The Ultimate Head Start Playground Safety Checklist
Get informed to meet all requirements for playgrounds
If you have young children, have you considered sending them to Head Start?
Head Start is a program meant for vulnerable young children.
The program helps support the development of vulnerable youth. It does so through early learning, health, and family well-being.
Playing is a very important part of the Head Start program.
Play helps with healthy brain development in children. Encouraging play can also help kids hone their self-advocacy skills and resolve conflicts.
A Head Start approved playground means children can begin exploring play safely.
Read our playground safety checklist below to see what a safe playground looks like.
The Right Location
Location is an important consideration for our outdoor playground safety checklist. Is it near a busy road or intersection?
A safe playground will have a means of containing the children inside. Park planners often use hedges or fences.
Soil testing should be done beforehand to ensure no contaminants are present.
Every Head Start playground checklist should include access to shaded areas.
One in every five Americans will have skin cancer in their lifetime. One blistering sunburn can double the likelihood of getting cancer.
The Right Equipment
Some playground equipment isn’t safe for adults, let alone small children.
Parks allow kids to develop by testing their skills in graduated challenges. Look at a playground as an extension of the classroom. All Head Start playgrounds should have age-appropriate structures to challenge their abilities safely.
Head Start parks need to consider accessibility for children with disabilities, too. There needs to be ramps and structures accessible via wheelchairs.
Surfacing Materials
Surfacing materials act as a shock absorber. Soft materials are necessary to prevent injury after a fall.
Concrete and asphalt are extraordinarily hard surfaces. A headfirst fall could onto concrete could be deadly or lead to a traumatic brain injury.
Rubber playground mulch is a safe choice, but it has to be the right kind.
Tire crumb rubber can contain cancer-causing toxins and dangerous gases little ones can inhale.
Virgin, non-tire mulch from Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch is the best surfacing material. It’s non-toxic and made using non-tire, lead-free safety tiles. The mulch goes through rigorous testing to ensure all regulations are met.
Non-tire mulch also won’t degrade and rot as a wood material would. It can also last up to 20 years, saving you money in the long run.
The depth of the surfacing material is also important. The Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook recommends a depth of six inches.
Regular Inspections
One of the most important playground safety requirements is having regular inspections.
It’s not enough to just erect a playground. Safety inspections ensure there are no dangerous hazards present. A Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) should be able to do all the inspections.
CPSIs take playground safety training so they can check new parks and inspect old ones. Annual inspections ensure everything is in good working order.
Head Start program operators should perform frequent playground inspections themselves, too. They should check for broken equipment, cracking plastic, and displaced surfacing materials.
Swing sets and slides are common areas surfacing materials get displaced. Packed down or non-existent fill surfacing will not do its job in the event of a fall.
Check Off Your Playground Safety Checklist
Head Start playground rules and regulations are in place to protect your child. Over 200,000 children visit emergency departments every year for play park injuries. Following a playground safety checklist can help cut back on those serious injuries.
The right surfacing materials can make all the difference in any playground. If you’re interested in using some for your home playground, contact us for a free quote. Our friendly team will get you started with the safest surfacing materials around.
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If you’re in the market for playground rubber mulch give us a chance to present you with a no-obligaiton free quote for your playground today.
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Customer Feedback – City of Coloma, Michigan
Now Mayor, Marsha Hammond, shares her insights on Jelly Bean for a big playground renovation project
We wanted to share some of the feedback from one of our recent customers, the City of Coloma, Michigan. We were thrilled to be a part of the revitalization of their downtown play areas.
Here’s a quick interview with Marsha Hammond, the DDA Project Coordinator, and now Mayor, for the City of Coloma, Michigan.
How did you find out about Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch?
The City of Coloma’s Downtown Development Authority took on a major renovation of our Randall Park which has a large wooden play area. As Project Coordinator, I started researching playground mulch on the internet. Finding so many articles on the toxicity of wooden mulch and all the concerns about rubber mulch from old tires, when I saw the Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch website I started reading.
Have to admit the colorful Jelly Bean name drew me in. The more I read the more interested I became. You could order a sample of the mulch, so I did. While I was still reading the information John Pell from Jelly Bean called me to say ”I see you ordered a sample of our mulch.” I was very impressed with the fast response and how nice and helpful he was.
How was the ordering and delivery process for you?
