Ibi, Alicante -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/16/2011 -- The project “SAFESURFACE. Children’s Playgrounds: correlation between physicochemical parameters and the high-impact capacity of surfaces.

Requirements guide for the business sector”, funded by the Institute for Small and Medium Industry of the Generalitat Valenciana (IMPIVA) within the R & D program, is coming to an end after two years of research on the influence of certain parameters on the shock absorption capacity of synthetic surfaces used on playground floors. Through this project we have been able to study different factors that interfere with and influence the shock absorption capacity of playground surfaces in the case of falling from playing equipment.

During this second year we have reached the conclusions that are detailed below:

1. The most important factor affecting the critical falling height of the polymeric floor tiles analysed is room temperature. This external factor, that due to its nature is uncontrollable, affects the measurement properties in two different ways:

i) Directly, because the high-impact properties of the whole tile depend on temperature to a large extent. Therefore, we achieve big variations in the shock absorption capacity when going from room temperature to low temperatures (below 0º). This variation is less marked when going from room temperature to high temperature (49º ± 5º). It was possible to obtain a variation of up to 10% of shock absorption.

ii) Indirectly, with other environmental agents such as humidity or direct sunlight, which alter (diminish) the elastic properties of the polyurethane adhesive over time due to aging and subsequent hardening.

2. The high-impact capacity of the polymeric floor tiles analysed is also dependent on controllable factors such as:

i) The thickness of the SBR layer;
ii) The SBR grain size;
iii) The weight of the sample;
iv) The percentages of elastomers introduced;
iv) The amount of resinoid bond.

3. However, these latter controllable factors, which allow us to modify the high-impact capacity in a relatively narrow range of values, are not enough to offset the effect of temperature on the polymeric floor tiles analysed. That is why it seems mandatory to search for new materials capable of having a higher high-impact capacity which is not altered over time. It also seems reasonable to suggest the need for legislation to regulate both, comprehensively and globally (taking into account external influence factors) all the properties that playground surfaces should meet.

About AIJU Technological Centre Specialised in Child Safety
The Toy Research Institute (AIJU) was founded in June 1985. Located in Ibi, in Alicante, AIJU is a non-profit association focused on researching, developing and improving the quality and safety of children’s products. Accredited for toys since 1989, the laboratory is currently increasing its accreditations; it is the first laboratory accredited by ENAC for the testing of toys, childcare products, playgrounds (playing equipment and playground surfacing) and materials in contact with food. Besides, AIJU is an Inspection Body accredited by ENAC for playgrounds.

One of the main objectives of AIJU is to help the children’s products industry to improve its competitiveness, advising on educational and developmental aspects of children and new needs and social situations related to them, their welfare and the products intended for use by them.

AIJU is the only European centre specialised in all aspects of children’s products, from research of raw materials, product design or safety assessment to pedagogy and child development studies in relation to children’s products. It is also a member of several national and international standardisation forums and committees related to children’s safety. Besides, AIJU is a EU Notified Body for the issue of EC type-examination according to Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of toys.