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A playground must be supplemented with suitable material on the ground, which cushions any falls. Wood looks particularly natural. But what contributes more to safety, wood chips or bark mulch.
In a nutshell
- Fall protection on playgrounds is essential
- possible materials: sand, bark mulch, wood chips or rubber
- Bark mulch and wood chips are natural and inexpensive
- biodegradable (decay) and therefore need to be replaced more frequently
wood chips
Wood chips consist of crushed wood from different trees. Depending on the type of tree used, the chips can be colored differently. There are the schnitzel in various grain sizes from small to large. For the playground, however, it shouldn't be too small so that a fall or fall is effectively cushioned. Regardless of the color, woodchips are generally light in color and therefore appear friendly.
benefits
Compared to mulch, chips are larger and therefore do not rot as quickly, and the dampening effect is better. Since the tannic acid from the bark is missing, they do not attack the support posts of wooden playground equipment as badly. The different colors allow more creative freedom when designing the playground.
disadvantage
Like mulch, the woodchips will eventually decompose and then need to be replaced or at least topped up. In addition, the material has to be sieved from time to time to remove foreign bodies and fine shavings.
Notice: Even before the schnitzels are brought out for the first time, a first screening is advisable.
bark mulch
The dark mulch material consists of crushed bark of conifers. However, it is most commonly used on beds, where it contributes to the formation of humus and suppresses weeds. The mulch is also popular for path design. Since conifer bark contains a lot of tannic acid, the soil can be acidified with the mulch, which benefits various plants. On playgrounds, mulch is often used where the effect should be particularly natural, such as on forest playgrounds.
Notice: On the playground, however, a larger grain size should be chosen than in garden design.
benefits
The dark material looks most natural on playgrounds in coniferous forests. If the play equipment is only temporary, the mulch does not need to be removed afterwards as it will decompose over time. The tannic acid in the bark is more effective at preventing weeds from growing through. Soil life is not negatively affected.
disadvantage
The mulch material rots relatively quickly and is not as durable as wood chips or sand. The damping effect is also greater with wood chips. Mulch absorbs moisture less well and transfers it more difficult.
Conclusion
Due to the predominantly positive aspects of wood chips, they are superior to bark mulch.
Other properties of wood:
- Disposal is easier
- Can also be played on when it's wet or cold
- is not used as a toy such as sand
- doesn't get caught in clothing
- less pollution
- Cushioning effect is higher than sand, especially compared to wet sand
- do not have to be cleaned regularly like rubber flooring
- no warping possible as with rubber mats
frequently asked Questions
Where do you get wood chips or bark mulch from?There are mulch or schnitzel in hardware stores or garden stores, but only in small bags up to about 70 liters. It is cheaper to buy the goods directly from the sawmill. There are larger quantities at a lower price. Special outfitters for playgrounds also often have the material on offer.
How is fall protection made of wood disposed of?As the material decomposes over time, it can easily be composted. If your own compost heap is too small, it can be taken to appropriate collection points. It should not just be disposed of somewhere in nature.
How much material is needed?The fall protection must be sufficiently high so that it really has an effect. This applies in particular to larger drop heights. If it is more than 2 m, 30 cm of bulk material is required, if it is 3 m it is already 40 cm.
How much does fall protection made of wood cost?Compared to other materials such as rubber mats, wood is relatively cheap. However, when making the calculation, it must be taken into account that it must be replaced or refilled more frequently.