They could not have been more helpful. They understood the “process” that goes with working with a municipality. The delivery was more painless than I thought. We were kept informed by Jelly Bean and the trucking company. The truck drivers themselves called the day of delivery to confirm a time.
Where is the playground located?
Randall Park is located on the main street leading into the City. It is a large park with the wood structure play area and a green space in front with walking paths and landscaping.
Was it fairly easy to install?
It was fairly easy. Our play area is pretty large with a lot of structures so it took two days, with a crew of 15 people. We had a small tractor, a small Bobcat and a big Cat. Putting the landscape fabric down (before the rubber) was probably the worst part. The bags of mulch weigh around 2000 pounds – so you need a good-sized piece of equipment to lift them.
How do kids like the Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch?
Kids love the Jelly Bean mulch. They love the colors—it is not hot to step on in the summer. It is easy to walk and run on. I was surprised how solid it feels underfoot. We actually saw one mother taking pictures of the mulch with her cell phone.
Any feedback from parents?
Yes—all positive! They love how clean it is and the colors.
What are your thoughts about Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch now that it’s on the playground?
We are impressed! It brightens up the whole park. It is hard to explain to people—it is so attractive, safe and clean. After going through the first summer it still honestly looks like when we first put it down.
Anything else you want to share with people thinking about Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch?
Do it—you won’t regret it! Don’t let price scare you. It appears to be more of an investment. But an investment well worth it. When you really consider the longevity of Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch as opposed to the alternatives and how often you have to redo them it is worth it.
When you consider the safety and cleanliness of Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch there is no comparison. It is the right choice and one you will feel good about making. We had one mother tell us her son (previously) could not play at Randall Park because of his allergies—this year he played with his friends with no problem. Enough said!!
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If you’re in the market for playground rubber mulch give us a chance to present you with a no-obligaiton free quote for your playground today.
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Top 2021 Playground Safety Tips for Schools
How to Stay Safe & have Fun in 2021 (rhyme intended)
Playing Safe & Having Fun
When you’re a kid there’s nothing that beats the joyful rush of when you head out to recess. The freedom and fun of the playground is one place kids can feel safe and free to be, well, kids! To make sure that they have the most fun possible, it’s important for us as adults to take a few things into consideration.
The playground should certainly by no means turn into a no fun zone, but some rules and safety checks are key to keeping everyone at play and not on their way to the school nurse or the hospital. This is especially true for those in charge of other people’s children, like school administrators, superintendents, teachers, downtown development teams and others working in such an environment.
Start Before Recess
Even prior to children arriving to enjoy the playground, parents and administrators of schools should take note and do a few safety checks to ensure the area is generally safe for kids. The ground surfaces, for instance are an important area to consider that many may overlook. But as many young children especially are still getting used to proper balance and may jump and fall while outside, the ground surfaces around a playscape are pretty important! Make sure the area is free from exposed concrete, rocks, stumps or pavement and about 12 inches or so thick with wood chips, sand, non-toxic rubber mulch like Jelly Bean, or soft rubber mats to surround the playscape.
Make sure that equipment has a wide enough area around them, swing sets for example should have at least 6 feet of clearance in all directions to provide for a safe level of area when in use.
Ask questions like, do all the raised platforms and areas have guard rails and the proper barriers? Give a checkup on these parts of a playground because between running, pushing, shoving and general fun to be had, these will be indispensable in keeping kids safe during play time. And playground equipment isn’t finished once all those big pieces are in place! Make sure that bolt and screw ends are covered and there are no sharp or protruding nails or other items that can be hazardous and should be capped or covered to ensure fun and games stay fun and never hurtful.
Consulting a resource like the NPPS website and corresponding public playground safety handbook can be helpful in understanding common playground safety industry guidelines for public schools and parks.
No Sun Still Can Equal Fun
While fun in the sun is a great way to get vitamin D and enjoy the nice weather whatever the season, too much sun exposure or playground equipment that has become too hot can both pose health risks. Kids love to play rain or shine. And the weather doesn’t affect some children’s desire and willingness to play outdoors. So here are some things to consider, when playtime may be subject to the weather.
Make sure children drink plenty of water before, during and after play time (and of course let children who drink lots of water know exactly where the bathrooms are!).
