Why do We Recommend Shock Pad Underlays?
Your playground is not complete without this extra layer of protection against falls. Playground equipment brings the fun of exploration and challenge to any play space, but to ensure full safety, some playgrounds need extra protection from shock pad underlays.
A SmartPlay safety pad fits seamlessly under rubber grass mats to boost fall protection significantly. The underlay can even add an extra metre to extra Critical Fall Height Protection in ideal conditions.
How Shock Pad Underlays Achieve Greater Fall Protection
As a shock pad underlay, SmartPlay needs to be installed underneath another surface to be fully effective. These mats use high-quality rubber with natural shock-absorbent qualities in a honeycomb structure to allow for extra movement to redistribute stress throughout the high tensile strength material.
The process of installation includes:
- Pre-preparing the soil, including laying turf, re-soiling, and re-seeding
- Laying the white SmartPlay mats with safety pegs and recessed edges
- Adding another layer of soil, turf and grass-seed for extra protection
- Finishing the installation with your choice of grass mat to our patented installation specification.
After this we recommend tamping down and watering the mats regularly in the first few days to ensure they are properly fixed to the ground and to reduce the risk of lifting and subsidence.
Improving Critical Fall Height Protection of Grass Mats
SmartPlay is a 30mm shock pad installed at various depths depending on the requirements of each project. The overall critical fall height protection depends on your choices for the type of grass mat as well as the type of sub-base or quality of the natural soil below.
Therefore, for the best, and safest results, we recommend discussing your options with surfacing and safety experts and employing a ground survey for pre-and post-installation. All installations by the PlaySmart team include this essential customisation and checking processes.
SmartPlay + EcoSmart
When tested to BSEN 1177 critical fall height standards, EcoSmart mats with a SmartPlay safety pad underlay offer the best protection on the market. The combination allows for safe falls from 3m high off playground equipment.
Blend in with Natural Grass Growth
The honeycomb structure of SmartPlay (much like the structure of traditional grass mats) creates gaps within the structure. As discussed above, this helps increase shock absorption, but they also help to improve the aesthetics of your playground by allowing for grass growth.
Because SmartPlay can be installed directly onto grass turf or on pre-seeded soil, over time, grass grows through the mats. Our SmartPlay grass system promotes healthy grass growth by protecting the ground from undue stress, distributing pressure across the surface, avoiding wear on landing areas and popular routes across the playground. In a matter of weeks (depending on upkeep and time of year) grass growth can even disguise the black rubber mats entirely, creating a natural looking, but still protected, area for play.
Avoiding Puddling and Subsidence
This protection of the soil and grass on which it lays is also effective in preventing degradation of the surface as a hole. Subsidence of heavy matting can be a risk with inexpert installations. With the wrong sub-base or improper care, water-logged soil can reduce the effectiveness of the mats, leading to increased risk of injuries.
Because of the extra protection and redistribution of weight of the SmartPlay system, this problem is avoided. Grass mat installations with an underlay have a significantly lower risk of subsidence, collapse and boggy ground than without.
Meet Playground Safety Regulations with a Little Extra Help from a Shock Pad Underlay
Playgrounds have a duty to provide adequate safety protection in areas with risks of falls from height. If your play equipment lacks a safe landing pad, SmartPlay is the solution for you.
Discuss your options with our team by booking a call, or get your Free Quote with the form on our contact page.
