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<br />Comparison Chart
<br />According to the "Handbook for Playground Safety", Appendix C (CPSC)
<br />
<br /> Organic Loose Inorganic Loose '- , ""';, "'-'~ c~ Unitary Synthetic
<br /> " ;:C" .. ',,' '.~' -<.; -~r
<br /> Material Material "" , Materials
<br /> CC.',;".."';:d : "'c.;
<br /> wood chips, bark mulch, sand and gravel shredded tires rubber or rubber over foam mats
<br /> engineered wood fiber, etc. or tiles, poured-in-place urethane
<br /> and rubber compositions
<br />- Installation! lnstallation! fnst2;}6_'~1cr
<br /> Maintenance Maintenance r\~ c;; nte 112 ~!(:~'-e !nstallation!
<br /> /ill Should not be installed over II Should not be installed over ;;' Should not be installed over Maintenance
<br /> existing hard surfaces (e.g., existing hard surfaces (e.g., asphalt, existing hard surfaces (e.g., i'.i Some unitary materials can be
<br /> asphalt, concrete). concrete) asphalt, concrete) laid directly on hard surfaces
<br /> iii Requires a method of II Method of containment needed !Z Method of containment such as asphalt or concrete.
<br /> containment (e.g., retaining (e.g.,retaining barrier, excavated pit) needed (e.g., retaining barrier, Z Others may require expert
<br /> barrier, excavated pit) II Good drainage required under- excavated pit) under-surface preparation and
<br /> Ii! Requires good drainage neath material :3 Good drainage required installation by the manufacturer
<br /> undemeath material .. Requires periodic renewal or underneath material or a local contractor.
<br /> I1lI Requires periodic renewal replacement and continuous l<: Requires continuous III Materials generally require no
<br /> or replacement and continu- maintenance (e.g. leveling, grading, maintenance (e.g., leveling, additional means of contain men!.
<br /> ous maintenance (e.g., sifting', raking) to maintain appropri- grading, sifting, raking) to !I'I Once installed, the materials
<br /> leveling, grading sifting, ate depth and remove foreign matter maintain appropriate depth and require minimal maintenance
<br /> raking) to maintain appropri- II Compacted sand should periodi- remove foreign matter
<br /> ate depth and remove foreign cally be turned over, loosened, and Advantages
<br /> matter cleaned -',c' I!il Low maintenance
<br /> . Gravel may require periodic break 0i Ease ofinstallation ll!i Easy to clean
<br /> Advantages up and removal of hard pan IE Has superior shock absorbing I!1i Consistent shock absorbency
<br /> III Low initial cost capability I!i Material not displaced by
<br /> III Ease of installation Advantages :2 Is not abrasive children during play activities
<br /> ti! Good drainage . Low initial cost ['!2 Less likely to compact than i1I Generally low life cycle costs
<br /> III Less abrasive than sand III Ease of installation other loose-fill materials B Good footing (depends on
<br /> Bil Less attractive to cats and . Does not pulverize il Not ideal for microbial growth surface texture)
<br /> dogs (compared to sand) III Not ideal for microbial growth STI Does not deteriorate over time Ill! Harbor few foreign objects
<br /> !ill Attractive appearance II Nonflammable ~ Generally no retaining edges
<br /> I!!l Readily available . Materials are readily available Disachlantages I needed
<br /> iii Not susceptible to vandalism f!' Is flammable Ills accessible to the handi-
<br /> Disadvantages except by contamination !'E Unless treated, may cause capped
<br /> The following conditions may III Gravel is less attractive to animals soiling of clothing
<br /> reduce cushioning potential: than sand f!i May contain steel wires from Disadvantages
<br /> I!l Rainy weather, high steel belted tires (Note: Some i.llnitial cost relatively high
<br /> humidity, freezing tempera- Disadvantages manufacturers provide a wire- m Undersurfacing may be critical
<br /> tures The following conditions may reduce free guarantee) forthinner materials
<br /> Bil With nonmal use overtime, cushioning potential: Rainy weather, Depth may be reduced due to II Often must be used on almost
<br /> combines with dirt and other high humidity, freezing temperatures displacement by children's level unifonm surfaces
<br /> foreign materials III With normal use, combines with activities a May be flammable
<br /> 2 Overtime, decomposes, is dirt and other foreign materials rz May be swallowed III Subject to vandalism (e.g.,
<br /> pulverized, and compacts II Depth may be reduced due to ignited, defaced, cut)
<br /> requiring replenishment displacement by children's activities I'll Full rubber tiles may curl up
<br /> I!il Depth may be reduced by and sand may be blown by wind and cause tripping
<br /> displacement due to III May be blown or thrown into 9 Some designs susceptible to
<br /> children's activities or by children's eyes frost damage
<br /> material being blown bywind III May be swallowed
<br /> ~ Can be blown or thrown II Conceals animal excrement and
<br /> into children's eyes trash (e.g., broken glass, nails,
<br /> Ii! Subject to microbial growth pencils, and other sharp objects that
<br /> when wet can cause cut and puncture wounds)
<br /> E Conceals animal excre-
<br /> ment and trash (e.g., broken Sand:
<br /> glass, nails, pencils, and III Spreads easily outside of
<br /> other sharp objects that can containment area
<br /> cause cut and puncture III Small particles bind together and
<br /> wounds) become less cushioning when wet;
<br /> liil Spreads easily outside of when thoroughly we, sand reacts as
<br /> containment area a rigid material
<br /> !ill Can be flammable II May be tracked out of play area on
<br /> l:l Subject to theft by shoes; abrasive to floor surfaces
<br /> neighborhood residents for when tracked indoors; abrasive to
<br /> use as mulch plastic materials
<br /> Ii Adheres to clothing
<br /> III Susceptible to fouling by animals
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