FAQ Hub
Got a question? We’ve (probably) answered it here! If not, feel free to call us on 01564 742811 or email info@playsmartuk.co.uk
- We specialise in providing quality surfaces with a focus on safety, with a unique and exclusive product range.
- We have a proven track record of quality work, with the expertise, knowledge and skills to carry out work to the highest possible standard.
- With over 20 years experience we can recommend the right solution for any project, and all our staff are trained in house to exacting standards.
- We pride ourselves on an outstanding customer service and are committed to going the extra mile before, during and after your project to ensure everything is just right.
- We are a member of the Association of Play Industries (API), meaning we abide by a strict professional Code of Conduct.
- We understand the importance of safety and comply with all relevant safety standards when testing our products.
We have developed a quiz to help you determine which PlaySmart product is going to be the best for your project. Click here to take the quiz.
We don’t give prices on our website because there are a number of factors that influence the cost of a project. Alongside this, we also have the options of supply only or supply and install, and ensure every quote is personalised to your specific needs.
The information we require gives our sales team the tools they need to give a quote that accurately reflects your project’s requirements. This information is something we ask every customer, every time.
If you’d like to get a quote for SUPPLY ONLY, we will need the following information from you:
- Product you’re interested in
- Area size
- Project/delivery location
- Your contact details (name, email and phone number)
If you’d like us to SUPPLY AND INSTALL the project for you, we will need everything listed above, as well as the following information:
- Current ground base (e.g. tarmac/grass)
- Any Critical Fall Height requirements (is there any play equipment & what’s the highest platform it has?)
- Access notes (e.g. restricted weight limit roads, steep gradients, on-site parking)
- Any photos of the site (while these are not essential, they give our team a good understanding of your site and makes quoting both quicker and more accurate)
SmartPlay FAQs
25mm or 45mm shock pad that can be installed directly onto grass base to increase Critical Fall height coverage.
SmartPlay offers ground stability and prevents undulations as well as preventing grass mats from sinking. It adheres to British Standards and has a European Patent.
The below results are from independent tests to BS EN 1177 (2018)
EcoSmart and SmartPlay | Concrete (lab) | Grass base (field tests) |
EcoSmart only | 0.80m | 2.25m |
EcoSmart & SmartPlay 25 | 1.95m | 2.90m |
EcoSmart & SmartPlay 45 | 2.55m | >3.00m |
The below results are from independent tests to BS EN 1177 (2008)
FireSmart and SmartPlay | Concrete (lab) | Grass base (field tests) |
FireSmart only | 0.8m | 3.0m |
FireSmart & SmartPlay 25 | 1.5m | 2.6m |
FireSmart & SmartPlay 45 | 2.4m | 3.1m |
Due to the holes in both SmartPlay and our grass matting, grass can re-grow through once the works are completed. SmartPlay enhances grass growth in action areas.
EcoSmart &
FireSmart FAQs
Our mats weigh 13.5kg – the majority of competitors weigh around 11kg. This means the mats are better quality and longer lasting.
Our mats are 23mm thick as standard. In comparison, cheaper mats often have a thinner tile and longer nipples to reduce the overall amount of rubber used. This makes them cheaper to produce but less safe to use.
PlaySmart’s mats have an increased outer edge of 10mm. This prevents cable ties from pulling through the mat when it’s put under stress.
20mm, with 10mm wall between each one to prevent ripping. Cheaper mats often have very large holes as this uses less rubber and reduces cost. This leaves their mats weaker and less durable.
PlaySmart mats always have a smooth, even finish. Cheaper mats using poorly recycled rubber often have visible bits of metal wire or other contaminates in them, this can leave mats with a sharp finish.
Yes, PlaySmart mats passed PAH tests, showing levels of relevant materials were not detected. It is important that mats do not include high levels of PAH materials as they can be potentially dangerous.
PlaySmart have worked closely with the same supplier for 13 years – guaranteeing a consistent and compliant product. We test our mats to BS EN 1177 and recommending the use of SmartPlay shock pads above a 2m CFH, to enhance safety.
The below results are from independent tests to BS EN 1177 (2018)
EcoSmart and SmartPlay | Concrete (lab) | Grass base (field tests) |
EcoSmart only | 0.80m | 2.25m |
SmartPlay 25 | 1.95m | 2.90m |
SmartPlay 45 | 2.55m | >3.00m |
The below results are from independent tests to BS EN 1177 (2008)
FireSmart and SmartPlay | Concrete (lab) | Grass base (field tests) |
FireSmart only | 0.8m | 2.0m |
SmartPlay 25 | 1.5m | 2.6m |
SmartPlay 45 | 2.4m | 3.1m |
FireSmart has been accredited to BS 7044 and will self-extinguish within 60 seconds of ignition. This makes it ideal in vandal-risk and fire-risk areas, or playgrounds with timber equipment.
EcoSmart safety surfacing is the environmentally friendly choice for grass mats. They’re made from recycled rubber, very durable and long lasting and they allow the grass to grow through for natural play.
FireSmart safety surfacing is the original and best fire-retardant grass mat in the UK. They are also made from recycled rubber but are heavier duty than our EcoSmart mats and have been treated for fire resistance.
