During entertainment and various games, children are unusually active, often forgetting about safety measures. Therefore, it is very important that the place where children walked and played - in particular, these are playgrounds, be resilient and soft so that in case of sudden falls the child does not get injured.
Over the past few years, new rubber cover for playgrounds, made by special technology. This material is able to prevent numerous injuries in children that occur when the child's body parts fall and rub against asphalt, concrete, tiles or gravel. This has been achieved thanks to various components that prevent slipping, making the crumb rubber soft and durable. By following certain technologies and recommendations, it is very easy to install a rubber coating for playgrounds with your own hands.
Rubber crumb for covering playgrounds
What is rubber crumb for playgrounds made of? This material is made from worn out car tires that have been in operation for a long time. These tires are crushed into crumb rubber, which is then used to make playground surfaces.
Benefits of crumb rubber coatings
The prevalence of the use of crumb rubber coatings is explained by the fact that it has many advantages:
- Safety - rubber has springy properties, thanks to which it becomes possible to produce a safe coating for sports, active games and entertainment. This surface can be both smooth and rough, which prevents slips and falls even in rainy weather.
- Environmental friendliness - the rubber crumb does not emit harmful substances and components. In addition to rubber, the composition includes polyurethane, which is necessary for good adhesion to the layer on which the crumb is laid, and safe dyes. This material is environmentally friendly and safe even for babies.
- Fast and easy installation - rubber coating for playgrounds is easy to install with your own hands, which will save a significant amount on the services of specialists in this field, and will also help you gain irreplaceable experience. For correct installation manufacturer's instructions must be followed.
- Variety - Playground flooring comes in a variety of colors, sizes, shapes and styles.
- Stability - this material is not afraid of such weather factors as snow, frost, rain, hail, ultraviolet rays, temperature changes, as well as mechanical damage.
- Durability - rubber playground covers can be used for up to 10 years, as rubber has a very long decay time.
- Cleanliness - to maintain cleanliness on the site, it is only necessary to wash the surface, since despite the porosity of the crumbs, dirt does not penetrate into the covering itself.
- Hygienic - rubber is not subject to the accumulation of microbes, bacteria, insects, weeds, and decay.
- Aesthetics - safe colored dyes are added to the crumbs, which allows you to create drawings and patterns on the sites.
- Easy care - only occasionally washing the surface or vacuuming is required - which allows you to restore the appearance of the material that was originally. Also, grass and any other plants do not grow through the crumb, which allows you to forget about weeding the playing area for a long time.
- Water permeability- Moisture and puddles do not accumulate on this material. Water seeps through small pores into the lower layers of the covering, and then goes into the ground.
- UV resistance- the material is reliable and not exposed to the sun, which allows you to keep the original color for a long time.
Disadvantages of rubber flooring
This, like any other material, has some drawbacks. The main disadvantages include its flammability. This material must not be used near places where there are sources of open fire, as rubber can quickly catch fire and smolder for a long time.
Not unimportant disadvantage of rubber flooring is its high price. Rubber crumb among other coatings is the leader in terms of cost, but this disadvantage is covered by strength, as well as its durability.
How to make crumb rubber at home
First way. Easy shredding of used car stingrays. For this process, you must have an ax, scissors, a knife, and cleavers. If enough materials are available, the grinding process can begin. If you will make crumbs from stingrays, then first of all it is necessary to remove metal cords from them. The next step is cross-cutting to the size you need. For the manufacture of 1 m² of crumbs with a thickness of one cm, you need at least 8 kg of rubber. After grinding the rubber, the crumb must be mixed with polyurethane adhesive, and then applied to a flat, pre-prepared surface.
The second, easier, way of grinding car skates is grinding under the influence of temperature on rubber from -70 to -80 C. In this state, rubber is more brittle and pliable.
Types of seamless coatings
On the this moment Manufacturers produce several types of crumb rubber. The most popular are rolls - crumbs, frozen and cut into strips of various widths or lengths. This is followed by tiles, which are cast in various sizes and shapes, and, finally, a seamless coating - a mixture that, before installation, must be diluted in certain proportions according to the instructions and poured onto the surface. This material can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Rubber crumb coating technologies
Rubber crumb coating in rolls
Before laying the material, the site must be prepared, namely, the surface must be cleaned of grease, dirt and dust, and if it is concrete, it must be sanded, swept or vacuumed. After that, polyurethane glue is applied to the surface of the lining, rolls of the desired size are laid and the joints are sealed with glue.
