Which playground surface is the safest for children?

Wood mulch is a popular surface for playgrounds. It is often during swings and the gym where the kids play and where sometimes the kids fall. Wood mulch is preferred over most and has been tested to be safe. Still, is it the safest option for children?

Woodfall, often referred to as Engineered Wood Fiber, is a certified product that complies with all applicable guidelines, with ASTM, CPSC and IPEMA certifications. Woodworking is tested to be safe. Yet, when brand new, it is tested to the perfect depth, frozen and pristine. It may be safe in the lab - but children play in playgrounds, not in labs. What happens when mulch gets wet and compressed? What happens when the fresh, moist, mulch dries out after being in the sun? It may no longer meet the safety standards.

Some of the mulch marketed as a playground surface is the same product used for mulch gardens. The wood fiber surfaces can come from recycled wood material. The problem is that wooden pallets are made of treated wood, which has proven to be toxic. It could contain nails and staples that were mixed into the shredded mulch. Still, woodworking is one of the most widely used ‘safety surfaces’ in the United States.

The websites of the largest woodworking manufacturers in the United States reveal. They have a long list of disclaimers 안전놀이터.

Some Direct Quotes: According to Zeager.com "Under freezing conditions, all of our playground surfaces will naturally be less elastic, especially with poor drainage. Limit use of the area accordingly."

Fibar.com says: "Should there be moisture accumulation in the Fibar system, it freezes as the temperature drops below the freezing mark. Check your surface frequently in winter weather. . "

Are they suggesting that playgrounds be shut down for months? Children do not refrain from using the playground in cold weather.

One would think that in woodworking would be safe in the heat of summer. But tree cloth also proved to be dangerous during the dry summer season. The manufacturers say that "in a dry season, it may be necessary to moisten the wood fiber surface with water to ensure a sufficient moisture content to withstand flammability."

Amerimulch.com explains that spontaneous burning of mulch is not a mystery; it is the natural result of chemical reactions in organic materials. A CBS news article reported on a playground at a school in Arlington, Texas, which spontaneously burned due to smoldering woodwork.

Fortunately, no children played on the playground. You could always choose to use a fire retardant, but then it is no longer a natural, chemical-free alternative.