Playground Rubber Mulch Safety
Playground rubber mulch is engineered for fall-height safety -- it's the only ground cover specifically designed and tested to reduce injury from falls off play equipment. The CPSC and ASTM F1292 set the standards: depth requirements increase with equipment height.
CPSC Minimum DepthsEquipment up to 7 ft: 6 inches of rubber mulch
Equipment up to 10 ft: 9 inches
Equipment up to 12 ft: 12 inches
Use zone: 6 ft in all directions from equipment
Equipment up to 10 ft: 9 inches
Equipment up to 12 ft: 12 inches
Use zone: 6 ft in all directions from equipment
Rubber mulch costs more upfront ($8-12 per cubic foot vs $2-4 for wood mulch) but lasts 10+ years without replacement. Wood playground mulch decomposes and needs replenishment every 1-2 years. Over a 10-year period, rubber is often cheaper total.