As for playground equipment, give a careful touch if you think a surface is too hot. Based off your judgment, perhaps set certain overheated items or areas off limits for the duration of playtime. Even in the rain, if it’s summer or hot in general, playground equipment like metal slides can become exceptionally dangerous. Liability claims are a serious and growing issue for schools when it comes to playground safety.
Rain, moisture or even frost (for those who have seen a Christmas Movie) can also pose some hazards. Moisture and rain can make surfaces and handrails very slippery. And while the classic, “No running!” rule is always a handy go-to management tool, considering how children play realistically may deem it necessary to put certain equipment off limits altogether, or maybe decide to have indoor recess or playtime in the classroom, all-purpose room or school gymnasium instead.
Supervision & Safety
As educators there is nothing wrong with giving a bit of a helpful and practical tutorial before playtime. For example give kids a little advice before playing such as; no roughhousing, pushing or grabbing while on the swings, slides, seesaws, swings or other playground equipment.
Use equipment properly, like going down the slide feet first, one at a time and no standing on swings. Let kids know how to properly use certain pieces of equipment and how not to use them as well.
Jumping is fun, and can be good for kids. But make sure kids know to jump with no other children in front of, under or near one another. Be sure that children land on both feet with a slight bend in their knees to land softly.
While these tips may sound simple to an adult, kids are so focused on fun, we have to be the ones to teach and show them the best ways to play safe.
Bags, Bikes & Automobiles
The playground is more fun when we can run and play freely! So perhaps designate an area away from the equipment and play area for bags, helmets, bikes, necklaces and clothing or coats with long drawstrings. This area can also keep the aforementioned from posing hazards on the playscape like getting caught on things and lead to serious health risks.
Make sure children know to stay far away from any kind of road or area with traffic. If a ball or toy goes into the street or road, let kids know not to chase them and to go ask an adult nicely to get the ball instead. How many busy roads are located near playgrounds? Unfortunately, too many.
And of course, nothing beats good old fashioned adult supervision. Faculty and staff should exercise their best judgment and make sure children are always visible while playing and playing safely as best they can. Children who may be playing too recklessly or putting themselves or other kids in possibly dangerous situations may need some time out as per your best judgment in the situation.
Strangers & Animals
Let children know that while it is nice to be friendly, if a stranger or adult they do not know comes to the playground or approaches them, to walk away and get the faculty or staff members immediately. Stranger safety is a very important aspect for kids to be taught.
The same principle of playing it safe goes for animals. Learning about nature and wildlife are important and meaningful aspects of education, especially for children. But bees, snakes, strange or unfamiliar dogs or other animals should not be approached or played with. Again, let kids know that if they find a bee’s nest or a dog they have not seen before on the playground to go get faculty or staff as soon as they see them.
Safety and fun don’t have to be opposites. With proper care, supervision and a bit of knowledge about equipment and how best to play in ways that keeps everyone safe and limits the possibilities of kids getting hurt are all fantastic ways to enjoy recess or other play times. With the right balance of safety and play, every playtime will be a fun one for the children and for yourself!
Sources:
“Playground Safety (for Parents) – Nemours KidsHealth.” Edited by Kate M. Cronan, KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation, Sept. 2019, kidshealth.org/en/parents/playground.html.
“Safety at Home.” Playground Safety, www.nsc.org/home-safety/safety-topics/child-safety/playgrounds.
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If you’re in the market for playground rubber mulch give us a chance to present you with a no-obligaiton free quote for your playground today.
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Miller City-New Cleveland School Resurfaces Playground – Switching From Rubber Tire Mulch to Non-Toxic Jelly Bean
Miller City-New Cleveland Local School out of Miller City, Ohio recently installed five truckloads of Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch to replace rubber tire mulch.
Kerry Johnson, Superintendent and High School Principal for Miller City-New Cleveland Local School tells us about the job.
How did you find out about Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch?
From our Parent-Teacher Organization.
How was the ordering and delivery process for you?
The ordering and delivery could not have gone more smoothly for the school. The communication was terrific and allowed our maintenance staff to properly assist with the offloading upon delivery.
Where is the playground located?
The playground is located on our campus and is quite sizable at 11,500 square feet.
Was it fairly easy to install?
With approximately 20 community volunteers and some donated equipment that allowed us to move the super sacks into place the installation was completed in just about 5 hours.
How do the kids like Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch?
The kids love the new surface.
What’s your thoughts about Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch now that it’s on the playground?
