Installation Steps
Site Preparation: The size of the play area will depend on the size of your playground equipment. The area should be large enough to contain the playground equipment plus the minimum fall areas for that equipment, as suggested in Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recommendations for playgrounds. In addition, your base (surface of the site before installation) should be level and even, over the entire area.
Retention: Some type of fixed border or boundary material enclosing the playground area is required (sidewalk, concrete, lumber, etc., or some combination of similar durable materials). Without lasting borders, your new Play N’ Fall surface will gradually drift away from the playground area into surrounding areas. Retaining borders will prevent this from happening. Ask your equipment sales representative for assistance; he or she often has a variety of products and materials available.
Depth of Material: We recommend using a minimum of nine inches of compressed Play N’ Fall material as suggested by Consumer Product Safety Commission. For playground equipment over six feet in height, ask your equipment sales representative for assistance and increase the depth of Play N’ Fall accordingly. At least 10-12 inches of loose fill material is necessary to bind (pack together) sufficiently and provide a sturdy, usable surface. The deeper the surface, the more resilience and “give” it will have. You will also experience less mechanical breakdown and a longer-lasting installation of your playground equipment.
Clear the Site: After the playground equipment is installed, clear the site of all unwanted dirt and debris to prepare for the Play N’ Fall installation. It is important to avoid contamination of the Play N’ Fall material with dirt or other substances, as they may increase decomposition of the Play N’ Fall. Make sure your cleared site (base surface) is smooth and level across the entire area, so you can maintain an even depth during installation.
Prepare Subgrade: Because Tucson area topsoil is so hard and compacted, it is important to add drainage to your playground area. Once your base is cleared and smooth, a 3 inch layer of loose fill gravel pea gravel should be spread as suggested in Consumer Product Safety Commission. Geotextile landscape fabric is place on top of the pea gravel to create a barrier between the gravel and woodchips to prevent them from mixing.
Spreading the Material: The Play N’ Fall material will be loose when it first arrives. Begin by spreading the Play N’ Fall material 5 – 6 inches in depth over the entire playground area, watering it in as you go. A tape measure or stick marker is helpful with this. Watering will wash out the dust and wash the fine particles down, which will permit the Play N’ Fall material to set properly and become more resilient. After covering the entire playground area with Play N’ Fall, water it in by applying a heavy flow of water. Your goal is to saturate the material heavily: the water needs to penetrate the Play N’ Fall thoroughly from top to bottom
Rolling the Material: Once you have watered in the entire playground area for the first time, apply a water-filled lawn roller (weighing roughly 300-400 lbs.) in two (2) directions across the entire area. Once the first layer is completed, spread the remaining woodchips evenly over the first layer, water in the Play N’ Fall material correctly and thoroughly, and roll it in both directions. After the Play N’ Fall material has been installed, watered, and rolled; conduct a final walk-through over the playground site.
Retention: Some type of fixed border or boundary material enclosing the playground area is required (sidewalk, concrete, lumber, etc., or some combination of similar durable materials). Without lasting borders, your new Play N’ Fall surface will gradually drift away from the playground area into surrounding areas. Retaining borders will prevent this from happening. Ask your equipment sales representative for assistance; he or she often has a variety of products and materials available.
Depth of Material: We recommend using a minimum of nine inches of compressed Play N’ Fall material as suggested by Consumer Product Safety Commission. For playground equipment over six feet in height, ask your equipment sales representative for assistance and increase the depth of Play N’ Fall accordingly. At least 10-12 inches of loose fill material is necessary to bind (pack together) sufficiently and provide a sturdy, usable surface. The deeper the surface, the more resilience and “give” it will have. You will also experience less mechanical breakdown and a longer-lasting installation of your playground equipment.
Clear the Site: After the playground equipment is installed, clear the site of all unwanted dirt and debris to prepare for the Play N’ Fall installation. It is important to avoid contamination of the Play N’ Fall material with dirt or other substances, as they may increase decomposition of the Play N’ Fall. Make sure your cleared site (base surface) is smooth and level across the entire area, so you can maintain an even depth during installation.
Prepare Subgrade: Because Tucson area topsoil is so hard and compacted, it is important to add drainage to your playground area. Once your base is cleared and smooth, a 3 inch layer of loose fill gravel pea gravel should be spread as suggested in Consumer Product Safety Commission. Geotextile landscape fabric is place on top of the pea gravel to create a barrier between the gravel and woodchips to prevent them from mixing.
Spreading the Material: The Play N’ Fall material will be loose when it first arrives. Begin by spreading the Play N’ Fall material 5 – 6 inches in depth over the entire playground area, watering it in as you go. A tape measure or stick marker is helpful with this. Watering will wash out the dust and wash the fine particles down, which will permit the Play N’ Fall material to set properly and become more resilient. After covering the entire playground area with Play N’ Fall, water it in by applying a heavy flow of water. Your goal is to saturate the material heavily: the water needs to penetrate the Play N’ Fall thoroughly from top to bottom
Rolling the Material: Once you have watered in the entire playground area for the first time, apply a water-filled lawn roller (weighing roughly 300-400 lbs.) in two (2) directions across the entire area. Once the first layer is completed, spread the remaining woodchips evenly over the first layer, water in the Play N’ Fall material correctly and thoroughly, and roll it in both directions. After the Play N’ Fall material has been installed, watered, and rolled; conduct a final walk-through over the playground site.