PlaySmart’s SmartPlay grass mat system is the playground surfacing option for the best child safety playground flooring.
We design our rubber grass mats to suit your play area design ethos and requirements. We offer sustainable flooring with EcoSmart, innovative fireproof mats with FireSmart, and our shock pad underlay playground cushioning material SmartPlay. Therefore, you can create a safe space to play for all children with PlaySmart’s safety surfacing.
Additionally, for more information on PlaySmart’s playground safety mats options get your Free copy of our comprehensive grass mat guide.
Why Safety Surfacing is Important?
Why Safety Surfacing is Important?
Child-safe playground flooring is vital to PlaySmart’s playground design and is central to our play area surfacing manufacturing and installation.
Before safety surfacing was a playground essential, children were deprived of a safe space to play. This lack of safety limited the full use and free play experience that we see in playgrounds today.
Nationally certified standards for safety flooring were introduced to the UK in the 1990s. Since then, they have been updated to ensure full safety across new surfacing innovations and changes. The British Standards EN 1177 is the most recent version of these mandates. Any surface underneath a critical fall height (CFH) above 0.6m requires safety surfacing appropriate to the CFH.
Safety surfacing is a category of soft play surfaces which provides adequate fall protection through shock absorption. Additionally, good quality safety surfacing will be slip-resistant, wheelchair accessible, and have other protective properties such as fireproofing.
What is Critical Fall Height?
Rigorous assessments from independent certifier Labosport has given us the confidence in our grass mats’ ability to provide protection. This subsequently helps to reduce the risk of injury, giving children a safe space to play.
The critical fall height is the measurement of the highest part of the playground structure from which a fall could occur. Safety surfacing that meets the requirements of the appropriate Critical Fall Height is the best way to reduce risks.
For EcoSmart rubber playground mat installations for a CFH above 2.25m we recommend our SmartPlay 25mm width shock pad underlay. For a CFH above 2.9m, we recommend combining your rubber matting with SmartPlay at 45mm widths. This is our best safety surfacing option, providing the most protection available.
What is a SmartPlay Shock Pad Underlay?
Rubber matting is an easy-to-install, low-maintenance surfacing solution, but can be given an extra protective layer with our full-protection SmartPlay shock pad underlay.
This is a thick layer underneath the rubber matting to increase the fall protection of your surfacing. This also increases a surface’s lifespan and the longevity of its CFH protection. This is because it reduces mat sinkage adn prevents excessive damage and wear.
We place the shock pad underlay onto a grass base after our expert playground installation team prepares the ground. Additionally, our team assesses the surface quality to ensure the critical fall height is appropriate. Once we place the SmartPlay shock pad, we cover it with soil and grass seed to restore the natural look of your playground. Over time, the grass is able to grow through the holes in the SmartPlay and rubber grass mats.
Discover more about the engineering innovations and patented design of our SmartPlay grass mats with our expert grass mat article.
What are the Key Benefits of SmartPlay?
- The innovative structure of our rubber grass mats with 20mm wide holes allow for natural grass to grow through for that natural playground look.
- Easy maintenance and upkeep- simply mow over the mats to control grass growth.
- Durability- because of the structural design of the thick rubber which sets it apart from mats with thinner rubber which inhibits effectiveness and strength.
- When SmartPlay is used alongside rubber grass mats, replacement of these mats when damage occurs is considerably easier and has less impact on your grass and surface soil.
To learn more reasons why you should choose PlaySmart’s SmartPlay for your safe space to play, check out our SmartPlay guide.
Are Rubber Grass Mats the Right Safety Surfacing for your Playground Project?
Find out more on our range of rubber grass mats with our explanatory articles on EcoSmart sustainable flooring, and FireSmart fireproof mats.
Are you looking for expert advice and playground consultation services? You can fill in our handy contact form or you can also give us a call at 01564 742811.