How Cold Is Too Cold For Recess?

How Cold Is Too Cold For Recess?

Many school districts understand the importance of getting kids outside to play and let loose. This is good for their health and their minds. However, if the weather is too hot or too cold outside, recess is often denied. So, how cold is too cold for recess? Let’s take a closer look at how schools make this determination.

School Districts And Temperature Standards

Each school district across the country has their own temperature standards. The reason why each district has their own unique standard has to do with their location. Schools that are located in a warmer climate will have a different standard than schools situated in a colder region. Each district has to take many considerations into account before making a decision. The school district’s main hub will advise schools if they should cancel or not. Also, many independent schools can also make their own decisions about this issue.

Sof’Fall works hard to make sure that your children have a safe place to play. Playground safety is important because getting outside and playing is so important for our children’s learning. 

 

considerations for cancelling recess in the cold weather?

Schools will evaluate many things before calling off recess when it’s cold. First, they’ll consider if the air temperature. If it is too cold outside to begin with, they will call recess off. Most schools that experience cold or extreme cold climates will cancel recess when the temperature is at 32 degrees. The 32-degree marker is the freezing point. This is when most people can start to develop frostbite. The risk of frostbite and hypothermia for children increases at this age. Since schools are always concerned about a child’s safety, they will cautiously send their children out in the chilly weather.

Wind Chill

The wind chill will also factor into a school’s decision to send kids out to recess. When the wind blows on a cold day, it could easily cause the temperature to drop to an unsafe level. They know that blowing wind chills will cause kids to lose their body heat at a faster rate. Allowing kids to run and fall onto a rough playground surface could be similar to kids falling on a hard, rocky surface. Safe playground surfacing is very important in cold weather. Soft playground equipment is also considered for its ability to hold up in cold weather conditions.

Other Considerations For A Cold Recess

Schools will also think about things such as the condition of the playground area and how it will impact kids. A playground surface will usually be freezing and very hard when it’s cold outside. Even soft playground material will also be hardened by cold weather. Freezing temperatures do impact soft playground surfaces because most of it is made of metal. Even if the equipment is made of soft playground material such as rubber, foam or plastic; the cold can make it hard. If the temperatures are really freezing outside, a child’s skin could even stick to some of the material. So, schools also consider safe playground surfacing and equipment before sending kids out in the cold

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Winter Uses For Rubber Bark

Winter Uses For Rubber Bark

You may not realize that the use of rubber mulch and rubber bark in the winter months has numerous benefits. Although using those playground surfacing materials all year long is the most popular and helpful use as they provide a comfortable, springy, and soft cushion when someone falls, in the winter they can also be a boon for your flower bed.

“If you think Sof’Fall engineered wood fibers are only good for soft playground surfacing then you will be amazed when you see how many other uses there are for it.”

You can remove the weeds, lay down weed fabric, and add the rubber. The attractive appearance and mood-influencing sights boost the spirits of those people with the very real seasonal affective disorder.

 

Sof’Fall has so many other uses outside of being a safe playground surfacing material. There are seemingly countless uses for high quality wood bark.

great uses for rubber bark

Rubber mulch is made from recycled old tires after they are stripped of their metal parts. The mulch and bark are durable, long-lasting, stays in place, won’t decompose or decay over time, do not attract insects and termites, battles mildew and mold, discourages weed germination, does not fade as fast as wood mulch, won’t blow away or float during high winds and heavy rains, allows fertilizer and water to pass through to the soil, is environmentally friendly, and is EPA-approved, IPEMA-certified, non-toxic, and ADA-compliant. It is perfect for playgrounds that require the highest rating for protective surfacing and continues to grow in popularity for a variety of reasons in gardens, landscaping and park projects.

In addition, rubber mulch in the winter requires little maintenance and can last for ten years or more compared to wood mulch, which usually requires replacement every year. Another winter use is to make your bare and slippery walkways and footpaths slip-proof with its beneficial traction to hopefully prevent any accidents from the snow and rain when walking outdoors.

A colorful alternative to add some life

Brighten up the landscape with a choice of beautiful colors in vibrant greens that will create an ongoing “dream” and remembrance of your warm-weather sunny garden. You will feel like you have extended the spring and summer months despite what the weather actually is.

When kids use a playground and eventually take a tumble, the right surface is important to keep the little ones safe and protected against injuries with shredded rubber playground mulch that is safe and resilient rubberized playground flooring.

Rubber mulch is one of the longest-lasting varieties, and more uses include keeping the plants vibrant and healthy, being able to retain moisture and block evaporation, and require only around half the amount of wood mulch, which makes its higher original cost actually cost-effective over time.

