Life Floor's Top 13 projects of 2023

2023 was filled with incredible projects ranging in complexity, size, and theme. Collaboration and excellence from some of our top partners, installers, and customers made all of these facilities possible. To celebrate 2023 as we enter into our 13th year in business, we’ve chosen to highlight these 13 installations that stood out among the hundreds of projects installed across the year.

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MOST UNIQUE GEOMETRIC DESIGN

Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre

Location: Northcote, Victoria, Australia
Install Date: August 2023
Area: 3,281 sq ft (355 m²)
Main Colors: Seafoam, Limelight, Lilypad, Sandbar
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Architect: Warren and Mahoney Architects
Partner: Waterplay
Installer: Mauer Construction Tiling

With a unique palette and layout of colored bands, the creative approach for the flooring design of this project was a highlight for our team.

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FIRST AQUAFORMS12 SPLASH PAD

Island Waterpark at Showboat Resort

Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 13,308 sq ft (1,236 m²)
Main Colors: Gobi, Sandstone, Aviator, Bluebird, Sunshine
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designers: WhiteWater + Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces

Island Waterpark at Showboat Resort received a 2023 Leading Edge Award from WWA and was the host facility for WhiteWater’s new AquaForms12 structure which won the 2023 IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Best New Product under $2 Million.

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MOST ACCESSIBLE AQUATIC AMENITIES

Camp Barnabas

Location: Purdy, Missouri, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 2,983 sq ft (277 m²) across 3 areas
Main Colors: Ocean, Kingfisher (discontinued), Iceberg, Turquoise, Aqua, Ivory, Heron, Evergreen, Olive, and Limelight
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Specifier: Sunbelt Pools
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Baynum Solutions
Photo Credit: Splashtacular, LLC.

Given the facility’s mission, Camp Barnabas stands out as a project designed to create even more accessible aquatics for all guests. This facility received a 2023 Leading Edge Award from WWA.

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best interactive theming

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth, Pirate Beach

Location: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 3,900 sq ft (363 m²)
Main Colors: Bluebird, Aviator, Aqua, Sandbar
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces

With islands, LEGO features, and themed structures on site, this splash pad really stood out for its pirate theming.

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Most Uniquely Themed Facility

Studio City Water Park

Location: Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, Macau, China
Install Date: April 2023
Area: 5,479 sq ft (509 m²)
Main Colors: Gobi, Mojave, Sandbar, Tiki
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater and WTI

This flowing curve design is custom cut from Life Floor tiles and provides subtle visual paths leading from one attraction to the next. These custom elements perfectly tailor to Studio City’s space travel theme. The combination of WTI's design and engineering, WhiteWater’s industry-leading features, and the comfort, safety, and durability of Life Floor’s surfacing creates a world-class indoor facility at the Studio City Water Park.

Studio City Water Park received a 2023 Leading Edge Award from WWA and was named a 2023 Dream Design by Aquatics International.

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MOST PLAY VALUE OPPORTUNITIES

Forest Park Aquatic Center

Location: Forest Park, Illinois, USA
Install Date: January 2023
Area: 3,268 sq ft (304 m²)
Main Colors: Aviator, Pomegranate, Goldfish, Sunshine, Limelight, Ocean, Sandbar
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Hitchcock Design Group (Naperville)
Drains: Daldorado
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
Photography Credit: The Park District of Forest Park and Bridget Deatrick with Hitchcock Design Group

Designed as a giant game board, Forest Park Aquatic Center brought play value to a large scale at their splash pad.

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BEST ZERO-DEPTH ENTRY POOL THEME

Camp Margaritaville, Northgate Property

Location: Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 3,900 sq ft (363 m²)
Main Colors: Turquoise, Seafoam, Aqua, Sandstone, Gobi
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
Partner: Daldorado Drains
Fixture Manufacturer and Photo Credit: InterActive Play

With a beach-themed triangle gradient and integrated Daldorado DALlux drains, Camp Margaritaville brought the tropics to this zero-depth entry pool.

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FIRST LIFE FLOOR PROJECT IN CROATIA

Maistra Rovinj Croatia Resort

Location: Rovinj, Croatia
Install Date: May 2023
Area: 1,034 sq ft (96 m²)
Main Colors: Ocean, Bluebird, Aqua
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Amica

Bright diagonals of blue really make this splash pad pop at our first installation in Croatia.

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NEWEST CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP

Carnival Jubilee Waterworks

Location: Carnival Cruise Ship
Install Date: December 2023
Area: 5,324 ft² (495 m²)
Main Colors: Ocean, Aviator, Iceberg
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater + Carnival Cruise Line
Installer: FMC Design

Life Floor surfaces every ship in the Carnival Fleet so the installation on Jubilee in several areas, including Waterworks shown above, is exciting to see.

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2022 MAKE A SPLASH! GRANT CONTEST WINNER

Rotary Splash Island at Sammy Haggard Park

Location: Danielsville, Georgia, USA
Install Date: March 2023
Area: 2,055 sq ft (191 m²)
Main Colors: Ocean, Bluebird, Aviator, Turquoise, Seafoam
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces

In 2022, we co-hosted our third annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest with Inside Edge Safety Surfaces to award a municipality or non-profit organization in the United States with an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. Our intent with this contest is to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful splash pad surfacing designs that add increased safety for residents. Our 2022 winner, Rotary Splash Island at Sammy Haggard Park, was installed in March 2023.

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FACILITY MOST FULLY SURFACED WITH LIFE FLOOR

Rapid River Lodge

Location: Baxter, Minnesota, USA
Install Date: January 2023
Area: 9,408 sq ft (874 m²)
Main Colors: Gobi, Sandstone, Sandbar, Iceberg, Pomegranate, Lilypad, Iris, Sepia
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Waterplay
Partner: Waterplay
Installer: Fischer Brothers, LLC

With Life Floor surfacing the pool deck, stairs, zero-depth entry, and pool coping, almost all of Rapid River Lodge is covered with our tiles! We always love to see such a comprehensive safety surface approach.

