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The cost to build a new play area or public open space is a large financial commitment.
When the work is complete the spending does not finish there. The play area or space has to be looked after and maintained.
Over the life of the space, it can be an even larger amount of money than the build costs. It is therefore important to construct the space in a way that
does not increase the cost of looking after it or increase the risks of injury to the people who use it.
During the life of a play area or open space it is likely to be refurbished, which again can be expensive. It may create an opportunity to design out costly maintenance
issues.
Here are just some things that may have an impact on the maintenance of play areas and open spaces;
- The current trend is for more natural play spaces.
- Natural surfaces such as grass cannot withstand the high pedestrian traffic in well used play areas and open spaces.
- When grass is eroded it leaves hard compacted soil that does not drain.
- Play areas and open spaces that look untidy and poorly maintained are more vulnerable to being vandalized.
- Loose materials, such as sand and wood chip, erodes and scatters leaving the space looking untidy.
- Loose materials may foul or damage grass cutting machinery.
- Loose materials needs to be maintained at a required depth if used as a safety surface.
- Wheelchairs and buggies find it difficult to negotiate loose surfaces.
- It may not be practical to close a play area or open space while maintenance work is being undertaken.
- Wet Pour surfaces can become damaged or degrade over the lifetime of the play space.
Star Rubber Environmental Ltd can provide solutions to help keep costs down;
- TigerMulch® is a bound product that has the appearance of natural materials.
- TigerMulch® has a 5 year warranty.
- TigerMulch® has reference sites that were installed in 2001.
- Mechanical sweepers can be used to sweep a TigerMulch® surface.
- TigerMulch® is a bound material that can be used on slopes.
- When TigerMulch® is used in grass areas no edging material is required allowing grass cutting machinery to sweep over it.
- TigerMulch® has been tested and conforms with the Performance Specification of BS EN1177 and BS 7188.
- TigerMulch® has been tested for a fall height of up to 3 metres.
- Wheelchairs and buggies find it easy to negotiate TigerMulch®.
- TigerMulch® helps reduce the maintenance time spent in a play space.
- Wet Pour surfaces can easily be skimmed and edged with the Star Kerb with out removing the old surface.
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