2808 10TH ST 2025-03-28 - Laserfiche WebLink

TH E PLAY G ID U N DSA FETY �. S U FIFA C EC A EG O FV A N D IT'S EVO W MO N From Dirt and Paving Materials, to " Sand and Pea G ravel, to Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) and Rubber Chips When playgrounds got their start in the U.S. during the early 1900's, early play structures w Ere erected on hard 40k,�' '• ground such as soil and other hard surface materials. Due to the high amount of injuries, playground builders and designers quickly realized that different surface materials w Ere needed to absorb the impact of landings and falls. Sand was one of the first such safety surfaces used, due to its availability and cost effectiveness. But it w as quickly discarded because sand w f found to be just as unsuitable as a safety surface, because it becomes very hard when wet and does not minimize injuries from falls. This spurred the next step in the evolution of playground safety surfaces of loose-fill materials, including engineered wood fiber(EWF), rubber chips and pea gravel. These loose-fill materials offered somedegree of fall protection, but still created safety hazards like splinters from wood-based materials as wdl as choke hazards from children putting the loose chips and pea gravel in their noses, mouths and ears. And, with use, these loose-fill materials are often displaced from being directly under the play structures. Sharp objects can also get m ked in with loose-fill materials and pose unsuspected, hidden hazards. Further, the loose-fill materials are fairly dirty.... as the w ood-based chips decompose and after rainy or snow yw mther w hich allow sm ud and dirt to rise to the surface and coat the loose-fill materials. Mold and mildew growth is quite common on loose-fill materials and they are also ideal hiding places for insects, snakes and rodents. r - u ' s 0\ s '�-"' 1/111111/�111\//1\/ICl/I 111/111/TM "For4rLawd