What Makes Sof’Fall So Special

What Makes Sof’Fall So Special

You can never be too careful when it comes to the safety of children. They need to be able to run and play in order to help with their physical and social development. That is why safe playground surfacing is provided by Sof’Fall.

The Making of a new playground surface

For more than 27 years Sof’Fall has been making it safe for  playgrounds to host neighborhood children. Sof’Fall is always there it catch your kids when they fall (literally).

“Sof’Fall wood fiber to create surfacing that is soft enough to prevent major injuries when children fall, which is the cause of a reported 75% of playground accidents.

The surface of each playground is simply loose fiber pieces knitted together. This makes them durable enough to withstand the physical stress of children playing. The padding can be installed in order to cover the hard surface of a playground. The recommended padding thickness for playgrounds is either eight or 12 inches. In some cases, a top-off may be necessary in order to ensure the padding is sufficient.

Sof’Fall Engineered wood surface is the safest option for your child to play on. Cement, sand, wood, and concrete are simply not good enough when it comes to our children’s safety on playgrounds.

Every installation Sof’Fall performs is designed to change the overall safety of the country’s playgrounds. Part of the reason why the company’s product is so durable is that they issue reminders to playground owners to test the thickness of the padding.

Safety Compliance

The way in which Sof’Fall installs playground flooring means that any park using it is in compliance with the ADA. This opens these playgrounds up to any and all children that want to use them. As a result, parks are becoming more family-friendly. Children of all ages are safe when this company’s playground flooring is used.

The typical requirements for playground safety are exceeded when Sof’Fall provides safe playground surfacing. They use non-flammable and non-toxic wood to keep children safe. Children can fall from as high as 25 feet and have their fall padded by this product. No other company in the industry can make this claim. In fact, the surfacing is even IPEMA certified. In addition, its non-flammable quality is due to a lack of available space between the bottom layer of the padding and the ground under it. This prevents oxygen from seeping under the surface and starting a fire.

Product Upkeep Is Easy

City managers are increasingly turning to this product for the safety it provides. Not only does it look completely natural, but the padding is also low maintenance and cost-effective. The biggest maintenance issue with this padding is that it sometimes has to be drained if it is being used in an area that sees a heavy amount of snow or rainfall. A landscaping architect can always help playground operators determine the requirements for proper drainage.

Any playground operator that is not currently using Sof’Fall padding is missing out on a golden opportunity. It is an effective way of making playgrounds safe for every child, every time. Parents and caretakers can have the peace of mind in knowing their children are protected while they play.

 

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.
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Why Parks Are An Important Part Of Your Child’s Health

Why Parks Are An Important Part Of Your Child’s Health

Summer is here! For most of us with kids, that strikes a little fear in the heart of every parent—what do we fill our children’s time up NOW? Idle time for children is not necessarily good for them; finding ways to incorporate play and physical activity throughout a sunny summer day will help you all make the best of your time together.

“Studies have shown that even a simple 45-minute trip to the park every week can have lasting effects on a child”s development, mood, learning abilities and more. ” 

We believe it is very important to get our kids outside. Here are some solid reasons why you need to take advantage of the wonderful weather and start exploring local parks in your area:

Providing a safe place for our children to play is one of our top priorities at Sof’Fall. 

Playing at the park stimulates gross motor skills development

Nearly every piece of playground equipment is beneficial to the development of gross motor skills in children. Spinning and swinging activities aid in the development of vestibular movement, while other playground equipment promotes balance and a sense of spatial development that they will need as they mature. Thanks to more rigorous standards of park safety, new playground equipment is easier and safer to use than ever before. It is still recommended, however, that parents keep a watchful eye on children when engaged in play.

Outdoor Activity increases the academic ability to learn

Believe it or not, playgrounds improve your child’s academic performance in school! Strengthening core muscles, arm and finger strength, and other postural muscles helps children to maintain proper posture when completing schoolwork. In addition, proper development of the vestibular system helps a child to maintain attention, focus, and to support emotional regulation needed for navigating a school environment. These early experiences of touch, movement, and visual stimulation all work in tandem to set your child up for academic success.