JungleMulch FAQs
JungleMulch is a premium quality recycled rubber mulch, sourced from truck and airplane tyres which contain no metal fibres. The pieces are pure rubber without the cheaper filler chips and chunks. Made to resemble natural bark, the pieces are large and randomly shaped.
Rubber mulch is one of the most popular products available on the playground surfacing market. Made from shredded recyclable tyres, it’s a water permeable safety surface with the look of natural bark.
Often used in gardens and sustainable landscaping due to its durability and low maintenance requirements, it also has superior weed growth suppression. Rubber mulch doesn’t require replacing like loose fill bark, and our JungleMulch is guaranteed last for at least 3 years.
Loose bark products have been popular in playgrounds for many years but are falling from favour as a result of the costly maintenance required, frequently topping up levels to ensure safety levels are maintained. Having a bound rubber mulch, set into a solid surface brings enhanced, more consistent fall protection. It is also antifungal and reduces risks of splinters or pieces being swallowed. With a bound product, the constant maintenance required to sweep loose bark is removed.
JungleMulch is coloured using an exclusive organic pigmentation system which means the colour is brighter and holds to the rubber far better than water-based alternatives. This does mean the colours available in the range are at the more natural end of the spectrum, but they remain vibrant for a long time giving the product a great life span. JungleMulch is available in a range of both prime colours and blends giving scope for both high impact, bold designs or a more natural finish.
To create a solid surface using the loose rubber pieces we use the best quality binders available. We include binder in all layers of the surface to ensure long term stability and never skimp on quantities to reduce costs. As the product is water permeable and flexible this also makes it ideal for landscaping and tree pits, as it moves with planting rather than against it.
All our installers are trained in house to meet a strict installations specification. This is monitored across all sites to ensure constancy by our Training and Quality Control Manager. JungleMulch also gives added flexibility as it can be installed onto a range of existing bases which can often reduce costly groundworks expenses.
We test our bonded mulch onto concrete to offer the worst-case scenario to give you confidence in the real Critical Fall Height of the product.
Total surface depth | JungleMulch depth | Base Rubber depth | Fall Height |
40mm | 40mm | 0mm | 1.3m (This is our UK standard) |
55mm | 30mm | 25mm | 1.7m |
80mm | 30mm | 50mm | 2.3m |
120mm | 30mm | 90mm | 2.8m |
140mm | 30mm | 110mm | 3.1m |
EPDM wear pads are a section of surfacing which is designed to withstand high usage, such as take-off and landing points and other impact zones. Wear pads increase a surface’s longevity, particularly when using a bonded rubber mulch for the rest of the installation.
RubbaSmart FAQs
RubbaSmart is an impact absorbing safety surface for playgrounds and play areas. It uses a polyurethane/rubber composite mixed on site and wet poured in place to give a durable, low maintenance play surface.
Wet pour is a rubber surface that provides a high quality, hard wearing, slip resistant surface that requires little to no maintenance.
It is made by mixing together rubber EPDM granules with polyurethane glue binder. This is mixed together on site then laid wet onto the play area – hence the name from the way it is poured in place.
Available in a wide range of colours and in a range of thicknesses, RubbaSmart can be used to brighten up any playground whether you want to use solid colour or incorporate crazy designs.
In short, yes! With a smaller granule used for wet pour, anything is possible including more complex designs like logos. You might want to use simple shapes to give a bold look and highlight your kit. Alternatively, you can use the surface to give an overall theme to the area and get really creative! We also offern patterns with our JungleMulch product.
RubbaSmart can be installed on top of existing surfaces such as concrete, tarmac or flags or we can install a sub-base in open textured macadam or type 1 MOT stone.
Installing over existing surfaces can eliminate the need for groundworks but it needs to be in reasonably good condition and may need drainage holes to be drilled across the surface.
Wet pour can be installed on top of existing wet pour, however removal of the old surfacing is preferred.
Where a sub base is to be installed, open textured macadam can be used for surfaces between 20 and 30mm but type 1 MOT stone should be used for surfaces of 40mm or thicker.
Wet pour can be installed on top of existing wet pour, however removal of the old surfacing is preferred.
With age, wet pour surfaces can shrink away from the sides – particularly in the UK where surfaces are put through their paces with a variety of temperatures and weather conditions. PlaySmart UK are well equipped in offering wet pour surface repairs.
The short answer, is yes. If your wet pour play area starts to pull away from the edges, or cracks appear, it is very easy to have the wet pour repaired. The best way to repair wet pour depends on which part of the play area needs fixing.
We always recommend completing a repair in coloured EPDM, as it bonds better to the original surfacing and has a higher tensile strength. The choice of colour is entirely up to you, however, bright colours always make for a great wet pour repair as it can give a new lease of life to the play area.
Wet pour rubber surfacing is a low maintenance product after a new install. However, there are things you can do to keep it looking good and extend the lifespan of your playground flooring. Here are our top tips to clean wet pour safety surfacing:
- Inspect the flooring regularly to check for any foreign objects and damage
- Sweep regularly to remove debris, grime and moss
- Occasional low-pressure washing can wash dirt through to the base and away from the surface
- Remove oil and chewing gum as soon as possible to avoid further damage
Although often specified for aesthetic reasons, RubbaSmart is, above all, a safety surface and can be specified at varying thicknesses in order to provide a range of Critical Fall Heights from 0.6m to 3.0m.