Metal, wood, plastic, and rubber are commonly used playground materials. These materials form the backbone of magical playgrounds for children, from outdoor play equipment to surfaces. Spot the following materials during the next adventure on your outdoor playgrounds.
Exploring the Durability of Different Playground Materials
Each playground material has different durability levels depending on quality, usage, and maintenance. Here are their defining characteristics and roles in playgrounds:
Metal
- Common Types: Galvanized Steel and Aluminum
- Durable Features: Sturdy for active play, withstands harsh weather conditions, and is flexible in every play area and application
- Great For: Swings, slides, and monkey bars
Wood
- Common Types: Treated lumber, Cedar, and Pine
- Typical Lifespan: Lasts up to 15 years with regular treatment like sealing, staining, and sanding
- Durable Features: Strength advantage, natural resistance to decay, and guaranteed long lifespan with proper maintenance
- Great For: Swing set frames, climbing structures, and seesaws
Plastic
- Common Types: High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Rotomolded Plastic
- Typical Lifespan: Lasts up to 20 years with regular cleaning and anti-UV ray coating
- Durable Features: Resistant to impact and cracking, high durability, and withstands temperature and UV rays
- Great For: Playhouses, activity panels, and imaginative play structures
Rubber
- Common Types: Recycled Rubber and Rubber Coating
- Typical Lifespan: Can last up to 15 years with rubber rejuvenators, patchings, and cleaning
- Durable Features: Shock-absorbing properties, heavy-duty use, and weather-resistant for assured playground safety for children
- Great For: Impact-absorbing surfaces, spring riders, and swing seats
- Regardless of the material options, it is advisable to choose commercial-grade quality to guarantee long-lasting equipment products, befitting all playground structures and purposes.
The Role of Metals, Plastics, and Woods in Playground Construction
This ultimate Material Trinity—metal, plastic, and wood—has been present in the outdoor play equipment found in a residential backyard, a community park, and even a school playground. A playground serves as a melting pot of different materials with specific roles to ensure a great playing experience for children, from physical activity to social skills.
Metal
- Durability: Metal is a preferred choice for structural support and load-bearing equipment such as swing set frames and climbers due to its sturdiness in withstanding heavy use during playing as well as its longevity, which ensures uninterrupted fun for children.
- Safety: Playground structures made from metal are guaranteed to have smooth and splinter-free surfaces.
- Design Flexibility: Metal can be molded into different equipment and functionalities, from big frames and posts to small hardware like screws and bolts. With its creative flexibility, this material is present in almost all playground equipment paired with other high-quality materials.
Plastic
- Aesthetics and Versatility: Plastic options often come in bright colors and can be molded in fun designs, making them an appealing choice for equipment that caters to toddlers.
- Safety: Its smooth surfaces and round edges reduce scratches and fall injuries for small kids.
- Durability: Modern plastics are highly durable and resistant to weather conditions, although not at par with their metal and wood counterparts. They are also easy to clean and require minimal maintenance, allowing them to last a long time with proper care.
Wood
- Nature Aesthetics: Wood's timeless and rustic look allows wooden equipment to blend well in outdoor environments. Aside from its visual appeal, its natural characteristics provide a sensory experience for children in terms of tactile play.
- Customization: This dependable playground material provides a wide selection of custom designs for multiple uses, from structural support to decorative elements.
- Environmental Impact: Wood can be disposed of in an environmentally responsible way compared to its inorganic counterparts. It also sparks environmental awareness for children and encourages sustainable sourcing.
Safety and Sustainability Considerations for Playground Materials
To ensure safe and enjoyable play for children in outdoor playgrounds, equipment manufacturers and recreation aids should observe several considerations for different playground materials.
Safety Considerations
- Compliance with Safety Standards: Equipment and amenities in outdoor playgrounds should follow the guidelines provided by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to ensure quality and safety.
- Non-toxic Materials: The chosen playground materials for equipment and components should be guaranteed free from chemicals and toxins that could pose health risks to children.
- Structure Stability and Durability: Playground equipment, particularly the load-bearing types, should be made of commercial-grade materials to ensure stability and safety in use. Routine inspections and recommended maintenance should also be observed to preserve longevity and durability.
- Impact Absorption: Surfacing materials on playgrounds should meet fall protection standards to effectively absorb impact and lessen fall injuries.
- Surface Treatments: Every playground material produces different types of surface-wearing effects over time. Several measures should be applied to maintain splinter-free surfaces, smooth finishes, or non-slip qualities in respective equipment and play space.
Sustainability Factors
- Ethical Sourcing: Ensure these materials are outsourced from sustainable and responsible sources, such as wood from forests approved by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).
- Recyclable Materials: Using recycled or renewable materials for commercial playground equipment contributes to the reduction of waste and conservation of nature.
- Longevity and Maintenance: Opting for long-lasting and durable playground equipment for schools and commercial spaces minimizes the need for regular replacements and complicated installation and maintenance measures. This in turn reduces environmental impact and pollution.
- Energy Efficiency: Consider playground materials that require low energy consumption during manufacturing, transportation, and installation. This helps in lowering carbon footprint and discourages high-energy consumption.
Playgrounds can never be made up of just one material. All playground components have a role in ensuring that the play space is safe and capable of providing endless adventures. AAA State of Play is your one-stop shop for commercial playground equipment and amenities made from the best playground materials available.
Learn about the author: Nic Breedlove