We really like the Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch product. We feel good about the safety it provides our kids and also about the long-term with regards to maintenance and upkeep. This really was the best way to go for our resurfacing needs.
Anything else you want to share with people thinking about Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch?
John Pell is great to work with and certainly understands the importance of customer service and fostering positive relationships with people.
About The School
The mission of Miller City-New Cleveland School is to establish and to improve the basic skills of all children. Existing to provide an environment that creates positive experiences that contribute to each child’s self-worth. Operating since August 2003, the school is a K-12 facility.
Miller City-New Cleveland currently enrolls approximately 485 total students. The Miller City and New Cleveland communities are located in the heart of Putnam County within 40 minutes of Defiance, Findlay, and Lima.
About Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch
Playground surface Jelly Bean is a 100 percent wire-free pre-consumer virgin rubber mulch product. The material is sterile, latex free, and contains no such carcinogens or harmful VOC’s as tire mulch could. Jelly Bean is so safe it’s in compliance with California’s indoor air quality standards. The product is odorless,100 percent free of contaminants and does not hold heat. Jelly Bean offers an industry-best safety rating exceeding CPSC guidelines for fall safety, and surpassing traditional playground coverings by hundreds of percentage points. All these reasons show why parks and schools nationwide choose Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch for their play surfaces.
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If you’re in the market for playground rubber mulch give us a chance to present you with a no-obligaiton free quote for your playground today.
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Rubber Playground Mulch Customer Saint Mary Magdalen School Q&A
School Principal Shares Experience with Jelly Bean
Mr. Patrick Tiernan, Principal of Wilmington, Delaware St. Mary Magdalen School took some time out of his busy schedule to answer questions about Jelly Bean playground mulch.
The school in partnership with parents, parish, and community, seeks to nurture, develop, and educate the whole child by faithfully carrying out the example of Christ through education, service, and worship.
1 How did you find out about Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch?
Initially looking online for rubber mulch replacement for our school playground and found Jelly Bean Mulch kept coming up as an alternative.
2 How was the ordering and delivery process for you?
Amazingly smooth. We had some difficulty initially with the equipment needed on our end to move the pallets but that was on us.
3 Where is the playground located?
A PK-8 Catholic grade school in Wilmington, DE
4 Was it fairly easy to install?
Yes. We simply followed the recommendation to stake weed fabric over the existing mulch and had several volunteers help break down the bags and spread it over the playground.
5 How do the kids like Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch?
They love it! “It’s like walking on clouds,” one student told me. Beyond safety, it has actually become part of the fun of being on the playground.
6 Any feedback from parents?
All positive. One parent in particular asked me during a school event whose idea it was to have the new mulch installed. After telling him it was me he thanked me profusely because his son fell from the highest play apparatus landing face first into the mulch safely. He simply got up and kept playing! That anecdote alone made the investment worth it!
7 What’s your thoughts about Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch now that it’s on the playground?
Couldn’t be happier, really. I think many people were wondering why this product and why now given I had just come into my current role last summer but it has come to symbolize our commitment to safety and care of our student body as well as being better stewards of our environment. The playground and our gym are the two spaces that receive the most use so it only made sense to invest the very best into a space that everyone uses and enjoys including those in our local neighborhood.
8 Anything else you want to share with people thinking about Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch?
Don’t hesitate. The investment literally and figuratively pays for itself and you simply won’t regret the decision. Aside from a great marketing tool, it represents a commitment to children safety and improved quality of play.
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What Are the Best Types of Playground Surfaces in Houston, TX?
What’s Your Favorite Houston Playground Surface?
Whether you prefer a quiet park tucked into a neighborhood, the climbing gym at your child’s school or one of the six inclusive playgrounds under the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, you can likely list plenty of attributes that put it at the top of your list.
When ranking your favorites, you likely take playground surfaces into consideration. Parents, teachers and family members alike know what’s on the bottom of the swings and slides can make a major difference.
Today, we’re comparing some of the most common types of surfaces available in our city and explaining why our Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch outpaces them all.
Ready to learn more? Let’s dive in!
Houston Playground Surfaces Compared
Not every playground in Houston is created alike. Their surfaces set them apart, elevating some above the rest and playing a direct role in how comfortable, safe and enjoyable the experience is.
Here are a few examples of the types of playground surface material you’ll find around the city.