Physical Recreation Increases Primary Mental Fortitude

A strong body and a strong mind are interconnected; they fuel and drive each other to improve. Kids who play on playground equipment improve all aspects of physical fitness including core strength, arm and leg strength and even grip strength. Most renovated parks now offer an improved soft playground surface so that children can play on structures with less anxiety and fear of falling. Establishing physical activity as part of a well rounded childhood improves mental health by stimulating the release of endorphins, those feel good hormones associated with mental balance and good mental health. It is obvious with benefits like that that exercise is good for our children.

Playgrounds connect kids to the outdoors

Encouraging outdoor play helps connects kids to nature and fosters a love for the outdoors. It’s good for kids to get dirty! Discovering plants, bugs, and all intricacies that nature brings opens up a whole new world of scientific discovery that fosters creativity and curiosity. The next time your kid comes in from the park covered in mud and other unmentionables, celebrate the learning that they just engaged in, and help to continue to develop a love of learning.

PLAYGROUNDS CONNECT KIDS TO THE OUTDOORS

Salt Lake City is a veritable treasure trove of picnic areas, parks, and recreational areas that promise fun for the whole family; kids can play, parents can lounge and picnic, and you can create memories that last well into the winter months. Contact your local Salt Lake City chamber of commerce to find out what wonderful outdoor resources await you and your children. Have a great time this summer!

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.
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Sof’Fall Wood Fiber: Not Just For Playgrounds

Sof’Fall Wood Fiber: Not Just For Playgrounds

Sof’Fall wood fiber is not hard and rough like most wood fibers, this product is a soft playground material that acts more a rubber. When kids play, they jump on and off playground equipment and this wood fiber provides a soft surface for tiny feel to land. 

Parents want their kids to play without having to worry and they appreciate our Sof’Fall guarantee that their kids can play on surfaces that won’t injure their children’s feet and legs. Our concept of 25 feet of soft playground material has proven enormous fall protection over the years, and we want to make people aware of many other ways our soft surface protection can be applied

“Sof’Fall playground wood chips are too dynamic to only use as a soft playground surface. With a little imagination Sof’Fall can bring their magic to all kinds of outdoor facilities.”

Sof’Fall can be used for a more hygienic solution at zoos that is also easier to maintain.

Other uses for Sof’fall wood fibers

We don’t want to exclude people with mobility issues, do we? Parks and recreational areas covered in our product can give them easy access to events. People who need wheelchairs can move freely without the added stress of dodging pitfalls, mud, or rooted places. Those using crutches also like not having to fight obstacles.

Hiking Trails

Our wood fiber product is organic and safe for parks and recreational areas to use. A product that provides soft footing and fall protection will make hiking more fun and with a rubber feel under the feet, Sof’Fall wood fibers won’t place stress on a hiker’s joints. A comfortable surface is an added benefit to any hiker because it allows their minds to wander so they can enjoy the nature trails and sites around them with the freedom of not having to worry about tripping over stones and roots on the ground.

Flower Bedding

Who doesn’t love a beautiful flower garden and manicured landscape? Like we said above, Sof’Fall wood fibers are organic and safe for the environment. They can also replace the mulch people use in their gardening it’s more durable than pine straw. 

Stables, corals, and animal pens

Pet and livestock care are high priorities for people. Pets are like family members and we want their surroundings to be injury-free zones as much as our children’s playground areas. Livestock is another topic. Racehorses, prized cattle, pigs and other show animals make people money, so of course, the owners would want their feet and legs protected so they can profit from their good health. 

“Let’s not limit all the benefits of Sof’Fall to our children. If you’re impressed with what Sof’Fall does for your children why not extend those benefits to the animals in our lives”

Veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, and zoos that will love this product. It’s durable, nontoxic and easy to maintain. Our wood fiber products will work for their needs much better than dirt, gravel and other traditionally used methods.

An example of this is when exhibits require areas for large animals to give birth, hay is usually used to cushion the baby’s birth, but Sof’Fall wood fibers can add extra cushion to guarantee a safe arrival and serve for a cleaner birth. 

