Coverings for playgrounds: types and subtleties of choice

The playground should be not only comfortable, but also safe. That is why special attention is paid to the issues related to the coverage of the playing area. For many years, plots were covered with sand or grass was grown, but nowadays they have been replaced by more modern technologies.

Psychologists have proved many years ago that children develop most harmoniously in conditions where they are not limited in matters of acquaintance with the world around them. Children need adequate conditions so that they can improve their interpersonal and physical activity and it is the playground that plays a big role in this.

There, children practice their communication skills to their fullest, and can also actively move, run and jump. But many parents surround their child with such care that, in fear of injury, they forbid the child not only to climb the structures of the sites, but also to move freely.

Commissioning of equipment for play areas is subject to regulatory enactments and is carried out in strict accordance with the requirements of GOST, which, among other things, regulate the use of certain covering materials.

According to the document GOST R 52169-2012, sites must have a shock-absorbing coating. In this case, the degree of shock absorption is calculated according to special criteria, taking into account the maximum height from which the baby can fall and not break at the same time - it is this parameter that is used as the basis for determining the optimal type of coatings on the sites.

The law prohibits the arrangement of children's areas with asphalt and concrete surfaces - these materials do not have the necessary elasticity, which can lead to serious damage if children fall - the surface must be injury-free.

The grassy lawn familiar in previous years is also not suitable - its degree of elasticity largely depends on the period of operation, the degree of wear and tear, as well as on weather factors (for example, with dry air, lower temperatures, and also after rain, the parameter decreases significantly). In addition, the use of materials with an increased abrasive effect, such as crushed stone, pebbles and other loose substances, is not recommended on the sites.

Only special floor coverings are allowed for use on sites, the level of elasticity of which does not depend in any way on atmospheric factors. In addition, they must have a long service life. The materials used must be anti-slip and shock absorbing. The material must meet sanitary and hygienic standards, it must not contain harmful substances and emit volatile toxic elements when used.

If everything is clear with playgrounds in public places, then the owners of their own cottages often equip a children's corner in the old fashioned way, filling it with river sand. The undoubted advantage of such coverage is its cost.In addition, sand is considered a durable and rather soft material that perfectly copes with its main task - it absorbs a strong impact, reducing the likelihood of injury, injury and bruising.

But using sand has its drawbacks:

• quickly transported outside the dedicated play area;
• can get into baby's eyes, nose and mouth;
• sand can hide sharp sticks, glass and other debris;
• cats and dogs quite often use sandy areas for their natural needs;
• in rainy weather, the sand quickly absorbs moisture, becomes heavy and resembles a mud mess in consistency, and it dries very slowly.

The lawn is no less popular with homeowners - the grass resistant to trampling looks aesthetically pleasing, pleasing to the eye and creates a good mood for adults and children. Such a coating is characterized by high environmental friendliness, naturalness and good shock-absorbing qualities.

At the same time, the grass needs constant care, it should be often watered, mowed, garbage collected, and sowed on trampled or burnt-out areas. In addition, worms, slugs and other unwanted insects often hide in the grass. Another problem associated with natural turf is weeds. In order to get rid of them, you often have to resort to chemicals that can harm your baby, cause asthma or develop allergies.

You should also not use gravel or crushed stone as a covering material - when falling, the baby can hurt himself on its protruding parts and get a strong abrasion. Loose materials are often found scattered throughout the site far outside the play area. However, if you are still determined to use stones, then it is better to give preference to rolled granite, which is less traumatic.

More sophisticated homeowners have switched to modern types of coatings.

It is often used for jogging and cycling paths, as well as playgrounds and sports grounds. Technically speaking, tartan is a synthetic rubber crumb. It is a hypoallergenic material that is highly environmentally friendly, and the dyes used are always of exclusively natural origin.

The material consists of two layers: the lower one, made of granulated rubber crumb of a black shade, and the upper one - colored. These two layers of coating are bonded to each other using polyurethane glue. Traditionally, such coatings are made in green, but they can also be in brown, bright blue or yellow shades.

The advantages of the material include:

• resistance to abrasion and trampling;
• trauma safety of the material;
• resistance to temperature extremes;
• ease of cleaning.

The disadvantages are associated with high material and labor costs for the arrangement of such a site - the cost of materials is high, and installation requires the use of the services of professionals.

