EVERPLAY Q&A

ver the years of installation of the EVERPLAY surfaces a number of very well thought out questions are posed to our marketing and technical personnel. To assist you in your evaluation as to whether EVERPLAY or a synthetic surface would suit your needs, we have compiled a list of these questions with answers.

Yes provided it is smooth and stable. The EVERPLAY system relies upon the energy absorbing properties of the EVERPLAY only to perform according to ASTM Fl 292-95. Any deviation in smoothness of the hard surface or holes in the surface must be filled with compactable broken granular material.

None of these materials is a suitable base for the EVERPLAY in that they allow for movement and would move when the children jump on the EVERPLAY . The proper procedure is to remove this type of material and install a compacted split granular base.

No. You will have to remove all of the organic materials including the grass, roots and topsoil. The depth to which the soil has to be removed depends upon the depth of the topsoil and the depth to an undisturbed sub-base.

Provided there is no ponding of water after a heavy rain in the area to have the EVERPLAY (in technical terms that the percolation rate is greater than 60 liters/M2/hr.) there will be no need for a drainage system to be installed. The determination of what constitutes a heavy rain will depend upon local conditions.

EVERPLAY consists of rubber bound together with polyurethane binders. Although both of these are organic and will burn they do have a very high ignition temperature. In addition the EVERPLAY is a horizontal surface on the ground where the heat require is very difficult to bring to bear on the surface. Other materials in the playground that have a vertical aspects such as wood beams, plastic panels or structures such as slides will burn more readily. In the case of fire where there is an EVERPLAY surface, the experience is that damage to the EVERPAY usually is a result of plastic melting and becoming embedded in the EVERPLAY .

There is an attempt to provide a good degree of slip-resistance in wet and dry conditions and the polyurethane encapsulating the rubber crumb is inherently available friction. The texture of the broken rubber crumb provides additional slip-resistance, especially when wet.

The EVERPLAY is considered to be vandal resistant and therefore children will not pull it apart. There could be circumstances where vandals have caused damage to the EVERPLAY that would allow the children to tear at the damaged areas. Should this occur, contact your EVERPLAY installer immediately to have repairs performed.

Given the winter of 95/96 one has to say that everything freezes, however the polyurethane utilized in the EVERPLAY surface will remain stable to -300C. The problem associate with the winter will be the formation of the ice and snow on or in the EVERPLAY surface. You will be able to use a plastic snow shovel to remove the bulk of the snow. De-icing pellets are preferred to salt and recommended.

EVERPLAY was developed in Canada and takes into consideration the range of temperatures that can be found throughout the year. The ASTM F1292 standard for playground surfaces requires that any playground surface, natural or synthetic performs to the pass/fail criteria from -6^oC to +50^oC

Typically a frost heave is the result of moisture in the base and sub-base freezing and expanding. The special polyurethanes utilized in the EVERPLAY will have the ability to stretch to accommodate most heaves without tearing. Once the frost thaws, the heave should settle and the EVERPLAY will return to the original position provided the base has fully settled.

Aesthetically the difference is between a prefabricated and seamless surface. In relation to the impact absorbing characteristics of the s Can EVERPLAY be installed on either asphalt or concrete? eaderIconurface, the 2" Play Mat conforms to ASTM F 1292-95 for a drop from 5.5, and the 3" Dimple Mat conforms for a drop from 81 and you will have to determine the highest accessible fall height, while for the EVERPLAY poured in place surface, the installation crew determines the highest accessible fall height and installs the EVERPLAY that conforms to the standard.

EVERPLAY can abut to either of these materials as well as concrete, asphalt, curbing and metering stone. The architecture information available from EVERPLAY can provide details of how to deal with these circumstances. Where sand is beside the EVERPLAY , the sand can fill the pores in the surface and reduce the impact absorbing properties of the EVERPLAY . Where this occurs within an impact area in relation to a play structure, the sand must be cleaned with the use of an industrial vacuum. EVERPLAY will not kill grass, but over time the grass could grow in to the EVERPLAY and need to be cut.

Generally when there is a problem under the EVERPLAY it will have to be removed and replaced. Where the Mats have been installed this could potentially be done by the person performing the repair, while with the Poured in Place, your original EVERPLAY installer must replace the appropriate resilient EVERPLAY after the base repair has taken place.

EVERPLAY is available in the standard colours of terra cotta or black. For the Mats there is an option to have a speckle of coloured rubber added to the black or a top layer of coloured rubber approximately 1/4" thick on the surface to provide a variety of colours. The Poured in Place can have the coloured speckles added to the black, a spray applied coloured lacquer topcoat or a layer of coloured rubber applied to the surface to provide additional colours. The addition of colour will have an additional cost associated with it.

EVERPLAY is a unique surfacing system that will meet the very stringent standards that have kept EVERPLAY as a leader since 1984. You could be faced with a number of varied products for the surfacing of your play or recreation area. Where standards must be met and long term durability a must you will have to sort through a maze or technical and chemical information that can only lead to confusion.