What is soft play equipment made of in an indoor playground?

Safe playground surfaces are designed to cushion falls and are a necessity of the indoor playground including Skywalk, Slide. No matter what precautions parents, teachers and other caregivers take, sometimes falls are inevitable. When parents turn their heads, children jump off a swing or in a toy room. Sometimes children just lose their balance on one piece of equipment. When this happens, they need to land in a soft and thick place to absorb the impact and prevent minor injuries from becoming serious. So what are the equipment made of? Let's check.

The following are listed materials to make the equipment:

Solid wood fiber

Rubber

Artificial turf

Synthetic tiles

Materials to avoid

1. Solid wood fiber

Solid wood fiber differs from large wood chips in its fiber structure. These small fibers are tightly intertwined, creating a dense, strong surface that meets accessibility criteria and absorbs the impact. Solid wood fiber is sustainable and all-natural. This type of surface for indoor playground is affordable and easy to install, but it does require regular maintenance to maintain accessibility in high use areas such as slide exits and under swings.

Solid wood fiber is a popular surface material for indoor playground because it provides many benefits such as:

Slip resistance

Strong shock quality

Meets accessibility standards if properly installed and maintained

Very cheap

2. Rubber

Rubber is often used in resorts or amusement parks because it comes in many different designs and colors. Public playgrounds often avoid the use of rubber because the cost is too high. However, due to its stability and durability, it is considered one of the best materials for indoor playground surfaces. Nonetheless, in-situ gluing has the following benefits:

High hardness and stability

More durable

No need to worry about hidden objects

The best choice for ADA compliance

The disadvantages of cast-in-place rubber include:

expensive

Requires a high level of installation technology

Hardens after prolonged exposure to UV or extreme temperatures

3. Artificial turf

Artificial turf was introduced in the 1960s, but was not widely used until the 1980s. As its name suggests, artificial turf was originally designed to look and feel like natural grass for the indoor playground. However, it is evolving as a safe surface material. This is a popular choice for indoor playground.

Artificial turf is a single material, which means that it is a solid or semi-solid surface that does not look like a loose material, such as solid wood fiber. A single material is usually more expensive than a loose material and is often more difficult to install. However, you can choose synthetic turf to enjoy the following benefits:

High durability

Simple maintenance

No need to worry about hidden objects

Available in multiple colors

Better accessibility than solid wood fiber

Unlike real grass, artificial turf cannot be torn or hidden from pests and is a safe choice for indoor  playgrounds. It can also make an impact, and it's easy for children with disabilities to cross barriers. However, there are several disadvantages including:

Requires professional installation

More expensive than other materials

Poor heat resistance

Artificial turf absorbs heat, which can be a problem in hot weather. Building a indoor playground in a cool place can reduce this problem, but it is still something to consider.

4. Synthetic tiles

Synthetic tiles are made of rubber-based materials. Under the floor tiles, a professional installation company's base is required. Once in place, they cushion the fall and are usually mounted on concrete or asphalt. A study found that half-inch-thick rubber floor tiles reduced impact by 65% to 85% compared to concrete floors. Synthetic tiles are the best choice for indoor playground. Other benefits include:

Broken tiles are easy to repair

Highly durable and impact resistant

multiple colour

The disadvantages include:

More expensive than other materials

Must be professionally installed

Debris and dirt can build up between connections and cause failure

5. Materials to avoid

Some materials are unsafe on the indoor playground and can cause serious injury or even worse. These include:

Grass or soil: The grass may feel soft, but it is not thick enough to cushion the fall. In addition, environmental factors, such as freezing temperatures, affect the Earth's ability to absorb vibrations.

Concrete: Concrete, asphalt or any hard surface may cause brain injury after falling and should not be used under playground equipment.

Wooden boards: Some homeowners may consider putting a small swing or another sports equipment on a wooden deck or wooden board, but this is not safe and has little effect on cushioning the fall. Also, the boards may slip when wet.

Loosely filled rubber: unlikely to meet standard.

So now you know the materials that make an indoor playground now?ts now, why not take your children there?