Where to Buy ADA-Compliant Playground Surfacing

A safe and inclusive school environment is non-negotiable. When it comes to playgrounds, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance is paramount to ensure every student can play, socialize, learn and grow. Discover where you can buy ADA-compliant playground surfacing.

No Fault Surfaces

All No Fault Surfaces flooring options are ADA- and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)-compliant. Such offerings include rubbers, loose rubber mulch shreds, Corkeen, and synthetic turf, making it one of the best playground surfacing companies for schools.

It specializes in creating an eye-catching themed play area, accessible ballfields, tracks, walkways and multipurpose spaces so students with mobility devices can easily navigate. The company ensures its offerings exceed the International Play Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (IPEMA) and Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) standards for the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) 1292.

Key features:

• Helps you achieve credits from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program
• Offers a warranty period around one to 15 years, depending on the material
• Has a free poured-in-place color mixer on the website, allowing you to send it along with your quote request for accurate pricing
• Delivers superior customer service and consistent quality

Childforms

Childforms provides developmentally appropriate, ADA-compliant surfacing options for schools, churches and parks. Choose from offers like loose-fill rubber mulch, poured-in-place rubber, shredded bonded rubber and engineered wood fiber.

Moreover, it provides ADA-approved ramps with barrier-free travel routes and playground elements accessible to students with mobility devices. You can also acquire age-appropriate slides, tunnels, balance beams and other equipment to support students’ cognitive development and social playtime.

Key features:

• One-stop-shop for all ADA-compliant playground requirements
• Offers project planning and timeline coordination
• Provides valuable site amenities like picnic tables, benches and bike racks
• Meets and exceeds CPSC and ASTM standards

Surface America

Surface America is one of the country’s leading playground surfacing providers. It can deliver IPEMA-certified and ADA-compliant poured-in-place rubber, turf and tile solutions. Its PlayBound™ Poured-in-Place system features industry-leading warranties of up to seven to 10 years and meets critical fall height standards of up to 13 feet per ASTM F1292. The stringent quality control and dedication to customer satisfaction make it ideal for large-scale educational projects.

Key features:

• Has over 30 years of experience and a proven track record of success in project management, installation, supervision and warranty service
• Created a 6,055-square-foot playground for approximately 250 students in an elementary school
• Specializes in providing specific base mats depending on the site requirements

SpectraTurf

As a subsidiary of Pennsylvania-based Ecore International, SpectraTurf is one of the biggest processors of recycled rubber in the Western Hemisphere. It offers safety flooring systems in different colors for various applications. The porous surfaces are highly weather resistant, providing students with an almost maintenance-free play area.

Surfacing materials conforming to ADA standards include the SpectraPour, SpectraBound Tile, SpectraTurf PlayGrass and Loose Rubber Mulch. You can trust the brand for quality support before, during and after installation.

Key features:

• All solutions meet ADA, CPSC, ASTM and IPEMA standards
• Stands out for its innovative TRUcircularity™ program, which upcycles old playground surfaces into new ones
• Has a thorough third-party, laboratory-testing program to ensure all offerings meet CPSC surfacing requirements

SafetyFirst

Full-service playground maker SafetyFirst offers comprehensive solutions, including its signature, ADA-compliant Nature’sPlus engineered wood fiber system with certified fall heights of 18 feet in case of an accident. It specializes in customized solutions for schools.

In fact, 70% of Minneapolis Metro Area educational institutions partner with this brand. If you do, its team will promptly evaluate, recommend and install your surfacing needs, showing their dedication to customer satisfaction.

Key features:

• Offers IPEMA-certified solutions
• Provides valuable services, including playground maintenance, consulting, budgeting and repairs
• Promotes inclusive playgrounds by considering color, sound, texture and upper or lower body use to create a place where all children can play and enjoy

adventureTURF

adventureTURF focuses on innovative playground surfacing systems that combine safety with educational elements. It offers indoor and outdoor flooring selections, all meeting ADA, ASTM and IPEMA standards.

Its highly trained staff will work with you to choose the most fitting surface for your school playground, ensuring you get the most cost-effective option. Designers will help you incorporate designs like logos, school colors, mascots and interactive games on the surface to transform your play area into a learning hub.

Key features:

• Provides safety surface preparation, ensuring a sturdy and level base before surfacing installation
• Can give you with costs while you are still estimating the project
• Collaborates with you to set installation schedules

A Comparative Analysis of Leading ADA-Compliant Companies

Here is a summary of the top businesses where you can buy ADA-compliant playground surfacing.

Company	Surface Options Provided	Warranty	Summary
No Fault Surfaces	Poured-in-place Safety tiles Loose rubber mulch Corkeen Synthetic turf Timbers and mats Bonded rubber	One to 15 years	Best for comprehensive safety solutions
Childforms	Poured-in-place rubber Shredded bonded rubber Engineered wood fiber	Contact via website for warranty information	Most budget-friendly
Surface America	Poured-in-place rubber Synthetic grass Safety tiles	Seven to 10 years	Best for premium durability
SpectraTurf	Poured-in-place rubber Synthetic grass Safety tiles Bonded rubber mulch	Five years for bonded rubber mulch. Contact for more information on other surfacing options	Most ideal for custom design and innovation
SafetyFirst	Engineered wood fiber Poured-in-place rubber Playground rubber mat Wood chips	10 years warranty on Nature’sPlus surfacing	Best for quality installation and maintenance services
adventureTURF	Poured-in-place rubber Artificial turf Prefabricated rubber tiles	Contact via website for warranty information	Ideal for customized rubber-based systems

How to Choose the Right ADA-Compliant Surfacing Provider for Your School Playground

With plenty of options available, choosing the right one for you can be challenging. Here is what to consider before partnering with a playground surfacing provider:

1. Review portfolios: Request previous educational projects for references. See how each brand tackled the assignments and which one best fits the style you want for your school playground.
2. Inquire about warranty: Warranty terms help protect your investment, ensuring the manufacturer provides long-term assistance. Choose the one with the longest warranty period for your peace of mind.
3. Check for additional certifications: Aside from ADA compliance, choose a brand that meets or exceeds the standards of other agencies like CPSC, ASTM, IPEMA and ABA.
4. Consider total life cycle costs: While initial installation expenses are important, the total life cycle cost reveals the true value of surfacing solutions. Consider factors like maintenance, replacement intervals, repair needs and expected lifespan to identify total ownership prices.
5. Review fall height requirements: Fall height requirements are essential to ensure kids are safe in case of fall accidents. The right provider must demonstrate their product’s fall height protection through ASTM F1292 test results and suggest appropriate thickness recommendations.

Choosing the Best ADA-Compliant Playground Surface Company

It is vital to create a playground where every student feels safe, welcomed and included. Assess these options carefully to see which fits your budget and safety standards best.