Synthetic Play Turf
Play Turf is designed to bring the look of real grass into a playground with only a fraction of the upkeep. Most models feature water migration capabilities, so children can use the playground even right after heavy rain.
Poured Rubber Surfacing
Rubber surfacing consists of recycled materials installed in thickness from 1.5 inches to 4.5 inches. Its surface layer comes in a variety of colors while the impact layer provides impact absorption.
It’s often poured in place with myriad finishes and color options available. What’s underneath the PIP surface matters, as DC residents recently discovered.
Shredded Rubber Surfacing
Similar to poured rubber surfacing, shredded rubber surfacing consists of clean, shredded recycled rubber. The ADA-accessible alternative to traditional playground surfacing, it’s available in non-toxic colors.
Bonded Rubber
This playground material centers on shredded, recycled rubber tire material. The shreds are coated and mixed with polyurethane binding to create a seamless surface with a high impact absorption capability.
Engineered Wood Fiber
This surface includes a layer of engineered wood fiber on top of wear mats, which are designed to provide maximum impact absorption. It requires periodic maintenance and extra layers of fiber to maintain the required depth.
Houston Non-Toxic Playground Safety Surface Is Here
Looking for a non-toxic playground surface that’s as comfortable and safe as it is aesthetically pleasing?
That’s where our Jelly Bean playground rubber mulch comes in.
What makes it so special? It’s the only 100% non-tire playground rubber mulch, specially formatted from non-toxic, sterile and latex-free rubber tiles. It even exceeds California’s indoor air quality guidelines!
A few of its notable characteristics include:
ADA accessibility
No wire equals no safety hazard
Longer lasting than competitors
Surpasses tests for indoor air quality and toxicity
Because it’s not made from shredded tires, Jelly Bean rubber mulch is cleaner, neater and longer-lasting than other competitor products, making it perfect for schools and daycares.
In addition, it meets the following five industry safety certifications:
ASTM F1487-17
ASTM F1292-18
ASTM F2075-15
ASTM F3012-14
CAN/CSA Z-614-14
While it might carry a higher initial cost than its peer products, you’ll notice that the return is worth the investment and convenience.
Playground Surfaces Made Simple
You want children to have a safe place to play. However, playground surfaces can make the difference between a day of smiles and one of disappointment.
When you’re looking for the safest, most comfortable and highest-quality surface around, Jelly Bean rubber mulch fits the bill. Get in touch with us today to learn more about the product and how it can transform playtime!
Get a Quote Today
If you’re in the market for playground rubber mulch give us a chance to present you with a no-obligaiton free quote for your playground today.
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Guide to Certified Playground Mulch 2025
Safety and Certified Mulch – What You Need to Know
Certified playground mulch or not, that is the question. When it comes to the playground where your children play, safety is the foremost priority. The surface the kids play on is just as important to keep safe.
There is much we can learn about certified mulch in 2025, and this blog will break it all down for you.
Fortunately, the playground industry has seen a renaissance in safety measures in the past few decades, making public playgrounds safer for kids and standardizing the installation of equipment such as playground mulch depth.
However, even the most stringent measures don’t ensure safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are around 200,000 playground injuries in the age 5-14 category, with falls leading major causes of injury.
That’s why it’s crucial for manufacturers and municipalities to ensure that their landing material, particularly rubber mulch, meets the highest standards.
That’s why we have created the authoritative guide to playground certified mulch. In this guide, you will see what certifications are offered, what those certifications indicate, and where the certifications fall short.
In other words, by the time you finish this post you’ll know if certified playground mulch is something that you should consider in your search, or if it’s just industry hype, or somewhere in-between.
What is the purpose of certified mulch?
Buying certified rubber mulch for a playground ensures that the surface meets a certain level of standards, but that doesn’t ensure that your playground will be free from injuries.
According to the American National Standards Institute, lack of supervision is associated with 40 percent of playground injuries. That means that even if your play equipment reaches the highest level of safety, it’s still important to ensure children are actively supervised during play.
However, the current standards – particularly on play surfaces – follow a long history of playground manufacturers attempting to prevent injuries to children on playgrounds.
Beginning in the 1990s, a wave of new studies revealed that falls onto playground surfaces accounted for a majority of injuries reported, increasing the need for standardized safe padding.
With the rise of information on much-needed safety, commercial manufacturers stepped in with materials like Engineered Wood Fiber and Pour-in-Place surfacing that helped prevent injuries. By the 2000s, standards of surfacing continued to coalesce around a few guidelines.
