Statistics show us that 70 percent of swing set and playground injuries are caused by falls to the ground. Knowing this, it makes sense to have an impact-absorbing surface underneath. While the rubber matting found in playgrounds is excellent, it must be installed over asphalt or concrete, and most us do not want to pave over an area of our backyard. The most appropriate surface for backyard sets is called loose fill. It consists of either sand, wood chips, cedar mulch, pea gravel or shredded rubber. Cedar mulch and rubber chips are best, with shredded rubber unsurpassed in impact absorption. Shredded rubber does not break down or need to be added to each season, and it does not promote fungus growth or attract insects and animals. There should be no roots or rocks under the loose fill material. These will eventually become exposed and present a hazard.
The safety surface needs a border around it so that it does not spread out onto your surrounding lawn. The border can be constructed of wood railroad ties, plastic or composite lumber, or a box can be excavated around the swing set and the ground can provide a border. Whichever material or border type you choose, the loose fill material should be a minimum of 6 to 8 inches deep. Periodically, the kicked-out material under the slide and swings should be raked back into place. Place a piece of rubber mat or indoor/outdoor carpet in these high traffic areas to help keep the material in place.
There should be at least 6 feet between the end of the slide and the border. For swings, the border should be twice the height of the crossbeam from the swings. For example, if your crossbeam height is 7 feet, then the border should be 14 feet from the swings, front and back. If you don’t have that much space, make the distance as great as possible.
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