Playground surfacing and garden uses in beds of bushes or plants make the rubber alternatives an excellent choice for the many reasons given above, so be sure to check with your garden center, professional landscaping company or construction contractor about all its uses. The recycled rubber of the mulch and rubber bark will not only make for comfort on the playground, which requires the protective surfacing highest rating, but it will also be an attractive addition to your garden and landscape.

 

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Benefits of Rubber Mulch in Winter

Benefits of Rubber Mulch in Winter

People who live in Utah know that cold, ice, rain, and snow are all part of winter. It will take some effort and some rubber mulch to protect their plants and gardens. Rubber material mulch is also one of the best types of playground materials. This is a way playgrounds, gardens, and landscapes can be preserved until September It is important to winterize and rubber mulch is a great way to prepare for the cold. It has been proven to work better in the winter than engineered wood fibers material.

Temperature Control

When it comes to plants, rubber material acts as an important barrier. It can provide insulation on the ground. Rubber material maintains a layer of warmth next to the ground. This helps in a number of ways.

We don’t limit the incredible uses of Sof’Fall to just providing the safest playground surfacing material.

It will keep cold air from affecting plant stems and root systems. Rubber material can also be used on or around a compost bin. This will stabilize the temperature. Doing this will make it possible for a garden and landscaping to be available faster when spring arrives.

Freezing And Ice

Rubber material does not absorb water. This means it will not cause a slippery situation or frostbite in a person’s yard. Some moisture can still get to the plants. This is something needed all year and applies to shrubs as well as trees. They are often damaged by the cold ground having a lack of moisture.

Rain And Wind

Blizzards and winter storms can cause significant drops in temperature. This is how a person’s plants and landscaping can be damaged. Rubber material is long-lasting and heavy. There is no reason to worry about this mulch washing away in a rainstorm.

Brighten Landscape

Using brightly colored rubber material can improve the appearance of winter landscaping. Various colors can be used to signify a favorite season. It is a way to extend summer or spring. The yellows and cherry reds mixed with a vibrant green rubber material can remind a person of a sunny garden even during a winter blizzard. Orange and rustic brown accents can provide a feeling of autumn. The possibilities are only limited by a person’s imagination.

Discourage Garden Mold And Mildew

Rubber material is not like organic mulches. Shredded rubber will battle molds and mildews and keep them from causing problems with a person’s garden during the winter. It doesn’t decompose or decay. This means people don’t have to worry about how their garden will look when the winter has gone. Rubber material can discourage the germination of weeds.

Disease-Free Plants

A careless autumn season of not raking leaves can cause problems. Fallen leaves develop into a soaked mat of potential disease that could harm winter plants. Occasional raking is necessary to avoid contaminating plants with diseases and fungi. It will also prevent grass from suffocating.

One of the most popular playground materials is rubber mulch. It will continue to provide benefits during the entire winter season. Unlike rubber material, engineered wood fibers will absorb and retain water when water freezes. It won’t permit adequate drainage and more. Rubber material will provide important protection during the entire winter season

 

We've been catching children when they fall for over 27 Years

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Things To Look For When Buying Playground Surfacing

Things To Look For When Buying Playground Surfacing

Playgrounds are not only a place for children to have fun, but it’s also a place to make friends, build a healthy body, and develop good decision-making skills. For that reason, a good playground will engage and challenge children while also keeping them safe.

“To help safeguard kids at play, and lower the chances of serious injury is to install soft playground material under and around the playground equipment.”

Soft playground surface material falls into two categories; permanent rubber-like mats or loose materials such as wood chips or sand. That way, if a child falls off the monkey bars, these softer playground surfaces will make an injury much less likely. On the other hand, hard surfaces such as dirt, gravel, concrete or asphalt make a serious injury, such as a head injury, much more likely.

Buying new playground surfacing material is no small thing. At Sof’Fall we pride ourselves on the safety of our Engineered Wood Fibers which is the safest option when it comes to playground safety. We feel like when it comes to protecting our children while they are playing, our children deserve nothing but the best. 

Around 75% of playground injuries are caused by falls. If your backyard playground or swing set is over dirt, grass, dirt, concrete or asphalt, it’s time to change that. The truth is, you can get cheap playground surfacing that will do the job and protect your children.

Find Soft Playground Surfacing

Good soft surfacing under and around playground equipment doesn’t need to cost you an arm and a leg. However, it will safeguard against serious injuries for both your children and their friends. Even a simple backyard swing needs to have soft playground material under it to prevent injuries if there is a fall.

