RoSPA Play Safety : FAQs
Surfacing
1. Do we need surfacing under our equipment?
There should be a surface with some form of impact attenuation under all items of play equipment (tarmac, concrete, brick, stone and wood have no impact attenuation). If the highest position at which the body is normally suspended is above 600mm (2ft) from the ground then an impact attenuating surface IS required. However grass or top soil is considered a good surface for fall heights of up to 1m.
2. What size should the surfacing be?
The Standard recognizes that children usually fall away from equipment and so the greater the height the greater the surface needs to extend from the equipment. To find out how far the surfacing should extend, measure the height above the ground of the highest point from which the body is normally supported (on overhead bars and similar items this would be the height of the hand grip). This is the maximum fall height (mfh). The surface should extend for 1.5m PLUS 2/3rds of the excess of the mfh above 1.5m. The surface needs to extend a minimum of 1.5m.
For example:
For an item at 2.1m mfh the calculation is
2.1m-1.5m = 0.6m
0.6m x 2/3 = 0.4m
0.4m + 1.5m = 1.9m = distance surface should extend.
For swings the calculations are different and are as follows
Forward and Back
* Different areas for synthetic and loose-fill surfaces in a box or pit. Measurements each way are:
1. synthetic: .867 x length of suspension member + 1.75m
2. loose-fill: .867 x length of suspension member + 2.25m
Sideways
Surface extends to the inside of the uprights
3. Should loose fill (Bark, Wood Chip etc) pits be above or below ground?
Both are acceptable. There is some evidence that pits above ground cause fewer tripping incidents than sunken pits.
4. How deep should loose fill pits be?
Loose fills should be 200mm more than the depth required to meet the HIC reading. In practice this normally means a minimum depth of 300mm. Take a look at our Loose Impact Attenuating Surfaces Information Sheet.
5. Which is better - loose Fill or rubberized surfaces?
Both types of surfacing work well. Rubberized surfaces are more expensive to install but work out cheaper in the long run due to reduced maintenance. Rubberized surfaces should be used under roundabout in order to maintain the ground clearance. Loose fill surfaces are preferred where a fall is likely to be mainly in the forward direction (e.g. of Aerial runways etc). For more details see our Information Sheets section.
6. Is the type of surfacing that allows grass to grow through acceptable?
Yes, this type of surface, developed in New Zealand, has been around for some time now. It provides an impact absorbing surface and should be certified by the supplier as meeting the requirements of EN 1176 and 1177. Whilst the grass growing through this surface can be mowed it is not suitable where large gang mowers are used.
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