A Use Zone is the floor surface area under and around any play equipment, climber, climbing gym slide, or loft onto which a child falling from or exiting from the equipment would be expected to land. ASTM standards and Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines dictate how many linear feet out from each play unit will be included in a Use Zone. A Use Zone would be 6 feet of open space surrounding the play equipment; however, some exceptions do exist. Our team will be happy to discuss Use Zone in more detail and help you determine the Use Zone of your play area.
The Critical Fall Height is the vertical distance between the surface of the play area and the highest designated play area. As described in ASTM F-1292, this height determines the impact attenuation, or shock absorbency, required of a play surface. Our products have been tested and approved for 2 ft to 6 ft Critical Fall Heights.
There’s a lot of important information about Critical Fall Height. If you’d like to know more, we have a page dedicated to providing more information here.
The US Consumer Products Safety Commission has notified childcare centers of the risks involved using lofts, climbing gyms and other play units indoors.
Below is the text of the US CPSC document: CPSC Document #5119, Consumer Product Safety Report
Never Put Children's Climbing Gyms on Hard Surfaces, Indoors or OutdoorsThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning parents and daycare providers that children's plastic climbing equipment should not be used indoors on wood or cement floors, even if covered with carpet, such as indoor/out-door, shag or other types of carpet. Carpet does not provide adequate protection to prevent injuries.
CPSC has reports of two children killed and hundreds injured at home and at day-care centers when they fell from climbing equipment placed indoors on cement, wood or carpeted floors (i.e. carpet without compliant shock absorbing cushion attached).
Parents and child care-givers should put all climbing equipment outdoors on surfaces such as sand or mulch to prevent children's head injuries. Manufacturers of plastic climbing equipment are labeling their products with warnings to NEVER put the equipment on concrete, asphalt, wood, or other hard surfaces and that carpet (alone) may NOT prevent injury.
For more information on child safety, call the Consumer Product Safety Commission at (800) 638-2772.
The only advantage of using foam mats is the price. The low cost is a result of low-level construction practices, including using recycled materials.
Despite thorough cleaning practices, foam mats collect bacteria and can lead to illness. The hygienic properties of foam mats are not in the same classification as SafeLandings® Systems.
The constant pressure of heavy activity and play wear out a foam mat quickly, leading to constant replacement. Also, they slip and slide and move out of place, creating a potential tripping hazard to small children.
Rubber tiles are made for outdoor use, and are porous, which means they absorb liquids. As mold and mildew accumulate, so do the odors. The lingering smells are difficult to mitigate.
Each SafeLandings® System is manufactured to last longer than 10 years with normal care and maintenance. All SafeLandings® Systems are easy to clean, and each system is highly durable.
Our unique flooring system is a safe and healthy solution for indoor play spaces.
SafeLandings® Shock Absorbing Flooring Systems™ meet Federal, state and CPSC guidelines pertaining to life threatening or debilitating injuries resulting from a fall. All SafeLandings® systems are manufactured with LiquidBarrier™, a proprietary moisture barrier that is water and fluid resistant. This prevents liquids from seeping below the topcoat level, reducing the development of mold or mildew and making cleaning quick and easy.
To reduce wear, carpet should be vacuumed daily. Vacuuming daily will not guarantee appearance retention.
When spills and accident occur:- Wet stains or fluid spills (especially spills or accidents with a high PH) should be cleaned up immediately using an absorbent white cotton towel or a dry sponge. Use of clean water to dilute the liquid is recommended followed by blotting with an absorbent white cotton towel. Always blot, never rub. Excess fluid should be removed from the carpet using a Wet/Dry Vac.
- Dry stains will require an initial clean-up followed by gently scooping solids with a spoon or dull knife. Blot the area with an absorbent white cotton towel, sponge or paper towel. After blotting the area, you may use clean water or a non-residual commercial carpet cleaner (dry or liquid aerosol), following the manufacturer’s instructions. Rinse thoroughly by spraying with clean water, followed by blotting or extraction with a cotton towel or wet-vac machine. Be sure to remove dry stains, marks and chewing gum daily.
PERIODIC CLEANING:
Carpet must be cleaned regularly by a CRI certified cleaner. As required by SafeLandings Worldwide, the cleaning should be performed using a commercial hot-water extraction carpet-cleaning machine, one that is not based on a bonnet system. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for using the machine, including pre-treatments of heavily soiled or stained areas. Frequency of cleaning will depend on the ages of the children and how heavily the area is used. For average use levels, clean the carpet at least every one to three months. For heavy use, clean soiled areas weekly or daily. In no case should the SafeLandings® System topcoat be cleaned less than once per year.
Do not use harsh chemicals, bleach or ammonia-based products on the carpet fibers without checking with SafeLandings Worldwide LLC to be safe. Do not saturate with liquids. When mopping or buffing adjacent hard surface floors, for longer appearance retention, care should be taken at transition edges to protect from damage. Hand wiping is recommended since damage to perimeter edges is not covered under the Warranty.