Playground surfaces need to be capable of absorbing impact and reducing the risk of injury in the event of a fall. From compliance with standards to promoting innovation in surface design, testing playground surfaces is critical to the safety, maintenance, and longevity of playgrounds worldwide.
Safety
Its needs to be safe for children to play on. Testing ensures that the surface is capable of absorbing the impact of a fall, reducing the risk of injury.
Compliance
Different countries have different safety standards for it. Testing ensures that the surface meets the required safety standards in a specific country.
Maintenance
Regular testing helps to identify wear and tear on the surface, allowing for maintenance to be carried out promptly. This helps to ensure that the surface remains safe and functional for children to play on.
Liability
Playground operators and owners have a legal duty of care to ensure that the playground surface is safe for children. Testing helps to minimize the risk of accidents and can provide evidence that due diligence has been carried out.
Innovation
Testing can also help to drive innovation in playground surface design, leading to the development of new, safer, and more durable surfaces that can better protect children from injuries.
The governing bodies of playground surfaces can vary by country, region, or municipality. In the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sets safety standards for playground equipment and surfacing. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) also provides guidelines and testing standards for playground surfaces.
In the United Kingdom, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidelines and sets standards for playground surfaces.
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) provides standards for playground surfaces for use in the European Union.
In Australia, the Australian Standard for Playground Surfacing (AS 4685) sets out requirements for playground surfaces.
These are just a few examples of the governing bodies that regulate and set standards for it. It’s important to note that these standards and guidelines may differ based on the location and jurisdiction of the playground.
