Safe from the ground up

When playing, climbing or jumping, falls are part of the game – what matters is how the surface cushions them. A suitable safety surfacing reduces impact energy and thus protects against serious injuries. A shock-absorbing surface is therefore essential, particularly beneath play equipment such as swings, climbing frames or calisthenics elements. Modern safety surfacing systems ensure that children and adults can move freely – with maximum safety in the background.

Seamless safety without trip hazards

The choice of safety surfacing for playgrounds is wide – ranging from loose bulk materials such as sand and wood chips to rubber safety tiles and seamlessly installed synthetic surfaces. Seamless safety surfaces offer a decisive advantage over tiles or loose material: there are no transitions, edges or trip hazards. The continuous surface ensures maximum safety, is accessible without barriers and prevents material displacement. At the same time, it creates a calm, homogeneous appearance – functional and aesthetic in equal measure.

Safety surfacing has long been more than just a safety measure – it is becoming an active design element of modern play areas. With a wide selection of colours and clearly defined colour areas, individual designs can be realised that are specifically tailored to the usage concept. Systems such as Stylemaker turn these into graphic elements, images or themed worlds – from two-dimensional motifs to complex play landscapes.

On playgrounds in particular, this offers decisive added value: different areas such as swings, slides or climbing zones can be clearly distinguished from one another visually, without additional structural elements. At the same time, shapes and motifs create imaginative play worlds that intuitively appeal to children and foster their creativity. A special highlight is three-dimensional design.

Proven safe – safety surfacing to standard

Safety surfaces are subject to clearly defined standards and test procedures. The decisive factor is the so-called critical fall height – that is, the maximum height from which a fall can be safely cushioned. This is determined by the HIC value (Head Injury Criterion) and is regulated in DIN EN 1177.

Polytan safety surfacing systems reliably meet these requirements and provide consistently high shock absorption – even under intensive use and varying weather conditions. Polytan safety surfaces are also tested to ASTM F1292-09 (Sports Standards and Recreation Standards) and RAL-certified.

Thought through from the bottom up

A safety surfacing system consists of several coordinated layers that together ensure safety and durability. The interplay of these layers ensures that the safety surfacing is convincing not only visually but, above all, functionally. The base layer, also known as the elastic layer, is made of recycled material and safely cushions falls. The coloured top layer of EPDM granulate is slip-resistant and easy to care for. Thanks to its water permeability, the surfaces dry off quickly again after a downpour.

Reliable for the long term

In everyday use, the safety surfacing impresses with its low maintenance requirements. As there are no joints or loose materials, neither material displacement nor compaction occurs. Care is limited to simple measures such as removing dirt or leaves, supplemented when needed by professional cleaning from the Polytan service team. Intensive cleaning is generally only necessary every two to three years.

The result is a durable, safe and visually appealing surface that works permanently – with minimal maintenance effort and reduced operating costs.