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FIRST LIFE FLOOR PROJECT IN EGYPT

Marassi Water World

Location: El Dabaa, Matrouh Governorate, Egypt
Install Date: May 2023
Area: 6,426 sq ft (597 m²)
Main Colors: Lilypad, Limelight, Sandbar, Porcelain, Iceberg, Aviator, and Bluebird
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater
Installer: Raymond Sport, LLC

Island and beach theming designed by WhiteWater added an immersive backdrop to their interactive AquaPlay structure on this expansive splash pad.

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MOST CREATIVE USE OF PIXEL THEMING IN A DESIGN

Imperial Meadows Park

Location: Coalhurst, Alberta, Canada
Install Date: May 2023
Area: 3,367 sq ft (313 m²)
Main Colors: Evergreen, Lilypad, Ocean, Turquoise, Iceberg, Bluebird, Iris, Platypus, Goldfish, Ivory, Sunshine Transition Strips
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Prairie Surfaces

A vibrant color palette of square tiles brought a bright design to this splash pad in Canada.

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Thank you to all of our partners and customers for making these projects possible. We look forward to all of the unique installations to come in 2024!

Engaging Zero-Depth Entry Pool at Camp Margaritaville

Camp Margaritaville in Breaux Bridge, LA features nearly 4,000 sq ft (370 sq m) of Life Floor at the zero-depth entry pool in an elegant triangle gradient pattern.

VISUAL SIGNALS FOR INCLUSIVE AQUATICS

When state codes allow submerged applications to feature colors on the pool bottoms, zero-depth entries can incorporate visual signals for accessibility that show the depth of water is increasing.

At this location, sandy colors symbolize the beach and water tones gradually darken as the depth increases. This design choice is aesthetically pleasing while helping guests navigate the space more confidently.

HIDDEN DRAINS

A Life Floor DalLUX Drainage System by Daldorado is located at the amenity’s entry point to provide both design continuity and added safety. This type of drain positioned within a design has channels that run along the surface with strips of Life Floor adhered to them. Drainage isn’t impeded and tiles can incorporate custom elements even over the drains themselves.

Life Floor’s heat dispersion is especially useful in the Louisiana climate where temperatures reach over 90°F (32°C). Destinations with high UV Indexes often find that metal drain grates can cause burns due to heating up when not submerged. Our product integration partnership with Daldorado ensures that guests are better protected in comparison to traditional metal drains.

The photo below shows the drainage system exposed prior to Life Floor installation.

Playful FEATURES

The aquatic play structure and pool floor boast InterActive Play features that promote social engagement. From friendly water battles to collaborative play opportunities that produce thrilling water effects, interactive elements create opportunities for connection and shared experiences. Engineered with beloved kid-friendly technology, such as light-up bars indicating a feature’s “charging status,” buttons, pull ropes, touch sensors, and more, these features captivate guests longer than conventional open water flow designs.

curating THEMATIC FUN

Beach-inspired designs with bright, tropical elements are becoming increasingly popular in the aquatics industry. Many vacation-goers directly associate beaches and ocean vistas with relaxation, but importing sand isn’t sustainable and presents a challenge for filtration systems.

By using Life Floor to intone colors and gradients on the surface, venues can spark imaginations and create a space that reflects a relaxing day at the beach.

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To learn how you can elevate the look and feel of your facility’s zero-depth entry amenity, begin a conversation with one of our account executives today. We can help you navigate your state’s code requirements for aquatic surfacing and support you in enhancing the safety, design, and accessibility at your facility.

Where can Life Floor be installed?

Life Floor is engineered for aquatics and designed for play! Our products can be installed virtually anywhere with proper techniques and have been installed at over 2,500 facilities worldwide. Explore some of our most common application types below and discover how Life Floor may be a good fit for your project.

Splash Pads

Splash Pads are one of our most common project requests and we often see both retrofit and new build construction types.

Life Floor is certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50 which was created by NSF International specifically for interactive water play venues, also known as splash pads and spray grounds. As a certified product, Life Floor meets 6 performance-based criteria including Slip-Resistance, Cushioning, Impermeability, Cleanability, UV Resistance, and Chemical Resistance.

It’s common for children to run around spray features to dodge water or re-engage with the amenity from different angles. This area is referred to as the overspray area or apron.

Including overspray areas in surface design is beneficial to increase safety where children are still engaging in play. The Life Floor Studio and authorized designers can easily expand designs to cover these areas in ways that complement the available space.

Without overspray

With overspray

Pool Decks

Pool decks are another of our most popular requests. Life Floor is flexible and durable which allows for tight coping and wrapping around pool edges and fixtures. We also offer high contrast depth markers, no-diving symbols, and other safety messaging that is manufactured from our same high-performance safety surfacing. Our tile modularity means that safety messaging will not lose contrast over time since each color of Life Floor is a different tile.

Custom safety messaging such as “Bench Below” or “Please Walk” signs are available upon request.

Zero-Depth Entries

These commonly slippery areas present a hydroplaning challenge for operators, staff, and guests alike due to the sloping surfaces leading into the water. Adding Life Floor’s cushioned and slip-resistant surfacing at these entry points can enhance safety, design, and accessibility at any aquatic center.

Sometimes, it’s difficult for guests to visualize how deep water is becoming and how quickly. Gradients and colors that symbolize shorelines and water depth can be a good visual indicator of zones. For example, a walkway or lounge chair area can have tan colors that resemble sandy beaches while light blues can represent shallow water, gradually developing into darker colors as water depth increases.

In some states within the USA, pool codes require specific surfacing color options under certain depths of water. Internationally, restrictions are often less limiting, allowing for colorful designs that can extend deep underwater.

