Safety Surfacing for Playgrounds

Safety Surfacing for Playgrounds

Choosing the right safety surfacing is essential for protecting children as they play. At Synergy Outdoors, we provide expert advice on a wide range of surfacing options, including wet pour, rubber mulch, grass mats, and artificial turf.

Not all surfaces are suitable for every environment or budget, so we work closely with you to find a practical, cost-effective solution. Safety surfacing can be a significant investment, and our goal is to help you make the right choice.

Finding the Right Surface

Before any safety surfacing is installed, it’s essential to consider the critical fall height—the height of the highest point a child could potentially stand on. This measurement determines the required thickness of surfacing to ensure it effectively absorbs impact, in line with BS EN 1177 and BS 7188 standards.

Hard surfaces are generally unsuitable for playgrounds, except in transition areas between equipment. The ideal surfacing depends on several factors, including site conditions, the type of play equipment, and available maintenance. For example, loose-fill options such as bark or sand may not be suitable where maintenance is limited, whereas firmer surfaces are often necessary for areas with moving equipment.

At Synergy Outdoors, we provide expert advice to help you choose the most appropriate surfacing for your project. All our products meet EN1176 safety standards, and we only work with trusted suppliers offering high-quality, rigorously tested materials.

Black and green logo with a stylized tree inside an oval shape, with roots extending below and branches and leaves above.
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

Rubber chippings on a wooden surface.

    • 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.

Get in touch for expert advice and bespoke, nature-inspired solutions.

01677 361051

info@synergyods.co.uk