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Consumer Information Sheet for Playground Surfacing Materials
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that about 100 000 playground
equipment-related injuries resulting from falls to the ground surface are treated annually in US hospital
emergency rooms. Injuries involving this hazard pattern tend to be among the most serious of all
playground injuries, and have the potential to be fatal, particularly when the injury is to the head. The
surface under and around playground equipment can be a major factor in determining the injury-causing
potential of a fall. It is self-evident that a fall on to a shock-absorbing surface is less likely to cause a
serious injury than a fall onto a hard surface. Playground equipment should never be placed on hard
surfaces, such as concrete or asphalt, and while grass may appear to be acceptable, it may quickly turn to
hard-packed earth in areas of high traffic. Shredded bark mulch, wood chips, tine sand or the gravel are
considered to be acceptable shock absorbing surfaces when installed and maintained at a sufficient depth
under and around playground equipment.
Table B.1 lists the maximum height from which a child would not be expected to sustain a life-threatening
head injury in a fall on to four different loose-fill surfacing materials if they are Installed and maintained at
depths of 150 mm, 225 mm and 300 mm.
Table B.1: Fall height in millimetres from which a life-threatening head injury would not be expected
However, it should be recognised that all injuries due to falls cannot be prevented, no matter what surfacing
material is used.
It is recommended that a shock absorbing material extend a minimum of 1 800 mm in all directions from the
perimeter of stationary equipment such as climbing frames and slides. However, because children may
deliberately jump from a moving swing, the shock absorbing material should extend in the front and rear of
a swing a minimum distance of twice the height of the pivot point measured from a point directly beneath
the pivot on the supporting structure.
This information is intended to assist in comparing the relative shock-absorbing properties of various
materials. No particular material is recommended over another. However, each material is only effective
when properly maintained. Materials should be checked periodically and replenished to maintain correct
depth as determined necessary for the equipment in question. The choice of a material depends on the
type and height of the playground equipment, the availability of the material in a particular area, and its cost.
Type of Material
Depth of surfacing material
150mm
225mm
300mm
Double Shredded Bark Mulch
1800
3000
3300
Wood Chips
1800
2100
3600
Fine Sand
1500
1500
2700
Fine Gravel
1800
2100
3000