Where does IPEMA step in?
One standard for play equipment certification is offered by IPEMA, which provides a product certification program that validates a product in accordance with a group of standards from ASTM International and one from the Canadian Standards Association.
Upon completion of IPEMA’s course, manufacturers are provided a certification that can be applied to the certified product.
As noted above, the certifications do not ensure that the product is 100 percent safe, only that the product meets the standard guidelines established by ATSM.
What do the certifications mean?
Currently there are five levels of certification that ensure safety standards for a range of products.
Among the certifications manufacturers can receive include:
ASTM F1487-17 – Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use
According to the American National Standards website, ASTM F1487-17 Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use exists to limit the likelihood of life-threatening or debilitating injuries on the public playground.
This standard addresses safety and performance for different types of public playground equipment. The standard focuses on the 5th percentile 2-year-old through the 95th percentile 12-year-old. The standard excludes site furnishings, like benches, tables, and other structures not in the primary area of the equipment zone.
ASTM F1292-18 – Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials Within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment Standard
This third-party certification validates a certification of conformances to ASTM F1292-18, which tests a manufacturer’s conformance to “critical fall height” as established by the guidelines.
Under this certification, the IPEMA uses the manufacturer’s desired fall test height “based upon its experience and knowledge of its product(s),” rather than the ASTM standard. The certification indicates that the manufacturer’s test conforms to standard.
ASTM F2075-15 –Standard Specification for Engineered Wood Fiber for Use as a Playground Safety Surface Under and Around Playground Equipment this standard certifies that an Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) product meets the ASTM’s guidelines under ASTM 2075-15.
This designation shows that the EWF used on playground surface meets a minimum standard of particle size, consistency, purity and drainability. However, it should be noted that the certification does not guarantee that injuries cannot occur, even with standard fiber.
ASTM F3012-14 – Standard Specification for Loose-Fill Rubber for Use as a Playground Safety Surface under and around Playground Equipment
This certification ensures that loose-fill rubber meets ASTM standards for particle size, “extractable hazardous metal content,” lead content, sharp metal content and more.
Of note, this certification does not include measurements for the release of organic chemicals from the material and does not establish performance measures for the accessibility of the material.
CAN/CSA Z-614-14 – The Canadian Standards Association offers a complimentary set of guidelines for playgrounds that largely mirror those of the ASTM. IPEMA offers a certification that certifies a manufacturer conforming to those standards.
The standard guide covers all aspects of playground equipment to include rubber surfacing.
What are the limitations?
As mentioned above, IPEMA’s certifications apply minimum guidelines to rubber mulch, but do not ensure that the material used is of the highest level of safety.
For instance, the ASTM guidelines do not wholly prevent the inclusion of all sharp metal and organic toxins that could be in rubber tire mulch, leaving a considerable gap in the quality of mulch that can be installed.
While the certifications do imply that a minimum standard is met, it is important to note that installers should use caution when choosing rubber tire mulch.
Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch meets or exceeds the most stringent certifications in the play industry, and is the only non-toxic, virgin rubber mulch play surface. Jelly Bean’s rubber also passes tests for indoor air quality and toxicity which is beyond the scope of playground industry testing. This creates the best of both worlds, where you have a safe play surface for when kids fall, and one that you can be sure is 100 percent wire-free, non-toxic, and safe to play on for years to come.
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If you’re in the market for playground rubber mulch give us a chance to present you with a no-obligaiton free quote for your playground today.
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Playground Rubber Mulch Jelly Bean Selected by YouTube Sensation 8 Passengers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUa8LS8mZ44&feature=youtu.be
What’s a family full of YouTube celebrities to do when it comes to finding the best playground rubber mulch to suit their ultimate backyard renovation? Go with Jelly Bean, of course.
8 Passengers, one of the top family vlogs on YouTube with over 2.4 million subscribers, recently installed Jelly Bean rubber mulch as their choice safety surface for their gorgeous backyard renovation.
Why did the family choose Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch as their playground surface? 8 Passengers Dad Kevin puts it best, “so we did some research, and we found that Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch is really really good. It’s non-toxic, it’s not made from tires, and the color will never fade. The thing that we liked about it is that it has a really good safety rating and it’s ADA compliant.”