Tiled rubber coating
To cover with crumb rubber from tiles, it is necessary to level the coating that will be under the tile, clean it from grease, dust, dirt, sand and gravel.
Important ! It is necessary to check the surface humidity with a hygrometer, which should not exceed 80%.
If there is roughness on the prepared surface, it is recommended to remove it with cement screed. When installing the surface on the street, for example, in a stadium or other sports ground in the yard, it is necessary to make drainage, the surface angle of which should be 20 degrees.
Using a roller, polyurethane glue is applied to the surface, tiles are laid.
Important ! It is imperative to ensure that the gaps between the tiles are minimal and the same level is maintained.
Installation of a seamless coating
For installation on the site of a seamless coating with your own hands, do the following:
- Prepare the place to be poured. This surface must be asphalt, wood or concrete.
- The base of the surface on which the pouring will be carried out must be sanded, leveled, cleaned of dust, dirt, grease, oils, and any other small particles. If the substrate is made of concrete, it is recommended to moisten it by sprinkling it with water, sand it and vacuum it.
- Laying of a seamless coating should be carried out at a temperature of at least +6 C.
- The lining must be treated with a special primer, and allow time for impregnation within one day.
- Filling the surface outdoors is best done on a warm sunny day so that the rubber can dry in the shortest possible time.
- When preparing the mixture, it is important to follow the proportions prescribed by the manufacturer, as this affects the service life of the seamless coating. It is necessary to mix dry rubber crumb, polyurethane glue and dye using a concrete mixer or other convenient container.
- The thickness of the filling of the coating should be about 8 cm.
- After filling the coating, it must be leveled using a roller lubricated with a special anti-adhesive agent.
- Let the mixture dry for two days.
- For a longer preservation of the beauty of a seamless coating, you can apply a layer of varnish with a velor roller.
The most important requirement for playgrounds for children is their safety. When planning to build such a place for recreation and entertainment, it is important to choose the right anti-traumatic coating for playgrounds.
Covering playgrounds is a boring issue that seems to be of interest only to officials or parents who are overly concerned about the safety of their children. In fact, this problem is extremely important, and especially in today's harsh reality, when parents themselves often have to decide on the arrangement of a play or sports development area for their offspring. That is why it is important to know what kind of coverage of playgrounds is, what are the advantages and disadvantages of one or another type.
Oddly enough, the state regulates and controls this issue. Focusing on the developed and approved standards is a fundamental point, because specialized specialists worked on their compilation, who conducted special studies and calculations on how to protect our children during active games. In addition, inconsistency with bureaucratic norms and requirements threatens to dismantle the site if it is installed on the municipal territory without complying with the rules, and this in itself is a costly and unpleasant business.
The importance of the problem is clear
Psychologists and teachers have long ago proved that a child develops as harmoniously as possible when he is not limited. This nuance concerns, first of all, the knowledge of the surrounding world. Unfortunately, modern society somewhat misinterprets the so-called measure of parental love, showing his tender feelings for babies through gifts and various goodies. Children, in addition to parental care and direct communication with mom and dad, need to create conditions for physical and social activity.
The most acceptable place for the first achievements is, of course, the playground. There you can have plenty of fun and test your communication skills. However, often parents are so careful about the safety of their child that they forbid him not only to climb on specially equipped places for this, but even just to move freely. Such hyper-custody is not always justified - the territory intended for children's leisure has been created and equipped for the most restless hustlers. Installation and equipment (both sports and gaming) are processes regulated and controlled government bodies who in their work are guided by approved standards. They regulate, by the way, not only the quality of everything that children spin, spin, what they ride and climb, but also the coverage of playgrounds.
desert under the window
In this article, we will consider the most popular coatings that are used on playgrounds. Among them will be both quite familiar to the eye and already tested by years of operation, as well as the latest modern options.
A few decades ago, in all yards in the post-Soviet space, sandy playgrounds were used to create a shock-absorbing layer.
