Safety Surfacing for Playgrounds

Choosing the right safety surface helps protect children while they play. At Synergy Outdoors, we can advise you on a wide range of options. These include wet pour rubber, rubber mulch, grass mats and artificial grass.

Each surface has its own benefits, costs and maintenance needs. Some options may not suit the location or the type of play equipment. We will assess your site and help you find a safe, practical solution that works within your budget.

Finding the Right Surface

Before choosing a surface, we consider the critical fall height of the play equipment. This is the distance from the highest point where a child can stand to the surface below. It helps us work out the type and depth of surfacing needed to absorb an impact.

Hard surfaces are not normally suitable beneath play equipment, although they may be used in some access or transition areas. The right choice will depend on the equipment, ground conditions, expected use and level of maintenance available.

Loose materials such as bark and sand need regular care to keep them at a safe depth. Firmer surfaces may be better for busy playgrounds or areas with moving equipment. Accessibility and drainage should also be considered.

Synergy Outdoors will help you choose suitable safety surfacing for your project. We work with trusted suppliers and use high-quality, tested materials. Our recommendations take account of relevant playground safety standards, including BS EN 1177 and BS 7188.

Close-up of wood mulch composed of shredded bark and small wood chips.

- Screened and processed to remove 98% of fines
- Nominal particle size range of between 15-60mm
- Compliant with Industry Standards EN1176/1177

- Recycled material
- Conforms to the requirements of EN1176

Playground with a colorful rubber safety surface, a metal spinning toy in the center, and wooden play structures with slides in the background, surrounded by a fence and greenery.

Wet Pour rubber safety surfacing provides a durable, water-permeable, and decorative solution for outdoor play areas.
- Consists of two layers: a base of SBR recycled tyre rubber and a top layer of coloured EPDM rubber crumb.
- Bound using a flexible, single-part moisture-curing polyurethane binder.
- Suitable for installation on concrete, asphalt, compacted stone sub-bases, and existing surfaces.
- Available in a wide range of colours and can incorporate bespoke graphics.
- Ideal for creating vibrant, custom finishes that complement play space themes and equipment.

A playground with wood chips, a wooden fence, and vertical wooden posts, set against a background of parked cars, green mobile homes, and a wooded hillside.

- Made from 100% Recycled Wood
- High Impact Absorption
- Compliant with Industry Standards EN1176/1177

Close-up of green grass growing in a tray underneath a wooden structure, with two people standing in the background.

Grassmat is an eco-friendly, non-slip, and impact-absorbing safety surface made from high-quality recycled materials. With a slightly softer composition than Grasslok, it blends naturally into the environment as grass grows through, providing a discreet and natural look.
- Thickness: 23mm
- Fall Protection: Tested up to 3m CFH (depending on soil conditions)
- Ideal For: Soft ground and areas requiring higher impact absorption
Key Benefits:
- Non-slip surface
- Wheelchair and pushchair accessible
- Year-round installation
- Minimal maintenance required
- 10-year product guarantee
Installation requires no specialist tools, and we recommend a ground-stabilising mesh for soft or unstable ground to prevent sinking and enhance durability.

A sandbox with two large tractor tires inside, set on a grassy field surrounded by a wooden frame. In the background, there are fences, buildings, and playground equipment.

- Playgrade Soft Sand
- Conforms to EN1176/1177

Close-up of a black mesh surface with evenly spaced square-shaped holes.

Ground-stabilising mesh provides protection for soft or unstable ground and to help prevent Grassmat and Grasslok sinking and enhance durability.

Colorful playground with metal climbing structure, maze panels, and a paved walk path, surrounded by greenery and houses in the background.

Bonded Rubber Mulch offers a cost-effective, durable, and natural-looking safety surface made from recycled materials. It combines colour-coated SBR tyre granules with a polyurethane binder, providing superior strength and consistency compared to traditional mulch made from just shredded material. Ideal for various outdoor applications, it offers a low-maintenance alternative to wet pour surfacing, while meeting critical fall height requirements.
Key Features:
- Recycled and eco-friendly
- Durable and low-maintenance
- Meets EN1177:2018 critical fall height requirements
- Provides a safer and more consistent surface than traditional bark chippings
- Aesthetic, natural look
- Suitable for playground safety surfacing, golf pathways, garden borders, rural pathways, and more
Ideal for:
- Playground safety surfacing
- Golf club pathways
- Daily mile tracks
- Garden borders
- Rural pathways
- Tree pits
Decorative landscaping

A backyard with a wooden swing set, featuring a circular black net swing, on a green artificial grass surface enclosed by a green privacy fence, with a brick building and windows in the background.

Artificial grass offers a soft, natural-looking surface that's safe, durable, and low-maintenance—ideal for schools and play areas. When installed with an appropriate shock pad, it meets critical fall height requirements and complies with safety standards like BS EN 1177. It's a great all-weather option that stays clean and usable year-round.

A close-up view of a green and black plastic object, likely part of a gardening or sports equipment, on a small patch of grass.

Grasslok is a robust, interlocking safety surfacing solution, fire-resistant and ideal for high-wear areas and dynamic play equipment such as swings and cableways. It features a harder composition than Grassmat, making it suitable for more demanding environments.
- Thickness: 16mm
- Fall Protection: Tested up to 2.1m CFH (depending on soil conditions)
- Ideal For: Areas with moving or dynamic equipment
Key Benefits:
- Fire-resistant
- Interlocking joint system for added stability
- Ramped edges available to reduce trip hazards and eliminate the need for digging in
- Wheelchair and pushchair accessible
- Year-round installation
- Minimal maintenance
- 10-year product guarantee
As with Grassmat, we recommend using a ground-stabilising mesh on soft ground for maximum performance.

Creative by nature – built for play.

Durable, safe, and fully compliant safety surfacing for schools, parks, and public spaces.

Let’s make your outdoor play area safe.

A stylized white tree with many leaves inside an oval outline, on a black background.

Safety Surfacing for Playgrounds