Ruby, 8 Passengers mom, had the best reaction of them all when she exclaimed she was so glad the family was not going with rocks as their safety play surface. Can you imagine the safety headaches of kids playing on a bed of rocks like gravel? We can’t either.
About 8 Passengers
Married 17 years with 6 kids, 8 Passengers is on a mission to show the world there is power and influence in motherhood. Things can get crazy with six active kids, but we can find true joy in the journey if we love and support each other. Visit 8 Passengers on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/8Passengers and on Instagram at www.Instagram.com/8Passengers to learn more.
About Jelly Bean
A perfect solution for nearly every playground surface need. Jelly Bean rubber mulch is much cleaner and safer than recycled tire mulch. It is more affordable than poured rubber, rubber tiles and synthetic turf, and carries a longer lifespan. Jelly Bean rubber mulch will save you money over natural mulch in the long run as it does not have to be replaced regularly. Jelly Bean will not rot, clog drains, cause allergies, or attract insects.
When it comes to playgrounds Jelly Bean is the leading safety surface on the market. The product is a non-tire non-toxic rubber mulch that’s made from the trimmings of safety tile. In other words, the surface won’t leech paint or have steel wire in it like rubber tire mulch. That’s why families like the Franke’s from 8 Passengers use Jelly Bean as their playground rubber mulch. Jelly Bean is the only rubber mulch that offers a best-in-class warranty on their product against degradation, so you can rest assured your financial investment in the product is as safe as the kids that play on it are.
Jelly Bean rubber mulch isn’t just for playgrounds. The safety surface is a top choice for the equine market and dog agility parks as well.
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If you’re in the market for playground rubber mulch give us a chance to present you with a no-obligaiton free quote for your playground today.
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Dangers of Rubber Tire Mulch: Playground Professionals Magazine Publishes Jelly Bean CEO Article
What can school districts do to prevent rubber tire mulch from leaching paint, getting hot, exposing steel wire, and potential roadway toxins to kids young and old alike? Replace it with 100% virgin rubber mulch product Jelly Bean.
Jelly Bean CEO Nic Campesi, and co-writer Cathie Ericson, wrote a detailed investigative piece on the environmental hazards of rubber tire mulch, and what happened when two school districts replaced it with Jelly Bean.
Playground rubber mulch is a popular choice for homeowners, schools, churches, and daycares. It does matter what type you install, and you can learn from the mistakes of others to avoid dirty rubber tires on your playground. Instead consider virgin rubber mulch product Jelly bean. The Playground Professionals article provides much evidence to support this conclusion.
Read the entire article here by clicking HERE.
Rubber tire mulch is a serious concern to many for a variety of reasons. From toxicity in the product from the manufacturing process, to the potential to encounter roadway contaminants, to the issues one has removing the product, it’s something those installing a playground should seriously think about prior to purchase.
Virgin Jelly Bean rubber mulch on the other hand is a non-toxic safety play surface. It doesn’t have any of the harmful red list chemicals that have been found in random samples of rubber tire mulch. Made from the excess of rubber safety tiles, Jelly Bean is a safe and reasonably priced alternative to dangerous rubber tire mulch or expensive pour-in-place rubber. Often cited as a “sweet spot” product, Jelly Bean fits just right for those that seek safety, wellbeing, and cost-effectiveness from their playground safety surface purchase.
In the article you will find details from those on the ground level – literally. School maintenance staff from several notable school districts are interviewed to provide context and information valuable to those considering putting down rubber tire mulch.
About Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch
Playground surface Jelly Bean is a 100 percent wire-free pre-consumer virgin rubber mulch product. The material is sterile, latex free, and contains no such carcinogens or harmful VOC’s as tire mulch could. Jelly Bean is so safe it’s in compliance with California’s indoor air quality standards. The product is odorless,100 percent free of contaminants and does not hold heat. Jelly Bean offers an industry-best safety rating exceeding CPSC guidelines for fall safety, and surpassing traditional playground coverings by hundreds of percentage points. All these reasons show why parks and schools nationwide choose Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch for their play surfaces.
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If you’re in the market for playground rubber mulch give us a chance to present you with a no-obligaiton free quote for your playground today.
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What is Playground Rubber Mulch?
One of the most popular safety play surfaces today is playground rubber mulch. Many have no idea what it’s comprised of, how long it’s been around, and why it is so popular. Find out the answer to all these questions and more in this informative interview with Jelly Bean CEO Nic Campesi.
