Schools

Applied Landscape Materials has been providing schools with certified playground fiber for over ten years. In the calendar year 2015, we provided and installed over 60,000 cubic yards of playground bark for schools, parks, and playgrounds.

We support all types of schools; from private day cares, to faith based schools, to public school districts, and even unions.

Due to the volume of playgrounds we support, we are very experienced in the overall end-to-end process of installing Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) for schools. We truly understand the complexity of installing bark and all the stipulations that accompany supporting schools.

Children’s safety is paramount to us. There is nothing more important than ensuring the playgrounds we support have the very best product available. Applied Landscape Materials playground fiber meets or exceeds the requirements outlined in ASTM F1292, ASTM F1951, and ASTM F2075.

Fall Zone Surfacing

Statistics indicate that nearly 70 percent of all playground injuries are related to falls onto the surface. Playground safety experts highly recommend the use of various loose-fill surface materials to reduce the risk of injuries.

What is EWF? Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) is a wood product that may look similar in appearance to landscaping mulch, but EWF products are designed specifically for use as a playground safety surface under and around playground equipment. EWF products should meet the specifications in ASTM F2075 and ASTM F1292.

Loose-Fill Surfacing should be at least 12 inches deep and extend at least 6 feet in all directions around stationary equipment. Depending on the height of the equipment, surfacing may need to extend further than 6 feet. This is especially true for areas with swing sets.

Loose-fill surfacing requires frequent maintenance to ensure surfacing levels never drop below the minimum depth. Areas under swings and at slide exits are more susceptible to displacement; special attention must be paid to maintenance in these areas.

Tip: How much EWF should I order?

Playground fiber installations under playground equipment must have a compacted minimum depth of 12 inches, according to ASTM standards for loose fill playground fall material. The actual amount of fiber required for a specific playground area will be determined by area size, equipment height, and location of depth markers indicated on the playground equipment.