The major cause of playground injury occurs when child falls from play equipment onto a hard surface. Providing impact absorbing material and reducing the height of equipment will help to reduce the severity of injuries.

Impact absorbing material is required under all play equipment and must have proof of testing in accordance with AS4685:2004 for fall heights greater than 500mm above ground level. This area should extend 1.9 metres in supervised early childhood settings (2.5 metres in schools and public settings) from the perimeter of the equipment to a border, fence or other equipment (known as the “Safe Fall Zone”).

Please note that if you are purchasing new equipment the Safe Fall zone can be determined by the manufacturer in accordance with AS4685:2004. You will need written confirmation of this from the manufacturer to eliminate problems in the future with inspections.

In relation to swings (as noted in AS Playground Surfacing Standard AS4685:2004) the Safe Fall Zone should be measured from 1; the furthest extension of the moving components in the direction of movement (the maximum swinging arc) and 2; the perimeter of the equipment for the non-moving components. Kidsafe recommends that the perimeter is determined by the posts or structure/frame of the swing.

Many impact absorbing materials have been extensively tested for impact attenuation. No one material has proven to be the best solution for all occasions and decisions must be made depending on environmental conditions, cost and preference.

The two main types of materials are loose fill and solid materials.

Loose Fill
Loose fill includes products such as bark nuggets. This material is cheaper than solid products but requires regular maintenance. However, if the cost of maintenance is measured in economic terms, more durable material could compare favourably. The cushioning effect of loose materials is achieved by the trapping of air between particles. The depth of loose fill must be maintained at a minimum depth of 250mm at all times. AS4685:2004 suggests that materials should be raked and redistributed weekly and replenished four times a year.

Solid Materials
This includes products such as synthetic grass, rubber tiles and wet pour rubber. The cushioning effect of solid materials varies according to the thickness of the layer and the composition of the material. Solid materials work well in heavy traffic areas such as under swings and at the base of slides. This assists by reducing the amount of time spent replenishing the loose fill. If a rubber product is desired select a light color as this will absorb less heat.

Before purchasing undersurfacing material - Ask the manufacturer for information on the ‘critical fall height’ test results. Request a Certificate of Compliance to ensure that the material supplied has been tested in accordance with the Australian Standard AS4685:2004. Retain this Certificate of confirmation in your playground records.

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