For more information about the different types of Zero-Depth Entries, read our blog Reducing Slip and Falls at Zero-Depth Entries.

Waterparks

Waterparks have many areas where Life Floor can be installed to solve common challenges and aesthetically transform the design of a space.

Stairs

Due to the modularity of our tiles, stair nosings and treads will maintain high visual contrast over time. Since our products are slip-resistant, they also reduce injuries that occur on slippery slide towers and ramps.

Elevated Platforms

As WhiteWater’s recommended safety surface, Life Floor is standard on AquaForm structures and Landing Pads. Life Floor is recommended on AquaPlay structures and for splash zones under AquaPlay, AquaForm, and AquaSpray structures.

Landing Pads for Waterslide Exits

Life Floor Landing Pads are designed to meet the safety and quality standards of today’s most challenging aquatic conditions. Our Landing Pad tiles will never absorb water and will remain slip-resistant even when submerged underwater.

Edge Pads for Lily Pad Walkways

Lily Pad Walkways are a popular attraction at waterparks and provide a unique way for children to engage with a small space. Edge Pad Landings that are cushioned with Life Floor allow for safer entries and exits to these types of features. They can also include custom graphics, logos, or colors to complement a facility’s theme.

Sloped Ramps

Life Floor is ADA Compliant and can be installed on any sloped access ramp. These commonly slippery areas especially benefit from Life Floor’s slip-resistant properties.

Locker Rooms and Bathrooms

Locker rooms and bathrooms are typically added onto projects that already include a pool deck or splash pad to take advantage of lower installation costs per square foot or square meter.

Since these facility features are often connected to aquatic amenities, they are typically wet and slippery especially near showers and entrances. Wet carpet mats are unsightly and can harbor harmful bacteria or mold which require them to be replaced and cleaned often. Life Floor offers a beautiful alternative that complements facility design and is easy to clean.

DRY PLAY

Life Floor is engineered for aquatics, but some customers enjoy the superior cleanability and cushioning of our products. This is especially true on Cruise Ships where lightweight, IMO Certified products such as Life Floor are highly sought after.

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To get started on your project, begin a conversation with one of our Account Executives to find out how Life Floor can solve your surfacing-related challenges.

What Exactly is Life Floor?

For anyone familiar with our product, they know that Life Floor is an aquatic safety surface with endless design opportunities. What many people don't know about our flooring, especially if they haven't seen or experienced it in person, is exactly how it looks, feels, and functions. Let's dive into the details! 

MATERIAL 

Most people have seen or experienced pour-in-place aggregate products commonly used for safety surfacing at playgrounds and they assume that Life Floor must be similar. While our product is also cushioned, our tiles are entirely different.

Life Floor is made of a closed cell foam-rubber which means it’s impervious to water and easy to clean. The compressive nature of this unique material is what also makes it a safer option than concrete. Our tiles’ impact attenuation has been third-party tested by NSF International to prove that they can cushion guests if any slip-and-falls occur.

CUSHIONING  

To achieve any level of impact attenuation, materials require a certain thickness. What does that look like with Life Floor?

Our standard 3/8" (10 mm) tiles are most commonly used on splash pads and pool decks and have been tested to a minimum fall height of 1'-0" (0.3 m). For more robust needs such as slide landing pads, we offer 7/8" (22 mm) tiles with a minimum fall height of 4'-0" (1.2 m). We also offer a layered system that can be customized to protect at even greater heights. 

SIZING

Many customers wonder if Life Floor can be rolled out like rubber matting products used in other applications. Our surfacing doesn’t come in sheets or rolls. Instead, it is a modular system with a standard square tile size of 24" x 24" (610 mm x 610 mm) that is adhered to a substrate such as concrete. As a result, any customer looking for minimal replacements, especially in the event of any accidental damage, can swap out individual tiles without replacing an entire floor. 

For additional shapes, our triangles and rectangles are half tiles, our hexagons are 20" (508 mm) from edge to edge, and our custom cutting possibilities are endless. Our proprietary precision-cutting system allows us to cut any shape, logo, or image from any number of our square tiles making Life Floor a popular choice for designers and customers looking to accurately depict specific imagery. 

INSTALLATION

But what about the grout? Again, Life Floor works differently. Our tiles are adhered to substrates like concrete with a commercial-grade waterproof contact cement adhesive. No material is applied in the joints between tiles. Instead, they are installed tightly adjacent to one another. Due to the natural closed-cell properties of our tiles, these joints are easily cleaned and do not harbor microbial growth. The finished look of our installations is continuous, allowing for more organic designs, like the one pictured above, to be achieved.

SLIP-RESISTANCE 

Our grooved Ripple tiles are uniquely slip-resistant as verified by third-party testing. Even our Slate tiles feature a MicroTread texture for added traction. Life Floor products are engineered to perform best when wet which creates a solid grip for bare feet on our surfacing. As a result, guests of all ages experience aquatic spaces more confidently—playing, swimming, and splashing in ways that would be impossible on slippery surfaces.  

SEE & FEEL LIFE FLOOR YOURSELF

The best way to experience Life Floor is by visiting an existing installation. For anyone curious about local facilities that feature our product, we've created an installation map to reference. 

To see and feel Life Floor for yourself, we also encourage you to order a product sample. We have a variety of options depending on your needs available in our sample store. 

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Looking to learn a bit more about Life Floor? Our team would love to connect about your aquatic needs. 

Waterslide Tower Restoration and Refresh in Spencer, Iowa

In January of 2022, the City of Spencer, Iowa contacted Fischer Brothers about replacing the failed fiberglass steps on their waterslide tower at the Spencer City Aquatic Center. An inspection in February revealed that the tower’s fiberglass steps and landings had deteriorated to the point where there was an immediate need for repair. The once-white surfaces were stained after years of use, most of the previous surfacing product was worn smooth, and cracks had developed in the fiberglass.