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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Why Playgrounds Need Sof’Fall Wood Fiber Instead of Sand

Why Playgrounds Need Sof’Fall Wood Fiber Instead of Sand

Sand has long been a playground staple, but it’s not the safest or smartest material for a play environment. Sof’Fall crushed wood fibers form a stable surface that welcomes all kids to run, jump, swing, and tumble safely. There are many qualities that boost Sof’Fall above a basic sand surface. These features make all the difference when designing a reliable and economical playground that’s fun for everyone.

When it comes to building parks in Salt Lake City, Utah there are number of factors that need to be considered especially when dealing with something like the surfacing which is such a big part of the park’s safety.

“Fiscal responsibility is only one of the many factors that matters to [us] when it comes to building new parks… Indeed, our number one priority is making sure our playgrounds and all areas of our parks are safe for our children.”

New technology has allowed Sof’Fall to build the safest option for your children to play on. With all that is out there we can no longer settle for sub-par surfacing.

Accessibility

It’s important for Salt Lake City playgrounds to be places where all kids can enjoy themselves. Children who use wheelchairs, walkers, and canes must expend a lot of effort to move through sand. They might be exhausted and frustrated before they even reach the play equipment. When installed correctly, Sof’Fall wood chips provide a sturdy surface that meets ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Standards. 

Safety

Safety is a priority for Sof’Fall, which is certified with the NPSI (National Playground Safety Institute). The greatest danger to kids on Salt Lake City playground equipment is falling. Falls account for 75% of playground injuries, so soft playground surfaces are essential. A Sof’Fall surface goes above and beyond playground safety requirements, cushioning falls from up to a height of 25 feet.

Sof’Fall chips are made in the USA from non-toxic, non-flammable virgin wood. Unlike recycled wood, it is not treated with chemicals. 

Kids can get rowdy, and no one wants sand in their eyes. Fortunately, fibrous Sof’Fall wood chips don’t hurt when thrown. They have been cured in a kiln, which makes them softer and helps them retain moisture.

Sof’Fall Inc. is certified by the International Play Equipment Manufacturer’s Association, an organization that promotes safety in play environments.

Cleanliness

The biggest complaint about sand is the mess. Sand conceals trash easily. Dogs and cats treat it as a litter box. Its tiny grains get inside clothes and shoes, ending up all over the car and the house. 

A Sof’Fall playground is cleaner, and it will typically have a drainage system to siphon off extra moisture.

Appearance

Sand is easily blown around by the wind. It gets mixed up with dirt and other foreign objects, creating an unattractive play zone. Sof’Fall is composed of virgin wood fibers that look natural in any Salt Lake City play environment.

Financial 

Sof’Fall chips are the key component to low maintenance, soft playground surfaces that won’t strain the budget. As a surface material, Sof’Fall allows more room for the best Salt Lake City playground equipment, with less upkeep than a sand playground. 

Sof’Fall carries $10 million in liability insurance. Their comprehensive Play Protection Plan is one of the best in the business; they boast a 10 year warranty and world class customer service


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.

CONTACT US!

Call, email or send us a message from our online form. We're happy to answer your questions or send you an estimate.

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Trends For New Parks In 2019

Trends For New Parks In 2019

We are living in a digital era where almost every activity is computerized. This has rendered nearly all people, kids alike, to be less active as they spend the bulk of their time behind computers. These days, even playing games outdoors is considered to be out-fashioned, considering that there are loads of indoor computer games to play during their free time.

“Not only by building more parks, but by building better, safer, and more engaging parks will we help our children get back to playing with one another outside.” 

 We hope this trend will start to change as there has been an entry of modern playground trends into the market. There are also new playground surfaces entering the market, most of which are made of soft material to ensure that the safety of the kids is always assured. The following are some of the new playground trends that Salt Lake City residents can expect to see in the coming months and years.

NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR PLAYGROUND SAFETY: Industry leading companies like Sof’Fall are helping to provide safer parks for our children to play on. An increase in playground safety can lead to increases in playground attendance and satisfaction. 

1) Electronic Interactive Play

Are you worried that your kids are always fixated on the television screens for most parts of their free days? Well, you need to relax as there are plenty of games that they play outside and still get the thrill that comes with engaging in computer games. Electronic Interactive Play is, without a doubt, one of the most engaging outdoor games that parks are incorporating in their playgrounds. The game tests speed, alertness, and coordination of the players.

