Every year, some 46,000 children receive medical attention in the Netherlands as a result of accidents occurring in playgrounds. Compared with the total population of 14 million people, this is a relatively high proportion of accidents. About 70% of the injuries are known to involve children falling and making contact with the ground. As a result, the use of protective surfacing materials in playgrounds is thought to offer considerable potential for reducing the incidence and severity of such injuries. A study has therefore been made of how best to evaluate this group of materials.

The first phase of the investigation involved making an inventory of the existing regulations and test methods governing playground surfaces. Three different test procedures were identified in the literature, which are currently in use. It was, however, readily apparent that none of these methods makes use of the biomechanical data that have been generated over recent years. Since the most serious and common injuries that occur in playgrounds affect the head, a special test method has been developed in which a free falling weight is used to simulate the type of impact that occurs when a child’s head hits the underlying surface. In order to assess the impact absorption of various surfaces, the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) has been adopted. Following laboratory experiments in which the test method was thoroughly evaluated and calibrated, the impact absorption of various surfacing materials such as sand, wood chips and rubber mats were measured in playgrounds.

A detailed description of the test method is presented in this paper along with a summary of the results obtained. In addition, recommendations are given for the type of surface that should be used in relation to the height of the equipment in the playground.