Safety from the ground up

Falls are part of playing, climbing and jumping – what matters is how effectively the surface absorbs the impact. A suitable safety surface reduces impact energy and helps protect against serious injuries. For this reason, impact-absorbing surfacing is essential beneath playground equipment such as swings, climbing frames or calisthenics structures.

Modern safety surfacing systems ensure that children and adults can move freely while benefiting from maximum protection at all times.

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Seamless safety without trip hazards

There are many options when it comes to playground safety surfacing – ranging from loose-fill materials such as sand and wood chips, to rubber safety tiles and seamlessly installed synthetic surfaces.

Seamless safety surfacing offers a key advantage over tiles or loose materials: there are no joints, edges or trip hazards. The continuous surface provides maximum safety, ensures barrier-free accessibility and prevents material displacement. At the same time, it creates a clean, uniform appearance that combines functionality with aesthetics.

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Safety surfacing has long become more than just a protective measure – it is now an integral design element in modern play environments. With a wide range of colours and clearly defined colour areas, individual designs can be created and tailored specifically to the intended use of the space.

Systems such as Stylemaker make it possible to transform these designs into graphic elements, images or themed environments – from two-dimensional motifs to complex play landscapes.

This creates particular added value on playgrounds: different zones such as swings, slides or climbing areas can be visually separated without the need for additional structural elements. At the same time, shapes and motifs create imaginative play worlds that naturally engage children and encourage creativity. A special highlight is the possibility of three-dimensional design.

Certified safety – compliant safety surfacing

Safety surfacing is subject to clearly defined standards and testing procedures. A key factor is the so-called critical fall height – the maximum height from which a fall can be safely absorbed. This is determined by the HIC value (Head Injury Criterion) and regulated under DIN EN 1177.

Polytan safety surfacing systems reliably meet these requirements and provide consistently high impact absorption – even under intensive use and varying weather conditions. Polytan safety surfacing is also tested in accordance with ASTM F1292-09 (Sports and Recreation Standards) and is RAL-certified.

As a partner of the BSFH, Polytan stands for certified quality and professionally delivered solutions.

Engineered from the ground up

A safety surfacing system consists of several perfectly coordinated layers that work together to ensure safety and durability. This layered construction ensures that the system is not only visually appealing but, above all, highly functional.

The base layer – also known as the elastic layer – is made from recycled materials and reliably absorbs impact forces. The coloured wear layer, made from EPDM granules, is slip-resistant and easy to maintain. Thanks to its water-permeable properties, the surface dries quickly after rainfall.

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Long-term reliability

In everyday use, the safety surfacing impresses with its low maintenance requirements. As there are no joints or loose materials, there is no risk of material displacement or compaction. Maintenance is limited to simple measures such as removing dirt or leaves, supplemented where necessary by professional cleaning from the Polytan service team. Intensive cleaning is generally only required every two to three years.

This results in a durable, safe and visually appealing surface that performs reliably over time – with minimal maintenance effort and reduced operating costs.