6 Proper InstallaƟ on of Playground Surface is Key for Long Term Use and Maintenance An accessible surface system can be rendered useless if it is not properly installed. InstallaƟ on of surface systems should be performed by individuals knowledgeable of the accessibility standards and with experƟ se working with the surface materials. Surface materials/systems can be installed by both contractors and the playground owner’s maintenance staff . Some manufacturers require contractors/installers to have special training and/or cerƟ fi caƟ on. Poured in place rubber (PIP) is almost exclusively installed by contractors specializing in the surface material. Some playground owners believe the intensive installaƟ on requirements for PIP, from mixing the binder to troweling the material level, are best completed by contractors experienced with the surface material. On the other end of the spectrum, engineered wood fi ber (EWF) is most frequently installed by park maintenance crews and perceived as relaƟ vely easy compared to other surface materials. Somewhere in the middle, Ɵ le (TIL) and hybrid systems (HYB) are known to be installed by both contractors and park maintenance personnel. There is a percepƟ on among playground owners that installaƟ on of surface systems by their own park crew will produce cost savings for the agency. However, there is a learning curve with the installaƟ on process that can prove to be challenging. During the NCA surface study, a playground owner selected a surface based on the percepƟ on it would be easy for park crews to install. The fi rst installaƟ on was perceived as so diffi cult for the park maintenance crew that any cost savings was miƟ gated by the lengthy learning process. By the Ɵ me the playground owner had installed its fourth playground with TIL, the agency had decided to transiƟ on to a diff erent surface. On the contrary, another playground owner that contracted the installaƟ on to a preferred manufacturer’s installer was very pleased. Intensive installaƟ on may mean the contractor is the only one able to make repairs such as those due to vandalism or patches at locaƟ ons where equipment may have been removed. The costs for return repairs or patches can be dependent upon whether the project is covered under the warranty. CriƟ cal details must be communicated between the design and construcƟ on phases, regardless of whether the installaƟ on is by contractor or park/facility personnel. Site plans and construcƟ on drawings should provide details like maximum running slopes and cross slopes, beveled edges, transiƟ ons, adjoining seams and affi xing the surface material to the border. PreparaƟ on of the base and sub-surfaces should be explained. Lack of aƩ enƟ on to drainage or omission of weed barriers between layers can lead to sub-surfaces being washed away, base layers infi ltraƟ ng top layers, and excessive moisture contribuƟ ng to the growth of mold and vegetaƟ on. All of these issues can aff ect the usability, the safety and the accessibility of the playground surface. Accessibility defi ciencies arising out of installaƟ on were associated with all of the surfaces in the NCA study. 15 The playground site has been graded with earth-moving equipment. The concrete base has been prepared and is awaiƟ ng the applicaƟ on of the poured-in-place rubber (PIP) system. At this site, the playground equipment and surface system will be installed by a contractor specializing in playground construcƟ on. The base layer of crumb rubber has been installed. The top layer, a rubber mat system, is fi t around equipment and the seams are joined. Both the equipment and surface system at this site will be installed by the park maintenance crew.
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