Determining the proper playground mulch depth when it comes to school playgrounds is of utmost importance for safety, cost, and regulatory approval.

First, you must define what type of playground mulch you are planning to use on the school playground. If it is wood mulch or engineered wood fibers, the depth will vary, and could even be impacted by rain or wind degradation over time.

Information on a variety of playground surface suggested depths can be found in the Handbook for Playground Safety.

For the purpose of this post we will focus exclusively on non-toxic Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch. This product has been tested and exceeds the maximum fall safety rating for school playgrounds.

Why focus on playground mulch depth? The primary reasons are to ensure the safety of students, the costs and financial considerations for the school, and accessories needed such as boarders or retaining walls.

We find the proper playground mulch depth to be 6 inches for many school playgrounds.

Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch is tested to ASTM F1292-09 standards for critical fall height for head injuries.

Learn more about ASTM Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment via their website.

At 6 inches of compacted depth the Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch exceeds the test parameters of a child falling from 17ft.

Max safety rating depth varies for some states and regions, and may require higher amounts of depth. It is important to check with state and local regulators to get a clear idea of what required depth of playground rubber mulch is required for your elementary or middle school playground.

The way Jelly Bean Rubber Mulch quotes product is by ton based upon cubic feet, thus allowing us to give accurate costs associated with both dimensions and depth of the play space.

This is a very important issue that one should look at in-depth before making a purchase. Planning now can save time and money, and even prevent injury, down the line.

Get a free quote for Jelly Bean for your school playground today.