and back (8m total)