In the video you’ll learn:
- What playground rubber mulch is
- What it’s comprised of and different types that exist
- The difference between pre-consumer and post-consumer rubber
- How long playground rubber mulch has existed as a safety surface
- Length of product life – how long will it take to degrade
- Where to find virgin non-toxic playground rubber mulch
Watch now and give us a call or fill out our quote form if you have any questions.
https://youtu.be/67_5fwJD3m0
Here is a transcript of the above video for your reference:
Clark: [00:00:00] Hey Clark Covington here with Nic Campesi, Nic how are you?
Nic: [00:00:03] Fantastic Clark and yourself?
Clark: [00:00:05] Doing great. Nic I want to talk to you a little bit today about playground rubber mulch. What exactly is that?
Nic: [00:00:11] Playground rubber mulch is a rubber product underneath a playground for fall safety and you know it is typically a tire-based product and it’s whole design is just to help reduce playground injuries on you know from kids falling or tripping underneath swings slides you know and other structures.
Clark: [00:00:37] Sure, and how long has this. You know playground mulch been around as as a play surface?
Nic: [00:00:43] You know for my industry experience you know I see that it kind of came about some time around the 1980s where people started chopping up tires and throwing them on playgrounds.
Clark: [00:00:53] OK. And what are the different types of playground rubber mulch?
Nic: [00:00:58] So you really have a couple different things in the marketplace. You have companies that just chop up tires and then you have people that go a step further or chop it up and they’ll actually put a coating on it to keep all the nasty black stuff from getting on kids you know. And then you know the third would be what our company does Jelly Bean and we make a non-tire virgin rubber mulch.
Clark: [00:01:24] Okay. And can you give me an idea of tire of tire rubber mulch vs non-tire virgin rubber mulch in terms of how long the product lasts?
Nic: [00:01:35] So you know they’re both vulcanized products so you know I mean we have a 60 year test on our product and realistically you know there’s no no reason why you know a tire rubber might not necessarily you know provide good fall data for that long. However a couple of things you know the older the tire rubber gets we’re starting to have a lot of people who bought tire rubber used 5 10 15 years ago who are saying you know it starts breaking. And you know the kids are starting to get black streaks on their clothes and whatnot or the coating is coming off. So I mean ultimately you know vulcanized rubber is hard to destroy. And you know the jelly bean rubber it’s a little higher durometer rubber than tire-based rubber so you know we put a full 20 year warranty on our product that it won’t degrade.
Clark: [00:02:26] OK so a 20 year warranty that it won’t degrade.
Nic: [00:02:30] That’s correct.
Clark: [00:02:31] And what are some other benefits of using playground rubber mulch?
Nic: [00:02:35] Well you know ultimately you’ve got to have a safety surface under a playground. And so you know the bottom of the level really the most expensive over time is throwing wood chips down because you constantly have to replace them they’re constantly rotting and they’re left out of spec the next day after you put them in because they degrade so fast. You know I talked to someone this morning that you know their issue is heck that you know we’ve got we’ve got kids that a re you know have mold allergies and this is wood is molding you know going to a synthetic-based product long term is lower cost though higher cost upfront. And so you know we see more you know as you look at over time a synthetic product really being the smart choice for a playground.
Clark: [00:03:28] Sure. And what’s the difference between pre-consumer and post-consumer rubber mulch?
Nic: [00:03:33] So pre-consumer would be like Jelly Bean rubber that’s rubber you know we’re taking a rubber tile that’s designed for a child to play on. And this you know we’re taking stuff the trimmings the things that don’t meet scrap we bundle it up and that’s where we make the product you know a post-consumer product would be like a tire because it’s used on a car that’s been on the roadway. You know are are some form of other rubber even could be you know post-consumer if it were a gasket or something.
Clark: [00:04:07] Sure. And if people want to learn more about Jelly Bean playground rubber mulch how could they find out is there a web site they can go to?
Nic: [00:04:15] Yes if you got to www dot jelly bean rubber mulch dot com you can also fill out the contact form there and feel free to send us any questions.
Clark: [00:04:27] Awesome. Nic thank you so much.
Nic: [00:04:29] All right. Thank you.
Get a Quote Today
If you’re in the market for playground rubber mulch give us a chance to present you with a no-obligaiton free quote for your playground today.
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