Whether it’s your home or a public playground, be sure to check the playground surface material first, before you let your children play. The playground surface material should either be a permanent rubber mat or a loose material such as wood chips or sand. By the way, engineered wood fibers and permanent rubber mat surfacing are the only soft playground materials that meet the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

You also need to check if there is enough coverage. The surface should extend at least 6 feet out from all of the playground equipment. Keep in mind, slides and swings need more coverage; this will depend on their height, so look up the requirements with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to determine exactly how much surface material your playground needs.

Condition and Lifespan of the playground surfacing material

Also, check to make sure the surface is in good condition. If the playground surfacing is made of loose materials, look around the heavily used areas, such as under the swings and at the end of the slides to make sure the material is at least 12 inches deep. Also, check permanent rubber mats for holes and worn spots. If a public playground doesn’t measure up, take your children somewhere else, and let the organization that manages the playground know that the surfacing needs attention.

If your own backyard playground fails the test, then it’s time to get some cheap playground surfacing to make it safer. Wood chips and sand are relatively inexpensive, and can potentially save you thousands of dollars in emergency room visits. You owe your children a safe environment to play, learn and grow

We've been catching children when they fall for over 27 Years

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Professional Standards in Playground Surfacing

Professional Standards in Playground Surfacing

Professional standards in playground equipment are designed to protect children and their families. This includes the use of safe playground surfacing materials that resist all forms of damage from nature or humans. Children cannot protect themselves and need protection from the strong, durable equipment that they use every day. ASTM is the official standards organization that regulates this industry. They perform tests and review statistics to assist in their development of safe playground equipment. The F08.63 subcommittee has published the following five standards on playground surfacing.

1) Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials

Impact attenuation is the measure of the force of impact as one object hits another. An impact attenuator is designed to absorb the energy from the colliding object. The purpose of impact-resistant materials is to reduce the severity of injuries from collisions with equipment.

Playground Safety Standards For SurfacingSafe 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

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    How Safe Is Rubber Mulch Playground Surfacing?

    How Safe Is Rubber Mulch Playground Surfacing?

    When you think back to your time in elementary school, you probably think about all the fun games you would play at recess. You may think about how the pieces of black rubber that you would run and roll around on would get into your pockets after you came inside. Schools have also always been interested largely in the safety of the students that attend them, which made using soft playground surfacing to catch them when they fall a no brainer.

    “Rubber mulch also had multiple other benefits, as it would not soak up water when it rained, meaning it would keep up with their play longer than wood mulch would.”

    However, it also stained the floors and walls of the school and can even end up in parents washing machines at the end of the day.

    Sof Fall is proud to offer one of the safest rubber mulches in the world. When playground surfacing can mean the difference in a small scratch and a serious injury we are proud to be there to catch children everywhere when they fall down.

    Currently, there have been more proof uncovered that points to the rubber mulch not being such a safe playground surfacing material after all. Rubber mulch is made of recycled tires, which is good for the environment, but bad for health. There isn’t an issue with the tires themselves, but the things that they come into contact with. When they are carved into small pieces, they are not cleaned. This means that anything they once touched is still being poured directly into the children’s place areas on the outside of the playground surfacing materials. Heavy metals, oils, lead contaminants from paint on the roads, and petrochemicals are the names of a few of these contaminants. In heated temperatures, they begin to leak out into the air.

    In a study by Environment and Human Health, Inc. in conjunction with Yale University, they showed up to 96 different chemicals in the mulch. Some of the names of these items sound more like they should be locked somewhere safe, rather than in contact with children’s skin. Some cause asthma while others could irritate their eyes and lungs when left alone to heat up under the sun.

    Safe Playground Surfacing

    One man in Arizona was particularly upset by these findings. As a father and maintenance foreman of more than one school himself, he knew that he had to change the way that they were softening the children’s falls. He decided to try out new material, Jelly Bean play mulch. This was a much more safe playground surfacing material as it is latex-free and sterile. It didn’t take long after replacing one school’s mulch for the news to spread which lead to the replacement of all the other schools within the district. After switching to the other playground surfacing materials, they saw great results. The different colored pieces didn’t heat up in the sun like the tire had and there were no more black streaks. It is also soft playground surfacing, meaning that it was just as safe for the children to fall on as the previous mulch had been.

    Nevertheless, there is a downside to using the new version of mulch: the cost. While it is the best option for children’s health, most schools have a tight budget that they must stick to. Jelly Bean mulch has proven to be extremely cost-effective, however, as it does not need to be replaced as often. It is also almost completely maintenance-free, as it is only necessary to rake the mulch back into the play area if the children were to kick some of it out

    We've been catching children when they fall for over 27 Years

    Get in touch with us to learn why our play area surface products are your best option.
    Get your free quote today.

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