It is difficult to find a person who would not bring home this loose mineral, not only in pockets and shoes, but also in more secluded places. It should be noted that only mothers opposed the sand, who had to wash the children and the whole apartment from these dunes.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of sand as a material that is used as a Price - this is its main plus. In addition to the fact that sand is a very cheap, durable and affordable material, it does an excellent job of its main purpose - it absorbs the force of impact during falls, thus reducing the likelihood of serious injuries and bruises. Well, now for the cons:
- easily taken out of the playing area;
- loose, there is a possibility of getting into the eyes and other “inappropriate” places for this place;
- hiding well in the sand broken glass, stones, garbage and other "gifts";
- after rain, the sand quickly absorbs water, but this process is still not fast enough, and the likelihood that in the slushy season children will have to play knee-deep in mud is very high.
Is the grass green?
It also allows GOST coverage of children's playgrounds made of natural and artificial greenery. It can be grass sown and grown in the traditional way, or you can use lawns grown in special nurseries, such as those spread on football fields and other sports fields.
- naturalness and environmental friendliness;
- good depreciation;
- attractive appearance.
- the grass needs constant careful care (watering, cutting, sweeping leaves and debris, sowing in worn or burnt areas);
- high price;
- Grass is a very delicate surface, natural grass must be combined with other materials that will be laid in the areas where swings, slides and sports equipment are to be installed.
Artificial turf will be more durable and practical. The height, density and color of the pile can be ordered at your discretion. It is noteworthy that some types of grass are laid on a special substrate made of sand or fine rubber crumb, which is important to consider, because this increases the cost of services. The lawn covering of children's playgrounds will cost on average 20-30 euros per square meter raw materials, in addition you need to add the cost of laying, special adhesives and accessories.
"Elementary" coverage
This section is not about simple things, but about a separate subspecies of flooring, such as tartan tiles. This is a high-tech, strong and durable rubber. The prices for this material are very different (from 950 rubles per sq.m.). It consists of polyurethane resin with the addition of crumb rubber, other additives can be included in the mixture, which will form the cost of the coating.
Tiles can vary in shape, thickness and color. Pigment often becomes a significant expense item: just one kilogram of dye costs more than 100 rubles, and if a customer wants a bright and colorful flooring for his child, you will have to fork out.
Modern reality
AT recent times The most popular is the so-called rubber coating. It could be:
- Mulch is a rubber crumb with a fine fraction, it is quite expensive (from 1600 rubles per sq.m), but the customer receives a durable coating that will last for many years, does not require maintenance and really helps to protect children.
- Rolled flooring is the second most expensive material for laying the base of children's play areas. Its service life is on average about 7 years, the price directly depends on the thickness and number of layers in the coating. It can be two or three layers, and the thickness of the "sandwich" is from 2 mm to 5 cm.
- Well, the last option would be a self-leveling rubber coating for playgrounds. The prices for it are very significant (from 1600 to 2500 rubles per sq.m.). You can save money if you use a smaller number of colors, in addition, it is advisable to make thickened flooring on sports fields, but thinner ones are usually used on children's floors, but its inspection services are also tested for depreciation very scrupulously.
Check out the documentation
A complete list of legal acts regulating what recreation areas for children should be consists of almost ten points. However, there are two main ones, they directly indicate the requirements explaining what exactly needs to be considered when laying the playground cover. GOST R 52169-2012 contains a list of materials, their thickness and particle size, acceptable for sites of a particular purpose. In addition to sand, it can be gravel, tree bark or shavings. Another GOST - R EH 1177 is borrowed from the EU and it regulates the quality of the rubber coating on children's playgrounds and
Rubber flooring is a self-leveling monolithic coating made from used tires and other processed products. These materials are produced in recycling plants, where tires and other raw materials are cleaned, crushed and mixed with adhesive additives that give the material its familiar look.
Rubberized floors are used for finishing swimming pools, parking lots and sports centers, rubber crumb coating for playgrounds is also actively produced. Such popularity is due to the strength and safety of the material. In addition, such a coating meets the requirements of GOST.
Advantages of rubber floors
Special coating It has a strong and soft base, and most importantly - it is easy to use. The main advantage of the rubber floor is that, unlike most coatings, it can be used both indoors and outdoors. The material allows you to abandon unsafe slippery tiles and rolled floors.
The rubber floor has a very long service life. In addition, it is resistant to UV, corrosive environments and moisture. A high-quality playground surface is resistant to kinks and bends, which ensures durability even after several decades of operation. The material is easy to care for, it can be washed with soapy water and aggressive materials, and brushes.
