Playground Surface Options: Artificial Turf vs. Rainbow Mulch

Most families consider multiple surfacing options when starting a playground project. Let's compare Rainbow Mulch with artificial turf. A reminder: Rainbow Mulch is a virgin, closed-cell sponge rubber, meaning it's made for its intended purpose of play and protection, doesn't absorb water, and takes repeated impact like a champ. 

Playground Fall Protection 

With over 200,000 playground injuries reported annually in the US, a surface with superior fall protection is imperative. Companies have their surfacing products tested by ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials), the national standard for fall protection. ASTM Test F1292, Impact Attenuation of Playground Surfaces, measures a surface's ability to absorb impact and reduce the risk of injury during a fall. Rainbow Mulch is ASTM tested at 3" depth for a 20 ft. critical fall height. Fall protection for artificial turf fall protection varies based on material, but on average, 3" depth turf and padding can protect a 6 ft. fall.

Playground Surface Temperatures

Parents and school administrators want to stay mindful of equipment and surface temperatures. Artificial turf can get extremely hot on sunny days, with some parents and community members reporting surface temperatures as high as 180 degrees. Some turf manufacturers suggest watering the surface to bring the temperature down. However, some states, like California, are banning the watering of artificial grass. 

 

Rainbow Mulch is a virgin closed-cell sponge rubber with cushiony air pockets, making it an excellent surface on warm days. To give an example, team members recorded surface temperatures on a hot day in Ohio. The artificial turf at a local high school was 151 degrees, while Rainbow Mulch was 110 degrees. 

Potential Health Concerns with Turf and Recycled Rubber

Artificial turf first debuted as a low-maintenance substitute for grass for athletic events. Crumb rubber was introduced to the turf for padding, typically made of ground-up recycled tire. Unfortunately, crumb rubber is still under investigation by the Consumer Safety Product Commission (CSPC) and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

Scientists, parents, and school administrators are concerned about the exposure risks, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, and other chemicals from artificial grass and crumb rubber. According to advocates and industry specialists, many synthetic turf fields in use today are believed to be made with materials that may contain chemical substances, such as, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl, known as PFAS.

Rainbow Mulch is made specifically for children and does not use recycled materials. It is 100% non-toxic, tire-free, vegan, and California Proposition 65 compliant. As a rubber used in children's toys, it must pass lead and phthalates tests. Rainbow Mulch was tested for lead by a certified testing agency approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC limits the amount of lead in children's products to 100 parts per million (ppm). Rainbow Mulch has less than 2.27 ppm. The limit for phthalates is .01% by weight, and Rainbow Mulch is less than 0.005% by weight. 

Your Playground Surface Impacts the Environment

Artificial turf is not typically recycled, but more turf companies are creating recycling programs for their customers due to backlash. Many environmental specialists have concerns about the chemicals leaching into the ground and how that impacts the environment.

Rainbow Mulch has no special disposal requirements. Customers can donate the material back to the company to later contribute to projects like walking paths. Rainbow Mulch has no known risks to the environment. Interesting fact: Rainbow Mulch rests on a Native American reserve in South Carolina. 

Playground Surface Colors 

Turf is typically green, but some companies offer a range of colors; it's essential to research the material and understand the risk of colored plastics. Rainbow Mulch's color is food-grade and is cured into the product matrix, making it stain-free. Rainbow Mulch has custom confetti options so families can choose their own mix for their playground surface. 

Comparing Surface Play & Performance 

Turf can work well in the elements and is fairly low maintenance. However, one of the biggest complaints for families is the track-out of small crumb rubber pieces that end up in shoes, hair, and clothes. Another concern is "turf burn", an abrasion caused by friction of the turf against the skin.

Rainbow Mulch is not unitary; it's pillowy loose-fill, allowing kids to have an interactive surface they can play with as much as the equipment. It supports sensory, creativity, and physical activity, everything a play space should be about. 

To sum it up, artificial turf may be a surface to consider, but be mindful of what materials make up the artificial grass and the crumb rubber and the potential risks of chemicals. It performs well, is unitary, and is low maintenance, but it lacks the security of being a complete, non-toxic product and strikes out in fall protection. Unlike turf, Rainbow Mulch has no track out and heat risk. Every parent wants to protect their child, and every kid dreams of a cool, colorful, interactive pillowy play area. You've come to the right place - play on!