The stairs and decks were originally made with a fiberglass exterior and a balsa wood coring interior. Cracks in the fiberglass had allowed water to rot the balsa wood coring from many harsh Midwestern seasons. The saturated coring would freeze each winter and thaw every spring, incrementally delaminating the fiberglass from its internal coring.

Before: Cracks in the Fiberglass

This project provided a great opportunity for Fischer Brothers and Life Floor to partner in solving this city’s slide tower issues. In August, Fischer Brothers sent a crew to tackle the project. They began by identifying all the structural problem areas and started work. Large portions of fiberglass were completely rebuilt using synthetic coring instead of balsa wood and more than 20 gallons of resin were used to repair the landings and stairs. Every square inch of the fiberglass was either rebuilt or sanded down to remove the old surface texture and create a smooth and stable surface for the installation of Life Floor safety surfacing.

Rotted Balsa Wood Core

New Fiberglass Restoration

Life Floor Safety Surfacing

Life Floor was the preferred choice for this WhiteWater and Fischer Brothers project in the City of Spencer, Iowa since the safety surfacing not only provides increased slip-resistance and cushioning, but also refreshes the visual appeal of the whole tower. The city chose to use Iceberg and River Rock colors in Life Floor’s Ripple 2.0 texture for this project. The pale blue Iceberg tiles were used on all the landings and stair treads and the grey River Rock tiles were installed on the step nosings and risers to provide contrasting colors and added safety. The surfacing on the slide tower is now more comfortable for bare feet, and it looks great!

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About Fischer Brothers, LLC.

Fischer Brothers, LLC got their start in 2007 restoring waterslides, and eventually moved on to other parts of the waterpark. From waterslide towers, aquatic play structures, spray features and more, Fischer Brothers has led the charge in pioneering innovative solutions for the aquatics restoration industry. Fischer Brothers is currently undergoing the process to become a Certified Life Floor Installer.

3 EASY AQUATIC IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE FOR SUMMER

As aquatic facilities plan to reopen for summer, they may look to make improvements for even more fun experiences at their pools and splash pads. Some may seek to address safety concerns like slip-and-falls. Others may look to enhance design and play value. Many of the solutions offered by Life Floor can help achieve these goals. Learn more about some easy ways our surfacing can address these needs in time for summer.

1. IMPROVE FACILITY SAFETY

Some of the most common pain points we hear involve slippery, abrasive surfaces that are difficult to maintain. These problems often lead to unfortunate injuries or increased risk at facilities.

We're also often contacted by customers that have tried other safety surfacing solutions that have failed in an aquatic environment. Many other rubberized or aggregate materials have been designed for dry playgrounds. As a result, they aren't engineered to withstand the unique combination of UV, aquatic, and chemical impacts that face splash pads or pool decks.

Other customers have struggled with growth on the surfacing at their facilities. Unlike more porous options, Life Floor features a closed-cell technology, which doesn’t foster growth of bacteria, mold, and algae. Our tiles have been third-party tested for cleanability and offer a great solution for anyone who has experienced this issue.

In 2019, NSF International passed NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50:26 outlining criteria for safety surfacing products for interactive water play, which include slip-resistance and cushioning among others. They recognize that similar safety parameters are needed in aquatic play areas, following the precedent set by dry playgrounds. Life Floor is the first and currently only product to be certified to this standard. 

Our tiles can be easily installed over existing substrates to address safety concerns or to replace other surfacing solutions that have failed. If you have an existing facility where Life Floor might be a good fit, contact us to learn more.

2. BRIGHTEN UP SURFACING DESIGN

Many aquatic facilities contact Life Floor in need of a bright, new refresh. Adding our colorful tiles can transform any area with a blank, monochromatic surface to create an engaging, immersive experience for guests of all ages.

Our thematic Inlays can be easily integrated into any design to increase play value, theming, and visual interest. Games and graphics can also be included as part of a Life Floor installation. For budget-conscious or simpler designs, our preset Themes and Patterns can achieve beautiful results without the added costs of custom work.

3. CUSHION WATER SLIDE LANDINGS

We often hear from customers in search of new or improved cushioning at water slide landings. In many ways, prior solutions they've tried have fallen short. For instance, traditional slide landing pads are made with an impervious shell that has a consistent flaw in design; the cushioning and the waterproofing are viewed as separate elements. After repeated impact as guests exit a slide, the protective shell often fails leaving the padding exposed to water. From there, traditional landing pads can grow mold, the sharp edges of the failed protective shell can cause injuries, and pieces of foam can leak into the pool during peak busy season. These traditional landing pads are also typically bolted down to the pool bottom, which can result in tripping hazards or injuries during slide exits.

With Life Floor, our product’s inherent non-absorbent and impact cushioning qualities are built into our landing pads: no coatings, protective shells, or bolts required. Instead of bolts, Life Floor Landing Pads are adhered to the pool bottom with construction-grade, solvent-based contact cement, which can be found at a local hardware or flooring supply store.

Each Life Floor Landing Pad has a 4 ft (121.92 cm) critical fall height, 5-year material warranty, and non-abrasive slip-resistance for a safer exit every time. Our landing pads are created out of modular 2 ft (60.96 cm) square tiles so they can be customized to fit anywhere operators need to install them. In the event that any damage ever occurs, our modular design allows for only the compromised tiles to be replaced, which helps save on overall cost.

Life Floor Landing Pads are a great way to test out our products at your facility for a relatively low price point. To order one of our Landing Pads today, visit our online storefront here.

RETROFITTING LIFE FLOOR

One of the most common questions we get asked is, “Can Life Floor be installed over an existing surface?” The answer is yes! This type of installation, also known as a retrofit installation, is extremely common. Life Floor can be installed over virtually any solid substrate such as concrete or ceramic tile. When our installers are working with an existing surface, they will often prepare the surface beforehand by patching any cracks and grinding the surface down to ensure a smooth surface before laying Life Floor tiles.