Disadvantages of crumb rubber coating
Like any other flooring, rubber flooring has its drawbacks. The most significant disadvantage of the material is a high degree of flammability. Because of this quality, rubber floors should not be laid around sources of ignition, because the material is highly flammable and smolders for a very long time.
Another disadvantage of rubber flooring is its high cost. The prices for rubber crumb materials are significantly higher than the prices for other playground surfaces. However, this cost is justified by the quality characteristics of the material. Rubber crumb coatings must comply with the requirements of certain GOSTs.
Rubber floor installation
Today, for laying a self-leveling floor with rubber crumb, the following methods are used:
- manual installation;
- laying with the use of special equipment;
- manual + machine way.
Each technology has its own characteristics, so the choice of installation method depends on your capabilities.
Laying rubber flooring by hand
For small spaces, manual installation is most often used. Laying begins with leveling the nursery playground with priming. After the primer dries, the floor composition is mixed. To do this, the rubber crumb and the adhesive component are mixed in a separate container until homogeneous, after which the composition is applied to the surface with a special spatula.
Installation of self-leveling floor with the help of special equipment
The coating laid using this technology is seamless and uniform. The machine method is used on large areas with a flat terrain: in stadiums, sports complexes and fitness centers. The composition, mixed on special equipment, is homogeneous and uniform.
Combined technology
This method is considered one of the most common. Thanks to the competent combination of machine and manual labor, it is possible to obtain the perfect coating. The manual laying method is used in difficult areas where the technique simply cannot cope. And large flat areas are filled with special installations.
Rubber floors are now very popular throughout Russia. The coating is used in in public places, as well as indoors. The decoration of children's playgrounds and schools is very common. Such places have special requirements for the safety that rubber coating can provide. It must comply with certain GOSTs.
Coating properties
Rubber floors are available in different colors, there is also a coating with a pattern or texture ( rubber tile). To color the material in production, various pigments or already colored crumb rubber are used. The material rarely has a bright color, as dark rubber is used for production. The crumb coating is durable and rough, while it is homogeneous, which does not interfere with walking and active sports.
The advantage of rubber is that it perfectly withstands temperature changes, moisture and precipitation. The material is very easy to clean from any type of contamination, and most importantly, even after a long cleaning, the material does not lose its color.
Such material is resistant to mechanical stress. It is able to withstand significant impacts without deforming. In addition, with constant contact with water, it retains its positive properties. Due to the fact that the material is waterproof, puddles formed on it evaporate very quickly. The composition of the rubber crumb coating is absolutely safe for humans and animals. Therefore, such a coating is used both in various rooms and on the street. It meets all the requirements of GOST.
Attention! By purchasing flooring for a children's playground, the customer contributes to the preservation of the environment. This is due to the fact that such material is made from recycled recyclable materials.
Self-preparation of crumb rubber at home
If you want to make rubber crumb yourself, you will need to prepare special tools and materials. For simple grinding, scissors, a cleaver and an ax are used. Usually the crumb is made from automobile slopes. To prepare crumbs to cover 1 sq. m area, you will need to grind about 8 kg of rubber. Before work, it is necessary to remove metal cords from the slopes. Rubber is mixed with glue after grinding. This mixture is applied on a flat surface.
There is another way to grind rubber. Vehicle slopes should be cooled from -70 to -80 degrees before work.
Seamless coatings
Today, many manufacturers make crumbs of various types. Some of the most popular are the types of crumbs that freeze and cut into strips. Then comes the tile. It is made in various sizes. Seamless coatings are another type of mixture that is diluted in certain proportions before laying. For this follow special instruction. Such material is used for children's playgrounds of various types. Types of seamless coatings:
- Covered "Cover Epdm", having a thickness of 1 cm. Such coatings are able to maintain their brightness for a very long time, they are very safe and reliable. Such products are anti-slip.
- Cover "Cover Base" has a thickness of 10 mm. It is most often used for the equipment of children's playgrounds. It has high elasticity, anti-slip properties and softness.
- Rubber products "Cover Double", which have a thickness of 1.5 cm. Such floorings are double soft. They are made of a substrate and a top layer of rubber. The bottom layer has a thickness of 10 mm, the top one - 7 mm.
- Seamless coating "Cover Double Epdm". It has a thickness of 1.5 cm. Such a material consists of high-quality rubber. The material does not lose color, which allows it to remain bright for a long time. This coating remains safe for children.
