A playground is more than just a place to play. It is a meeting place, a space for physical activity and a place of learning – and a key component of liveable towns and communities. To ensure that children can play together, explore and move about freely, we need safe, durable and, as far as possible, accessible solutions. The right surface plays a key role in this. Fall protection systems made from recycled rubber granules can help to effectively combine safety requirements, accessibility and the use of secondary raw materials.
Creating accessible play areas promotes inclusion
Children should be able to play together regardless of their physical abilities. Modern play areas must therefore not only be safe – they should also minimise barriers and enable as many people as possible to use them.
Bound safety surfacing systems made from recycled rubber granules offer key properties for this purpose.
Unlike loose materials such as sand, loose gravel or wood chips, this creates level, wheelchair-accessible and barrier-free pathways. Children with mobility impairments, as well as those using walkers or walking aids, also benefit from continuous surfaces and safe crossings. This allows for the creation of inclusive play areas that cater to different needs and support the widest possible range of users.
Different systems for individual requirements
NEW LIFE partners offer a range of safety surfacing solutions for local authorities, schools, nurseries and other playground operators. Seamless safety surfacing – such as that from REGUPOL – is installed directly on site. It allows for custom shapes and can be adapted to different fall heights. Seamless systems open up additional possibilities, particularly in densely built-up urban areas or on rooftop playgrounds.
Safety surfacing tiles – from manufacturers including Conradi+Kaiser, KRAIBURG Relastec and Regupol – offer a robust, cost-effective and easily replaceable solution. Individual elements can be easily replaced as required. Different thicknesses allow for adaptation to the required fall height of play equipment. Coloured EPDM surfaces create attractive and durable play areas with a high degree of design freedom.
Properties compared with alternative fall protection materials
The substrate is a determining factor not only in terms of safety, but also in terms of maintenance requirements and long-term usability.
Whilst loose materials need to be spread, topped up or replaced on a regular basis, bonded safety surfacing systems made from recycled rubber granules can result in less material loss under comparable conditions of use and – depending on usage, site conditions and the maintenance plan – require less topping up and maintenance. At the same time, these elastic surfaces offer shock-absorbing properties and enable the creation of permanently visually appealing surface designs.
Economic considerations also play an important role for local authorities
Depending on site conditions, usage and the level of maintenance required, higher initial investment costs may be offset in the long term by lower maintenance and upkeep costs. This can result in economic benefits over the entire life cycle.
Safe, inclusive and sustainable play areas are therefore not just an investment in infrastructure – but also in quality of life, social inclusion and the city of tomorrow.