If any spray features are present at the installation site or if there is a concrete apron surrounding the aquatic zone, our installers will use transition strips to provide a cohesive experience and ensure tripping hazards are eliminated.  Our installation teams work to perfectly surround any spray features without removing them to reduce maintenance downtime and ensure a snug fit.

Transition strips help simplify the process by creating a seamless transition from the surrounding area onto the aquatics feature zone. Life Floor transition strips are ADA Compliant and provide a smooth ramp onto the installation that prevents stubbed toes and accessibility concerns.

With proper preparation and the right team of installers, Life Floor can easily surface over existing substrates to transform facilities with improved safety and design. Our team always enjoys hearing from customers who have seen the impact that our tiles have made.

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If you’re interested in retrofitting your splash pad or pool deck with Life Floor, we'd love to support your needs in time for your summer reopening. Be sure to request a quote and see what a difference beautifully designed safety surfacing can make.

WATER SAFETY BY DESIGN AT JUNGLE BAY WATERPARK

The Westin Dubai and Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort in Dubai, UAE recently completed Jungle Bay Waterpark with the design and safety expertise of Whitewater West. The two resorts decided to create a unique family getaway that differentiated them from the hundreds of other hotels and resorts in the area by creating a massive, elegant waterpark. This strategy makes their properties the ideal family destinations in Dubai.

“Inspired by the islands of Greece, the waterpark was designed intentionally with a clean, minimalist style. The park features rides and attractions for all ages including a Whizzard and Body Slides, Aquaplay 1750, gentle Kids’ Slides, and a Children’s Wave Pool for the whole family.”

— WhiteWater West

The resorts previously had Life Floor on one of their pool decks and, after having a positive experience, decided to expand their use of Life Floor across the rest of the new waterpark. Jungle Bay Waterpark features approximately 21,500 sq ft (2,000 sq m) of Life Floor surrounding its amenities and features with a unique UV additive in the tiles which makes them last even longer under more intense sun conditions. 

Safety and guest experience is key. Excluding the walkways, the entire waterpark has Life Floor which not only enhances the design of the park, but also reduces overall risk through safety surfacing. This vast expanse of Life Floor showcases the resort’s commitment to safety without sacrificing the pristine aquatic design that complements the resort. Life Floor’s cushioned and slip-resistant features provide guests with increased comfort throughout their stay.

Additionally, WhiteWater West combined their world-class water slides and features with complementary blue and white colors to provide Jungle Bay Waterpark with a complete package that never compromises safety for design. The central lighthouse element was incorporated into the project to add theming and a central starting point for many of the water slides.

The design of the activity zones utilizes Life Floor’s standard triangle shape in multiple gradient patterns to create visual similarity without overdoing the design. This creates a feeling of cohesion across the entire facility by allowing the Greek Island theme to flow from one area to the next without halting guest engagement.

Thank you to WhiteWater West, The Westin Dubai, and Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort for specifying Life Floor on this project. We look forward to continuing to serve these facilities and the guests who visit!

To learn more about how you can add a perfect combination of safety and custom design to an upcoming project, contact us today.

SETTING A SAFER PRECEDENT FOR CANADA: YMCA OF GREATER MONCTON

Recently, NSF International expanded Standard 50 to extend across Canada, which includes recommendations for surfacing in aquatic play areas under NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 (formerly NSF/ANSI 50:26).

With its recent Life Floor installation, the YMCA of Greater Moncton, NB is one of the first aquatic facilities in Canada to recognize the importance of having NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 certified safety surfacing. The facility is a combination of an indoor splash pad with a zero-depth entry and a playground. Because of this unique configuration, the staff sought out a product that was able to transition seamlessly from wet to dry applications while maintaining their commitment to safety. To accomplish this, they selected Life Floor to be installed.

“Having seen Life Floor at a major trade show, we knew it was the product we wanted to install in our new facility.”

— Scott Munro, Vice President of Facilities

A custom beach-inspired design was chosen to complement the existing tropical theming. Life Floor’s foam-rubber tiles were able to create the perfect transition the YMCA needed between the wet and dry play areas, especially since splash pads are essentially wet playgrounds. The cushioned and impact-absorbing surfacing allows children to run, jump, and play without limits - never needing to stop and put on shoes or change the way they play from one area to the next. As a result, the fully immersive experience enhances imaginative play. 

The YMCA of Greater Moncton is skipping ahead of their competition by creating a facility full of imagination, play, and fun. They have created a holistic experience to provide their members with the perfect beach day right in their community’s backyard.

We thank the YMCA of Greater Moncton for their commitment to safety and for being one of the first in Canada to adopt NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 safety surfacing standards for the benefit of their members. We look forward to the future as more Canadian facilities follow their example and recognize the importance of this safety standard as an integral part of their business.

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To learn more about the official code in your region or state, check out this free resource.

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If you’d like to specify or install NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 surfacing for an aquatic play area in Canada, please contact our Canadian Partner, Paul-Émile Beaudry at pebeaudry@polyvalens.ca to assist you in both English and French.

For U.S. clients and all other inquiries, please contact us directly via our online contact form or send us an email at solutions@lifefloor.com. 

French Translation

Le YMCA du Grand Moncton, NB crée un précédent sécuritaire en milieu aquatique au Canada.

Récemment, NSF International a étendu la norme Standard 50 partout au Canada, incluant des recommandations pour les surfaces de jeu aquatiques sous l’appellation NSF/ANSI/CAN 50,26 (précédemment nommée NSF/ANSI 50:26).

