Safe playground surfacing such as rubber mulch is important for providing our kids a safe place to play. For this very reason the standards for playground surfacing are more important now more than ever when we are constructing new playgrounds for our kids

This standard includes the rule of a minimum and maximum critical height for the equipment. A series of tests are performed to simulate falls and the results are given Head Injury Criterion (HIC) scores. The research pertains only to impact attenuation factors that cause falls.

2) Accessibility of Surface Systems

This standard involves the accessibility of safe playground surfacing materials for children with disabilities. Minimum specifications are set to make the equipment more accessible to wheelchair users and other physically disabled individuals.

3)Engineered Wood Fiber as a Safety Surface Material

Engineered wood fiber is included in to use in buffer zones around the playground equipment. Standards are set for the manufacture of the material that include size, purity and density. Engineered wood fiber is noted as a material that is not guaranteed to prevent injury.

4) Poured-In-Place Playground Surfacing

This standard lists the rules for the manufacture and installation of poured-in-place surfacing materials for playground equipment. Soft playground surfacing is designed to reduce a child’s force of impact with the ground. This standard includes maintenance requirements for the owners of playground equipment.

5) Loose-Fill Rubber as a Surface Material

Loose-fill rubber mulch is described as a protective material to use around playground equipment. This standard is designed for use by playground equipment manufacturers and operators along with the suppliers of loose-fill rubber. The minimum design requirements include particle size and the concentration of hazardous metals.

Setting professional standards for playground surfacing is necessary to prevent serious injury and death. These rules affect the minimum and maximum heights that swing sets or climbing bars are raised from the ground. Only soft playground surfacing is used around the equipment and tested before being installed. In addition, the ASTM meets every year to review and change their standards every few years. It’s important that all play equipment owners and operators follow the rules that are recommended by the ASTM