We have a mini playground in our backyard where the kids play that currently has a gravel like rubbery material to absorb shock when the kids fall. Is artificial grass a good alternative to this? Which models are the softest for this job?
 | Apr 9, 2020 3:32 AM |
Absolutely. Artificial grass will be a much better option for playgrounds. Playgrounds get used a lot and I will suggest you to discuss with us when selecting your product, my recommendation is always to go with artificial grass that is lower pile and more durable. More importantly, artificial grass surface needs to have meet certain fall ratings or in the industry's term: GMax. In order to achieve to certain fall ratings, you need to install padding underneath the grass: The pads come in different thicknesses, each thickness offers its own fall rating capacities. For an example, if you want to have a fall rating of 5' which means falling onto the surface from 5' won't get people hurt, the thickness of the pads needs to be 1-1/4", the higher the fall, the thicker of the pads needed.
Again, playground applications can be complicated and please feel free to reach out to us for any further expert opinion and suggestions: https://www.globalsynturf.com/free-quote
There are some pros and cons for each type of artificial grass when using it for playground applications. Here are my opinions:
Read Answer: Can you explain which artificial grass is best for a playground?
The softest artificial grass we offer is our Cashmere series with three faceweights to choose from: 70 oz, 52 oz and 40 oz., the higher the faceweight, the densier the grass. All three Cashmere grasses come with brown thatch which make it very realistic. The shape of the main fibers is Diamond, such fiber profile has the best durability. Your second choice for soft turf is our All Natural-75, very similar as our Cashmere, but a bit more mature look. For any further questions or request for samples, please fill out this online form: https://www.globalsynturf.com/free-quote, or give us a call at 877 796 8873 or email us at [email protected], thank you.
Read Answer: Need a recommendation
The process of installing artificial grass for a playground is pretty much the same as regular artificial grass lawn expect that all of the public playground projects require cushioning pads under the grass. Many residential playground applications don’t have lawn pads under the grass as no special rules or regulations apply, however, all public playgrounds will require the lawn pads to achieve fall ratings for public safety. Let’s look at this in two parts:
Read Answer: How do I install turf under a kids playground?
When it comes to the differences between shock pad and lawn pads, function and technical requirements are the key. For shock pad, it is only 8 mm thick, all it does is to provide extra cushioning feel for artificial grass or putting greens, and that is pretty much it. For lawn pads which come in with different thickness (3/4”, 1-1/4”, 2-1/4”), they are not only providing superior cushions, but also can satisfy the technical requirements of fall ratings (GMax). In general, the 1-1/4” lawn pads will meet the requirements of a 5’ fall rating and 2-1/4” pad can meet 8’ fall rating, stacking 3/4” pad on to 2-1/4” pad, you can achieve a fall rating of 12’! Hopefully this answers your question, please always feel free to let us know if you need further explanations or have any other questions by phone, email ([email protected]), or simply fill out this online form: https://www.globalsynturf.com/free-quote
Read Answer: Lawnpads vs shockpads for playground turf?
Not directly because the gravels might be too big of articles as for the base of artificial grass. When it comes to artificial turf installation, the base is very critical, we need both drainage layers and finer smooth surfaces for turf to go on. If you are considering a permanent installation, please go to this page to get detailed instructions:
Read Answer: Can I put artificial grass on gravel?
Generally speaking, I can categorize artificial grass playgrounds as residential and public. Public playgrounds have strict requirements for fall ratings: from 5’ to 12’ or even higher which means people won’t get hurt if they fall from 5’ to 12’. In order to achieve such fall ratings while using artificial grass for public playgrounds, you will need to use lawn pads under the artificial grass to provide enough cushioning. Lawn pads come in as 3/4”, 1-1/4” and 2-1/4” in thickness. To achieve a 5’ fall rating, 1-1/4” thickness lawn pad is required. 2-1/4” thick lawn pad will provide a 8’ fall rating. In order to get higher fall ratings, multiple layers of lawn pads will be required.
Read Answer: What steps should I take to ensure safety for my artificial playground