Avec ses récentes installations de Life Floor, le YMCA du Grand Moncton, NB est l’un des premiers centres d’installation aquatique à reconnaître l’importance d’avoir une surface sécuritaire certifiée NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26. En effet, l’établissement se compose d’un mix de  deux (2) aires de jeux, l’une étant une surface mouillée (indoor splash pad) plane et l’autre étant une aire de jeux sèche. À cause de cette configuration spéciale, les employés ont recherché un produit qui permettrait la transition en toute transparence, de la surface mouillée à la surface sèche pour leurs activités tout en gardant un engagement de sécurité irréprochable. Un seul choix leur permettait de tout rallier : Life Floor.

Après avoir vu Life Floor lors d'un grand salon, nous avons sû que c’était le produit que nous voulions pour nos installations !  —Scott Munro, Vice Président du YMCA du Grand Moncton, NB

Au niveau du design,  le thème tropical dans l’aire de jeu d’eau et le thème plage dans l’aire de jeu sèche sont en parfaite harmonie pour s’adapter au thème pré-existant. Et maintenant, les enfants peuvent donc courir, sauter, culbuter et jouer sans limites sur une surface conforme aux nouveaux standards. Les surfaces coussinées  et absorbant tout impact permettent aux enfants de jouer sans s’arrêter pour mettre leurs chaussures ou changer leur façon de jouer d’un endroit à l’autre. Comme résultat, l’expérience devient totalement immersive et renforce leur jeu imaginatif.

Le YMCA du Grand Moncton devient donc un chef de file en adoptant des installations pleines d’imagination, de jeu et de plaisir ! Ils ont créé une expérience holistique en offrant à leurs membres une journée de plage parfaite en plein dans leur cour !

Nous remercions le YMCA du Grand Moncton de leur engagement pour la sécurité de leurs membres et d’être les premiers au Canada à appliquer la norme NSF/ANSI/CAN 50.26. Nous espérons que plusieurs autres organismes, centres aquatiques  et municipalités suivront l’exemple du YMCA et reconnaîtront l’importance de l’application de cette recommandation comme faisant partie de leur politique d’opération .

Si vous désirez de plus amples informations sur les tuiles Life Floor, communiquez avec Polyvalens Inc, notre distributeur au Canada.

Our Top 5 Life Floor Design Tips

While our Studio Team is happy to create design renderings for our clients, many customers and partnering designers have expressed interest in creating their own flooring designs. For anyone looking to get started with their own Life Floor projects, we’ve put together five of our top design tips to help guide the process! 

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Include Three or More Colors in Designs 

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We’ve found that designs containing three or more colors look best after installation. As an added benefit, they minimize visibility of debris or regular wear over time. This concept is similar to how complex carpet designs are applied in high traffic areas like casinos. An intricate or varied pattern will hide most imperfections. In contrast, any debris or marking on a solid field of color will be very apparent. We know it’s impossible to keep pool decks and splash pads absolutely spotless all day so this technique helps aquatic facilities continue to look their best. Multi-color designs also enhance spaces where they’re installed by creating vibrant and interesting patterns at the surface level. These designs are vast improvements to drab fields of grey concrete! They lend themselves to great theming opportunities as well.

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Design within Project Budgets

While the sky's the limit for some customers, most are looking to stick within a specific budget. With a wide range of design and pricing needs in mind, we’ve created a variety of shape and color options to accommodate an array of project types.  

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Our tiles are available in four shapes - squares, triangles, rectangles, and hexagons. Our square tiles are the most cost-effective option both in terms of material and installation costs. Triangles and rectangles have very similar material costs (since they’re just half squares). It’s important to note that they are slightly more expensive to install since more pieces are involved and the designs are typically a bit more complex. Of all of our shapes, hexagons are the most expensive.

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Beyond these standard tile shapes, we can also custom cut our tiles into just about anything - curves, logos, games, images, you name it! These unique designs look great but use more material, require more factory preparation, and take more time to install so they’re generally the most expensive. 

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Choosing an area as an accent piece can also enhance facilities within budget. This focal point can add visual interest to an entire project while also keeping the overall cost lower by using a simpler design throughout.

There are many ways to mix and match our tile shapes and colors to achieve a great project look. Hopefully these basics help inform some of the best opportunities to create some stellar designs that are also affordable at any price point!

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Use a Staggered Grid for Tile Layouts

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Staggered Grid

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Standard (Checkerboard) Grid

While most people generally assume that our square tiles are best arranged in a standard (or checkerboard) grid, we actually recommend designing with our tiles on a staggered grid. We’ve found that this layout is ideal for ease of installation and maximum durability over time. Layouts that use standard grids are still a beautiful option; however, we generally recommend designing with them only for smaller applications or for designs that really rely on the checkerboard tile layout for a distinct pattern or look. 

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Accent Designs with Theming and Play Options 

Are you looking to add some sea creatures to your splash pad design? No problem! We have several pre-designed thematic inlays, like fish and crabs, that fit within single square tiles. We can also cut larger creatures, whales or dolphins for instance, across several tiles. 

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Want to add a game into the surface? We can custom cut nearly anything into Life Floor. Some popular choices have included hopscotch and checkerboards.

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For branding opportunities or to include a facility’s logo within a design, we can precision cut all of the parts in advance at our factory. They arrive ready to install to ensure brand accuracy and a smooth installation process on site. A great example of a large-scale logo we’ve created recently was one that we produced for the Fun Spot splash pad in Orlando, FL. The finished product and a diagram showing all of the precut parts are pictured above. 

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Take Advantage of Our Online Resources

Did you know that there are helpful resources on the Design Studio page of our website related to creating designs with Life Floor tiles?

For design inspiration, our Portfolio and past Lookbooks are great places to start!

One of the most popular resources we have posted is a chart that shows color equivalents for all of our tile colors. If you design in Adobe Illustrator (like we do), the Hex codes are very helpful to get the colors in your layouts as accurate as possible. 

