Safety Surfacing
Investing in proper safety surfacing continues to be the primary decision that helps prevent significant injuries on the playground. At Northwest Playground Equipment we are your resource for exploring, planning, and making a decision on the right safety surfacing for your playground project.
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We’re experts at ensuring that when it comes to surfacing there are no questions unanswered, whether it be color options or sub base requirements.
Safety Surfacing Options:
Loose Fill
Loose fill surfacing defines any safety surface that is made up of loose granules that cover an area to a specified depth to provide impact attenuation. These surfaces tend to be the most cost effective but also require the most maintenance. Examples include:
- Engineered Wood Fiber
- Pea Gravel
- Shredded Rubber
Unitary
Unitary surfacing represents any surface that is bonded together. These surfaces offer 24/7 protection from falls and when installed appropriately also provide for complete ADA accessibility. Examples include:
- Rubber Safety Tile
- Playground Grass
- Poured-in-Place Rubber
- Corkeen
Safety Tile
At Northwest Playground Equipment we believe safety is our first priority when engaging in any new playground project, and when it comes to surfacing there is no safer product on the market than duraSAFE Rubber Playground Tiles by sofSURFACES. Our 2’x2’ tile system comes with an industry-leading Lifetime Warranty for performance meaning that we guarantee the tile will continue to meet fall rating for the life of the surface.
If safety isn’t enough, tile comes with a wide array of color options allowing for super creative patterns and design to add an additional element of interest to the playground.
Safety Tile Examples
Playground Grass
Playground Grass offers a tactile experience unlike any other surface on the market, providing the benefits of fall protection with the aesthetics of a beautifully kept lawn. When you see a new park opened with playground grass you’ll immediately notice children sitting on the ground and engaging with the surface much like its natural counterpart.
We can get creative with playground grass too, forming it over landscape features or hills, and even incorporating different colors! For inclusive areas where static buildup may create issues for parkgoers with coclear devices we even have a line that eliminates static!
Playground Grass Examples
Poured-in-Place
Out of all the unitary surfaces available, Poured-in-Place offers the single most design potential. This two layer system is mixed and poured onsite allowing for any color combination imaginable. The design potential with Poured-in-Place is limitless and our skilled installers can even incorporate intricate logos and text!
Poured-in-Place Examples
Corkeen
Corkeen is an innovative solution produced with cork, a 100 % natural raw material, for retained fall systems as playgrounds.
Developed and produced by Amorim, the cork industry leader, the Corkeen system is safe in the event of a fall, accessible, and environmentally friendly.
Produced with cork, a raw material of natural origin, reusable and recyclable, the Corkeen system is sustainable, ecological, and a safe solution.
Corkeen Examples
Engineered Wood Fiber
Still the most popular surface for playground surfacing, Engineered Wood Fiber takes the traditional wood chip a step further by ensuring a consistent cedar material which undergoes a secondary tumbling process to help make each fiber more consistent allowing it to actually knit together once installed.
Our Engineered Wood Fiber is IPEMA Certified meaning it is certified to meet all of the required playground safety requirements necessary.
Engineered Wood Fiber Examples
Other Options
Have another idea? Ask and we can help! We’ve helped source and install everything from pea gravel to sand depending on our Customer’s needs.
How we support you during the Planning and Design Phase
Every project starts with a dream, and at Northwest Playground Equipment it's our calling to make that dream a reality.
Give us a call and let our expert Parks Consultants help be a resource to guide your project wherever you are in the process.
- Site Visits - The first step of almost any project is arranging a site visit with our local Parks Consultants. During our first meeting we'll discuss the project goals, understand any site specific conditions, and develop a scope of work to get us started on putting together designs and budget estimates.
- CAD + Renderings - After our initial site visit we'll take our understanding of your site and work with our in-house Designer to develop detailed CAD drawings and 3D renderings of initial concepts.
- Fundraising Support - Are you looking to raise money for a project? At Northwest Playground Equipment we keep up to date on the pulse of national and local funding opportunities to help supplement your project project budgets.
- And It's All Free! - Being a resource for park planning is a service we take pride in so much so that all of our front end planning efforts are a no-cost service that we provide to help make your project a success. It's as easy as giving us a call or e-mail to get started!
From park benches to splash pads and everything in between, we represent the highest quality manufacturers in outdoor park amenities.
- Exclusive Products - Most of our lines are exclusive across our territories meaning we are your one stop shop for all your park amenities!
- Leading Manufacturers - We represent more than a dozen leading manufacturers who share our passion for building community through their park solutions. Our catalog of manufacturers is made up of manyof the leading experts in their respective fields, and includes coveted award winners of the GOOD DESIGN Award and the Red Dot Award.
- Extraordinary Selection - Have an idea for an outdoor space but don't see an example on our website? We can help! Just give us a call to let our expert Park Consultants be a resource for helping to identify a solution to any problem.
We can help take your project all the way through from design to construction with full installation for all of our park equipment amenities. It doesn't stop there, need additional site work completed as part of the project? Just ask and we can oversee as much or as little of the project as you need.
Full installation and site work services are also available through our many Cooperative Purchasing Contracts for all of our public-sector customers.
- Certified Installation - Everything we install comes backed by our team of Certified Installers who ensure that each and every component is installed per Manucturer recommendations and we are compliant with all current safety standards.
- Site Work Management - Does you new Shelter need a concrete pad and walkway? Or would you like a vinyl-coated fence around your future play area? If you have a site work need associated with your park project let us know and we can help manage that portion of the project. Even available through our many Cooperative Purchasing Contracts!
- On-Site Supervision - It's always great to get the community involved in a project, and if that's your goal we can help provide an experienced on-site Supervisor for the duration of a weekend volunteer build.
Building Community Through Play isn't a short term mission, it means that each and every project we're a part of forms a relationship that lasts for the life of that park or amenity.
Our Team is here to support you through it all!
- Dedicated, Family-Run Business - We take pride in having a strong history as a local family owned and operated business since 1996. That history extends to each and every one of our customers who together become a part of the larger Northwest Playground Equipment family.
- Replacement Parts and Service - We're here to support you in good times and bad, and understand that sometimes there's nothing more frustrating than a broken or vandalized piece of equipment. If you're having an equipment issue just contact your local Parks Consultant who can help identify a solution to get your park back up and running in no time.
Our Partners
Unitary Surface. Rubber Tile. Lifetime Warranty.
Unitary Surface. Tactile. Playground Grass.
Loose Fill. Cedar. IPEMA Certified.
Unitary Surface. Poured-in-Place.
Unitary Surface. Poured-in-Place.
Unitary Surface. Cork.