SoftfallŽSoftfallŽ has become a generic term for any impact attenuation product. These can be sand, bark chip, synthetic grass, wet pour rubber, rubber tiles or other exotic types. Although we have supplied all types, we primarily deal with synthetic grass and wet pour rubber SoftfallŽ. For synthetic grass and wet pour rubber, SoftfallŽ comes in three styles:
EVA Pads The SoftfallŽ tradionally used under synthetic grass is an EVA closed cell impact absorbing foam. It comes from the same family as the flotation products used in life jackets, and consequently, water absorption is very low. The thickness of SoftfallŽ varies from 10mm to 40mm. This materail is only suitable for installation with synthetic grass and preferrably on a roadbase base (not concrete) Wet Pour Rubber In-situ Wet pour rubber SoftfallŽ is used under wet pour rubber and synthetic grass. It is a recycled black rubber shred or granule which is bound together with the same binder used for wet pour rubber i.e. single componenet polyurethane binder. This SoftfallŽ layer is free draining and is a very durable product. It will withstand the rigours of playgrounds and still perform years later as new. The thickness of the material varies from 20mm to normally 100mm but thicker layers can be installed. Wet Pour Rubber Mats Wet pour rubber mats are factory-manufactured in a 1m by 1m square. these mats can be installed under synthetic grass or wet pour rubber and have similar proerties to in-situ wet pour rubber SoftfallŽ. The mats come in a variety of thciknesses and can be stacked on top of each other to increase the thickness of teh SoftfallŽ. Why do I need SoftfallŽ?Constant activity in playground areas involves repeated compression of the protective undersurfaces. Many organic materials will alter due to changes in weather conditions and can be easily displaced. Our manufactured SoftfallŽ will not move, deteriorate or change in any way as a result of movement or weather. How is SoftfallŽ Installed?Base preparation: The sub base can be road base (gravel), crushed rock or compacted earth. Then a layer of crusher dust is used to compact and level the base to achieve the desired shape and contour of the area. Laying the SoftfallŽ: SoftfallŽ is butted and securely taped together with masking tape or similar. It is then laid evenly on top of the well-compacted base. Then the SoffallŽ is cut to allow for any play equipment. Synthetic grass is then laid on this surface with the nap or grain going in the one direction. The product is secured around the perimeter of the area with galvanized clouts to a timber edgeboard or solvent-based adhesive to a concrete kerbing. For wet pour rubber SoftfallŽ, the rubber is mixed with binder and laid similar to a concrete slab. How will the completed job look?: All seams and joins are adhered to 300mm wide polypropylene backing tape using a solvent-based adhesive. Sand infill should be distributed at a rate of 20 kgs per square metre and swept into the product evenly, leaving approximately 3mm of the fibre tip exposed. When laid by a professional team such as ours, the turf seams are not visible. |
Synthetic Grass & Softfall