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Our pre-established color palettes and tile patterns have been popular options for our customers. Head to the Themes and Patterns pages to explore these designs. We even have downloadable templates that can be used in Adobe Illustrator for anyone looking to cut and paste these options into their projects. Use one of these as designed or vary it slightly to cater it to your project!

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To get started with a scaled tile grid to represent Life Floor in AutoCAD, we have templates that include hatches for both Metric and Imperial designs. 

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Looking for technical details to better understand how our tiles integrate during installation? Those are available on our Specs + Resources page as well! 

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While the tips above cover our major suggestions, these are only some of the best practices we’ve established over the years! Want to learn more or have questions for our Studio Team? Feel free to email us at design@lifefloor.com. We love partnering with designers and take great joy in seeing what other great projects are dreamed up by other companies around the world!

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Interested in our upcoming Designing with Life Floor Guide?

Sign up below to receive access in advance of it going live! 

Designing with Life Floor's Tile Shapes

Did you know that Life Floor comes in four standard shapes? Our tiles were originally manufactured as 24” square tiles, but rectangles, triangles, and hexagons have been developed over the years. With these shapes, our Studio Team and partnering design firms have been able to imagine an endless range of possibilities for aquatic facilities around the world. Through countless different configurations and color combinations, our tiles enable opportunities to create beautiful environments with unparalleled safety benefits. Explore the design options available with our standard shape offerings below!

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Squares 

Our square tiles can be arranged in randomized multi-color fields to evoke environmental elements like sand and water. They can also be configured in colorful gradient patterns using a range of tones from our palette. For a more classic design, squares look beautiful when arranged in a checkerboard grid. For a more modern effect, square tiles of the same color can be installed consecutively to form long, rectangular configurations. Some facilities have even opted for a staggered zig-zag pattern. To add even more visual interest, customers often request thematic inlays that fit within a single tile. While the original shape of our tiles may be simple, it is filled with the potential to create both beautiful and cost-effective design solutions!

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Triangles 

Simply by cutting our square tiles diagonally to form right triangles, we’ve created an array of new design opportunities. These tiles have been the most popular choice when creating gradient effects, especially when mimicking coastlines. They’re also an excellent choice for adding accents of color around a facility. For a more geometric approach, mirrored triangles can be arranged to create an even larger pattern. Images like pine trees can even be created in a surface design by combining triangles with our rectangle and square tiles!

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Rectangles 

Our rectangular tiles present the opportunity to design with a popular 1’ x 2’ grid or to create long plank effects by aligning tiles of the same color in a row. They enable designers to create more modern, geometric patterns. Similar to our other shapes, rectangles can be arranged in gradients or they can be used to break up solid fields of color with bright accents. Due to their size, rectangles are a popular choice in smaller spaces like locker rooms. Try varying the rotation of these tiles to achieve a dynamic look. 

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Hexagons 

In 2019, we unveiled the newest addition to our shape collection: the hexagon. Our Studio Team loves how this playful, geometric shape transports visitors to colorful landscapes with intricate and delightful patterning. Our hexagon tiles add immediate visual complexity to any space, without the need for additional design work or custom cutting. They can be used in more natural designs to mimic the look of a sparkling body of water or a varied landscape of grass, dirt, and rocks. Hexagons also lend themselves to radial designs and are perfect for splash pads.

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While these shapes encompass our standard options, Life Floor tiles can also be cut into virtually anything! We commonly install curved designs, logos, custom shapes, and inlays. Is there a new standard shape you’d like to see us offer? Let us know in the comments section below!  

National Park and Recreation Month: Featured Installations

Happy National Park and Recreation Month! We’d like to extend a huge thank you to our clients working in Parks and Recreation departments for your continued work on making our communities beautiful, fun, and safe. To celebrate, we’re featuring four municipal aquatic facilities where we’ve installed Life Floor across the country. If you happen to live nearby one of these, be sure to visit when you can!

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Tropics Indoor Waterpark + Bamboo Bay - Shoreview Community Center, Shoreview, MN

The city of Shoreview renovated the existing Indoor Tropics Waterpark pool deck in late 2018. They chose Life Floor in sandy shades and a natural Slate texture to reflect the tropical beachside theme of the park. Guests and staff immediately recognized the additional comfort and safety Life Floor provided. Shortly after, the city moved forward with the decision to add Life Floor to the locker rooms. “Adding Life Floor to the locker rooms was something a lot of people noticed right away: ‘Oh great, you got rid of the slippery floor!’” Buck noted once Life Floor had been installed.

The build-out for Bamboo Bay, the multi-level spray structure expansion, was completed a few months after in early 2019. The city again chose Life Floor to cover the entire surrounding deck of the structure and the nearby locker rooms. 

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Pleasant Glade Pool Deck and Parr Park Splash Pad - Grapevine, TX

“We have really enjoyed Life Floor. It has definitely made our deck that used to be so hot much better to walk on. It’s great.”

— Hunter Hardeman, Aquatic Supervisor of Grapevine

The City of Grapevine, TX provides an impressive aquatic program to the surrounding community with both indoor and outdoor facilities to play, exercise, and compete. With an average summer temperature of 96 degrees, the city experiences extremely hot concrete decks that can hit 140 degrees in the afternoon. Grapevine chose Life Floor because of the tile’s unique ability to dissipate heat underfoot. Unlike concrete, Life Floor tiles do not absorb heat, which is why the tiles feel comfortable to walk on in the summer sun. The city also installed Life Floor in the locker room areas to help reduce slip and fall injuries.

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Trailhead Park Splash Pad - Winter Haven, FL

The City of Winter Haven, FL built the splash pad at Trailhead Park in 2016. The city opened it originally with a concrete finish for the surface and they’ve resurfaced it about 3-4 times with different products. After experiencing some slip and fall incidents, they tried a rubberized paint with a sand-like substrate in it; however, injuries were still problematic. The committee at Winter Haven ultimately opted for Life Floor, pleased with the fact that Life Floor met all of the requirements they needed to solve while also being certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 50.