Such materials are special modules that are connected according to a collapsible principle, while fasteners are connected through small locks.

This is a fairly cheap material, besides, manufacturers often arrange promotions and give discounts, especially in the off-season. The products withstand a wide temperature range, the coating does not lose its performance under the influence of rain and snow, and also transfers a load of up to 200 tons per square meter.Plastic models are durable, they can serve faithfully for more than a dozen years. In addition, the arrangement does not require special skills and tools, and cleaning of such material is simple and convenient. This is an ideal choice for summer cottages, small adjoining plots. Plastic covers provide the child with maximum protection and safety.

But this coating is quite tough, and this should be taken into account, because it can be very painful when the baby falls.

These are practical polymeric materials that are distinguished by resistance to trampling, good tolerance to low temperatures, as well as geometric stability. The slabs have a ribbed surface, so a child cannot slip on such a surface and fall. A nice bonus is the price, which is quite democratic in comparison with many other materials.

A very good option for arranging playgrounds is a rubber safety tile, which, from an operational point of view, is in no way inferior to a tartan coating with only one difference - seams form between the rubber tile modules, which, when laid on an uneven base, can cause a loose fit of the panels. To prevent this from happening, a special primer based on polyurethane glue is first applied to the surface, and on top of the coating the modules are thoroughly rolled with a roller and tapped with a special mallet. The installation process is labor-intensive and time-consuming, although no special installation equipment is required. It is important that in case of damage to such a coating, you can simply replace one module, and not dismantle the entire coating. Rubber tiles are resistant to adverse weather conditions and chemicals.

The disadvantage is that such a tile is water-permeable, so it is necessary to mount the coating at an inclination of 2-3 degreesso that the water does not stagnate under the rubber, creating ideal conditions for the multiplication of fungi and other pathogenic microorganisms.

This is a rather interesting roll coating that visually imitates a real live grass, but does not have its characteristic drawbacks.

Buying such a cover is quite profitable and practical, children like to run and lie on the grass, but at the same time it does not have to be watered, mowed, fed with organic and mineral fertilizers. Plastic grass does not dry out or fade in the sun, and it does not rot when exposed to high humidity. In addition, it does not stain clothes, unlike real ones.

This lawn is made only from environmentally friendly materials. There are also disadvantages - the grass must be regularly combed, as it can accumulate debris, sharp pebbles, branches and sticks, in addition, it heats up in the sun, which often brings discomfort, especially if children like to run barefoot. When purchasing such material, special attention should be paid to the height of the grass - too low does not give the necessary springy effect, and too high can make it difficult for the crumbs to move around the site.

The original option for arranging a sports or playground is decorative chips. This term refers to soft sawdust or small wood chips, which cannot injure the baby.At the same time, this coating is very easily blown away by a gust of wind, it can stick to clothes, and in the rain it quickly loses its properties, and it “won’t survive the winter” either - such a coating has to be renewed every year. The modern market offers a wide range of coatings for every taste and budget. But in conditions of a limited budget, you can try to make high-quality coatings with your own hands.

In general, to create safe and comfortable children's and sports areas, it is optimal to combine various materials. For example, for the organization of a small football field, synthetic turf is made, and for bicycle paths it is better to apply ordinary asphalt or fill them with high quality concrete. And lay rubber coverings near the swings and playgrounds. Thus, for each zone, the most functional and traumatic environment will be created, which will make it possible to arrange a well-planned territory and save money spent.

Whichever coating you prefer, the main criterion for its effectiveness will be the safety of the child, which is why it is necessary to give preference to soft, environmentally friendly materials from trusted manufacturers. It is good if the surface of the playing area can be easily looked after - nothing should impede the sweeping of debris and washing of the material.

It is advisable to avoid small slabs, since with intensive use of them, gaps may appear between the seams.in which a child can get stuck with a foot and fall. Optimal installation of seamless flooring.

Do not use rammed flooring - over time, nails can come to the surface and injure the child. It is important to take into account the age of the child, since this largely determines the degree and type of activity of the baby. Of course, one should not ignore the climatic features of the region and, accordingly, the resistance of the coating to high and low temperatures, the ability to maintain its functions after getting wet.

In the next video, you will find instructions for self-installation of a crumb rubber coating.