Similar products have high quality and reliability. They are quite practical and have a lot of positive characteristics. For these reasons, most playgrounds are covered with them.
Laying technology
There are several technologies for laying sites using crumb rubber. They differ in the time of work and the materials used. Therefore, careful consideration should be given to the use of different types coatings.
Rubber crumb in rolls
Before laying rubber crumb, carefully prepare the surface. This work begins with cleaning the base from stains of grease, as well as dust and dirt. In the presence of concrete surface it is cleaned, sanded and swept. Then polyurethane glue is applied to the lining, rolls of the required size are laid and the joints are poured with an adhesive solution.
Tiled products
To cover the surface with crumb rubber in the form of a tile, you will need to carefully level the base. It should be free of grease and dirt.
Important! In order for the tile coating to be laid according to technology, its moisture level should be checked. This is done using a hygrometer. The humidity index should not exceed 80%.
If there are roughnesses on the surface, it is better to level them with a cement screed. If rubber tile flooring is laid outdoors, good drainage should be performed. Its surface should have a slope of 20 degrees. Polyurethane adhesive is applied to the surface with a roller. Then lay the tiles.
Important! The gaps between different elements should be kept to a minimum, and the level of all tiles should be maintained.
Laying a seamless coating
This type of coating is performed independently, if you follow a certain work technology. Before work, you will need to find out the sequence of actions and perform all the necessary procedures:
- First, a place is prepared where the filling will be done. Such a coating may be asphalted. It is also made of concrete or wood.
- The base on which the rubber solution is poured must be carefully leveled and cleaned. When making a substrate of concrete, it should be moistened with water. The substrate is also sanded and cleaned.
- A seamless coating is laid under certain conditions. The air temperature should not be lower than +6 degrees.
- The lining is treated with a special primer. Then you need to wait a day for it to soak.
- The surface is poured in open areas in sunny weather. Rubber in this case will dry very quickly.
- During the preparation of the rubber mixture, certain proportions must be observed. They are specified by the crumb manufacturer. Mixing is usually carried out in a concrete mixer.
- The coating is poured with a thickness of 8 cm. When the mixture is poured, it should be leveled with a roller. The tool is lubricated with a special release agent.
- Then you need to let the mixture dry completely. This will take about 2 days.
In order for the surface to retain its aesthetic appearance, it must be varnished.
The main requirement that is met when arranging playgrounds for children is to ensure maximum safety.
Quality Foundation
How long the life of the coating will be depends on the quality of the base on which it is laid. Usually installation is carried out on asphalt, concrete or gravel. The design of the substrate is selected based on the operating conditions of the site. Its parameters are affected by the degree of load on the coating, its purpose, the bearing capacity of the soil and financial capabilities.
It is necessary that such indicators correspond to certain SNIPs. You should familiarize yourself with each type of base for playgrounds in more detail.
Asphalt underlay can be used for all types of outdoor areas. In addition, it can be used for professional track and field surfaces for professional purposes.
This type of foundation is usually used for the construction of sports facilities. high class. This is due to the high strength of the asphalt base. On such sites, special equipment can move without harm to each layer. The rubber mixture is laid on the asphalt base in a thin layer. Typically, a stacker is used for such purposes.
However, it is rather difficult to exclude the formation of puddles on such a coating. This is due to the large area of the sites and their low slope, which is only 0.5-0.7%.
The concrete base is the strongest and most durable. It is often used for athletics stadiums, as well as tennis courts and sports grounds. Concrete can be poured under coatings of any kind of crumb rubber. Roll materials, tiles, seamless coatings can be laid on it.
The preparation of such a base of the playground is quite costly. In order for the work to be carried out as efficiently as possible, it is necessary to perform reliable waterproofing of the base, as well as surface grinding. If concrete is poured over a large area, it is necessary that the work be carried out by professionals with great experience.
conclusions
Coatings made of rubber crumb have many positive characteristics and properties. They can be mounted both outdoors and indoors. Usually they are used for children's and sports grounds. This coating ensures maximum safety and durability of the coating. A mixture of crumb rubber with polyurethane adhesive must meet certain requirements of GOST.
Since crumb rubber is made from recycled materials, purchasing such a coating is an environmentally friendly choice. One of the main advantages of the material is its aesthetics and safety, as well as excellent protection of people resting on the site from injury. Rubber tiles are especially popular.
