Is Playground Turf Safe?

The short answer

Playground turf is safe provided it's laid on a shock pad appropriate for the height of your play set. The turf provides a soft, clean, and mud-free surface for the children. The pad beneath is what provides the protection in the event of a fall. Turf laid directly onto a compacted base is a lawn and not a fall protection surface.

That difference is more important than any brand or blade shape. Here's what Placer County parents need to know before they go out to buy, from fall height ratings to summer heat and drainage.

What fall height means

Every play surface is judged by its critical height: the highest fall it can cushion before a serious head injury becomes likely. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) uses ASTM F1292 as the standard for this assessment in its Public Playground Safety Handbook.

The rule of thumb is straightforward. The surface height must be equal to or greater than the highest point a child can reach on the play set. For a swing, measure from the swing hanger pivot point.

• Measure the highest platform, deck, or swing hanger in your play set.

• Ask the pad manufacturer for the ASTM F1292 test data for that height.

• Choose the pad thickness the test data requires. Don't guess.

CPSC lists carpet that has not been tested to ASTM F1292 as inappropriate playground surfacing. Synthetic turf alone falls into the same category. The rating comes from the tested system: turf + pad.

Shock pad or bare turf?

Use a shock pad underneath the play set. AGL Grass North can special-order the shock pad, so allow for lead time when you're scheduling your job.

A typical arrangement is to place the pad under and around the play set, with standard turf covering the rest of the yard. Ask our Rocklin showroom team to size the pad area based on your play set dimensions.

Turf specs that matter for kids

Our two most popular playground choices are Saratoga 60 and Royal 60. Both are no-infill, so kids won't track rubber crumbs or sand inside, swallow it, or kick it loose.

Three more checks before you buy:

• No-infill. Read why in The Myth of No-Infill Artificial Grass.

• Heat. Play sets in Rocklin, Roseville, and Lincoln are in full sun. Check out our article, The Best Artificial Grass for Sacramento Summers, and plan for shade over the play area.

• Drainage. Spills and winter rain should drain through, not pool underneath the swing set or slide.

Schools, parks and child care centers

Public playgrounds follow the CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook. For unitary surfaces such as turf over a pad, the CPSC advises buyers to request the manufacturer's ASTM F1292 test data showing the critical height.

Public sites also need an accessible route for kids using wheelchairs or walkers. That is tested under ASTM F1951. Ask for both test reports before ordering material for a school, park, HOA, or child care project. Our commercial turf team can help you gather the product data your project requires.

Turf vs mulch, rubber, and sand

CPSC accepts wood chip, pea gravel, sand, and shredded rubber as loose fill at the correct depth. Turf over a tested pad is the alternative to that, trading the maintenance of the loose fill for a fixed surface.

Loose fill only provides protection at full depth. The CPSC points out that some materials lose their critical height as they compress, so displaced mulch under a swing is a real hazard.

One yard for kids and dogs

Many Granite Bay, Loomis, and Auburn families share their backyard between kids and dogs. No-infill turf is an advantage here, since the dog can't kick up infill or track it indoors. For more details on pet-safe areas, see What Actually Makes Turf Safe for Dogs.

Getting your playground turf

1. Measure your play set. Identify the highest platform, deck, or swing hanger and note the footprint around it.

2. Visit the Rocklin showroom. Check out Saratoga 60 and Royal 60 in person at 4445 Granite Drive, Suite 505, Rocklin, CA 95677, and take samples home.

3. Order your pad early. Shock pads are special order, so order them with your turf.

4. Choose who installs it. Handle it yourself with tools and supplies from our Turf Supplies & Remnants page, or work with one of our certified installation partners. In Placer County and Sacramento, our affiliated installation partner is Natural Tech Artificial Grass & Landscaping.

Contact us or visit the playground turf services page to get started.

Common questions

Is artificial turf safe under a swing set? Yes, provided it's on a shock pad tested to ASTM F1292 for the swing's height. Bare turf has no fall height rating.

What is padded playground turf? It's synthetic turf laid over a foam or rubber shock pad. The pad absorbs impact, and the turf provides a soft, clean top surface.

Does playground turf need infill? No. AGL Grass products are no-infill, so there's no crumb rubber or sand under kids' feet.

Which AGL turf is best for a playground? The two most commonly used are Saratoga 60 and Royal 60. Both have a 1-3/4" pile and a 60oz pile weight.

Can I lay the playground turf myself? Many people do. We supply the turf, tools, and special-order pads, and we have certified installation partners available if you want or need that level of assistance.