2) PlayGrounds For All

Research shows that people of all ages are interested in participating in outdoor games. As a result, they have customized playground surfaces with non-toxic materials that ensure that people of different age groups can engage in outdoor sports. The move is proving to be successful as many people are embracing engaging in sporting activities as part of trying to control many of the common lifestyle induced ailments such as obesity.

3) Sensible and engaging games

The primary aim of games is to deliver a particular result to the participant. Many of the playgrounds in Salt Lake City have realized that there is a need for sports to be engaging in such a way that they enable the kid’s senses to grow. On that light, many playgrounds are introducing musical instruments, water features, rotating play equipment, and many other objects that will keep the kids engaged and in the process lead to holistic development.

4) Introduction To New Playground Equipment

Children require adventurous and challenging games on their day to day play. This will enable them to grow to responsible individuals who can face issues head-on without fear. Most playgrounds have realized this and as a result, rolled out games such as sky-high climbing nests that require expertise to engage in. Participation in such games has enabled the kids to hone their creativity.

The bottom line for many playgrounds is that they need to be upgraded to meet the desires of those for whom they were intended. Another big upgrade a lot of parks need is to have a safe and soft playground surfacing. By improving both safety and entertainment levels of our parks we can get more people outside benefitting from the joys that parks were designed to give us.

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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Compaction Of Your Playground’s Soft Surface

Compaction Of Your Playground’s Soft Surface

Compaction happens naturally over the life and use of your Sof’Fall product. Composed of crushed wood surfacing, Sof’Fall comes from new wood that has been modified for this specific purpose. Because the wood is not kiln dried, it retains water. This makes the final material softer and causes it to act as a cushion. As you understand your Sof’Fall material and what compaction is and how to deal with it, it will prove very beneficial when compared to the neglecting these actions

While compaction entails a lot it essentially means that the Sof’Fall is no longer as effective as it was on the day that it was first installed. This is due to loss of material and compacting down the material still there. This is no cause for alarm because this is normal of most products. Through normal wear and tear things just aren’t the same as when they are brand new. 

“Planning for compaction of your of Sof’Fall and taking appropriate action will lead to immediate safety for our children and long term savings for your playground.”

When the amount of Sof’Fall drops below certain levels the Play Protection Warranty is no longer valid. Be familiarized with your warranty plan to make sure you never drop below that level. 

Calculating For Sof’Fall Installation

Installing Sof’Fall on any playground requires attention to detail but will certainly pay dividends. When considering the area you would like to fill, consider two calculations. Consider the needed square footage. Then, add in 30% more for compaction when calculating your total amount. Do this by dividing your square footage by .2025. This calculation will give you the number of cubic yards that you need when taking into account compaction.

Maintenance and Care

One thing to remember is that anytime the fill level drops below the fill line the Play Protection Plan Warranty is no longer active. So, being aware of factors that can cause compaction is important.

  • Be aware of a large fill area. More edges mean more fill gets tracked off the playground.
  • Weather, wind, and rain can cause shift and compaction.
  • Watch  high-traffic parks with care. Frequently used playgrounds require fills more often.
  • Know that mixing playground soft surfaces with Sof’Fall can also void your warranty.
  • As seen in Salt Lake City’s parks system, ADA compliance easily leads to compliance with your Sof’Fall warranty. Learn to stabilize surfaces to be slip resistant. Make the width between gates a least three feet wide.

Sof’fall Safety

Having a safe place to play comes down to two realities. They are a well-designed environment and safe playground material. Sof’Fall and Sof’Bounce compliment that by design. They are manufactured with high-quality concern to safety and preservation.

With Sof’Fall the inherent cost comes from using virgin wood. The long term protection is in not using recycled wood products. Frequently filled with insecticides and arsenic compounds, these wood by-products are not able to claim to be toxic free.

As you plan for your park make sure you keep compaction in mind. It is important for the safety of the children who will be playing there. Review the material of the Sof’Fall Warranty to know how often you will need to top off your playground surface. Being on top of these things will save you money in the long run and provide a safe place to play both now and in the future.

 

 

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.

CONTACT US!

Call, email or send us a message from our online form. We're happy to answer your questions or send you an estimate.

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