US researchers complete 1-year study of rubber playground surfaces

ERJ staff report (DS)

Bloomington, Indiana -- Researchers at the US-based National Center on Accessibility at the University of Indiana have completed the first year of a 5-year study on the effectiveness of various chidrens' playground surfaces - with special emphasis on disability access.

The NCA study, which is being funded by the U.S. Access Board, is examining the performance of various types of surfacing materials at 25 newly constructed playgrounds, including poured-in-place rubber, engineered wood fiber, rubber tiles, and hybrid surface systems.

Playground sites with loose fill engineered wood fiber were found to have the greatest number of deficiencies affecting the accessible route to play components, including a lack of firmness and stability;

Rubber tile and poured-in-place rubber surfaces were found to have the highest level of firmness and stability;

Besides firmness and stability issues, many surfaces had noncompliant slopes, cross slopes and changes in level; and

In some instances, surface materials were not installed according to manufacturers' recommendations to achieve an accessible surface.

Even within 12 months of installation, each type of surface studied was found to have accessibility, safety, or maintenance issues. Poured-in-place rubber installed at one site was not resilient enough to meet ASTM standards for impact attenuation.

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Press release from National Center on Accessibility

Executive Summary of report from National Center on Accessibility

download full interim report from National Center on Accessibility