“Not only does it look awesome but it meets many criteria of fall and slip resistance and we’ve gotten nothing but great feedback from the product and that we did something to address our slip and fall issues.”

— Andy Palmer, City of Winter Haven Parks Planning and Strategic Initiatives Manager

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Westfield Memorial Pool Complex - Westfield, NJ

“We haven’t had a single major incident of people getting hurt on Life Floor, and it’s worth the peace of mind that the kids are safe.”

— Heather Re, Aquatics Supervisor Westfield Memorial Pool

After 5 years of enjoying Life Floor, Westfield Memorial Pool decided to redesign their splash pad to create a centerpiece attraction at their aquatic facility. The city’s main objectives were to refresh the space as a way to drive membership sign-ups and to create a beautiful environment where families could share memories on social media. By collaborating with the Life Floor Studio team, the Westfield splash pad now features a vibrant, unique octopus design that guides kids through and around splash features adjacent to the facility’s zero-depth leisure pool. 

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Interested in adding Life Floor’s safety surfacing to an aquatic facility at your park? Feel free to contact us!

5 Reasons Why Aquatic Facilities Choose Life Floor’s Predefined Themes and Patterns

While Life Floor can be used to create virtually any pattern or design on a flooring surface, we’ve created a catalog of Themes and Patterns as a starting point for customers looking for design inspiration. These options can match or complement a facility’s overall look while also providing the standard benefits that come with any Life Floor installation. Pairing the safety, comfort, and durability of our tiles with these aesthetically interesting designs has added play value and theming to aquatic facilities across the country and around the world. Here are some of the top reasons why customers have chosen to explore our Themes or Patterns for their projects!    

Multi-Color Designs

All of our Themes, or color palettes, are designed with three or more colors to optimize how Life Floor installations look over time. Our reason for favoring a multi-colored design approach is that monochromatic surfaces, much like single-color carpets, show regular wear or debris much more quickly. Since many of our projects are located outdoors where it’s not uncommon for occasional leaves, twigs, dirt, or grass to make their way onto splash pads, we’ve found that breaking up the field of color makes these surfaces look best for an extended period of time. As an added benefit, installations that use Life Floor Themes often enliven and complement surrounding parks and aquatic spaces with a visually interesting palette and design.

High Tide Theme and 301 Pattern at Synderville Basin Rec Center - Park City, UT

Considerable Cost Savings 

Our Themes showcase combinations of some of our most popular colors. Customers looking to add safety and design often opt to use these color families as starting points for their designs. 

High Tide: Ocean, Bluebird, Aviator [Note: Updated in 2021. See Update Here]

Montauk: Mojave, Gobi, Sandstone

Boulder: Boulevard, River Rock, Foghorn

Since Life Floor is manufactured as standard 24”x24” tiles, our Square Patterns (301, 401, 501) offer the greatest cost savings by maximizing the full use of the material. Installation time is lowest for these options as well. Our Triangle (302, 402, 502) and Rectangle (305, 405, 505) Patterns offer a combination of full and half tiles, providing an efficient use of material that minimizes waste. Installation time is slightly longer since these Patterns are a bit more complex; however, many of our budget-conscious customers still opt for these designs given the added visual interest they provide. 

Square Pattern (401)

Triangle Pattern (302)

Rectangle Pattern (505)

Overall, we’ve found that when municipalities are interested in adding a safety solution to their aquatic facilities or want to upgrade to meet the NSF/ANSI 50 standard for aquatic surfacing, they most commonly opt for the Theme and Pattern options described above. These designs provide all of the benefits of Life Floor at the best prices. 

Reduced Time to Receive a Quote 

Because our Themes and Patterns are pre-established, creating a rendering that fits within the boundaries of a specific project area is a fairly quick process. When compared to the time required to create fully custom designs, this approach fast-tracks the quoting process for customers looking to receive budgetary numbers in a shorter amount of time.

301 Pattern in tan tones (similar to Montauk Theme) at Shoreview Community Center - Shoreview, MN

Design Options that Eliminate the Guesswork 

For customers looking for a basic surfacing solution or who don’t have a specific design in mind, our pre-set Themes and Patterns have been created based on established best practices and provide a variety of looks to accommodate a range of facilities. These designs feature sets of colors that are proven to work well together and layouts that have been historically favored by our customers over time. Having the ability to pick and choose from this catalog of options eliminates most guesswork for many of our customers, especially those that are primarily focused on providing a safety solution at their facilities. 

Boulder Theme in rectangles at Pleasant Glade Pool & Locker Rooms - Grapevine, TX

An Affordable Starting Point for Custom Options

Many of our customers have asked for designs that begin with a Theme and/or Pattern, but are modified in some way to better suit their specific facility’s needs. For instance, some might swap out a color or two from a Theme to shift the color palette in a slightly different direction. Others might choose a preset Pattern, but pair it with a completely custom color palette. Some customers have opted to add inlays, like the ones shown below, to contribute to the play value and theming of their facilities. We’ve also found that some people go with an affordable Theme and Pattern to better balance the cost of a project that requires the addition of a specialty logo or play feature in the surface design. Anything can be customized as needed and our Themes and Patterns serve as a perfect starting point for the conversation! 

High Tide Theme and 302 Pattern with fish inlays at Cootamundra Splash Park - Cootamundra, Australia

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Interested in specifying Life Floor on your next project? Check out our standard Themes and Patterns and reach out to us if you’d like to explore a custom design or to get started on your project. Our design services are complementary right now, so we’re happy to help meet the needs of your facility however we can. Thank you for considering Life Floor!

City of Winter Haven Reopens Splash Pad with Improved Safety Surfacing

Trailhead Park’s Splash Pad in Winter Haven, FL has provided significant value to the city’s community over the past four years. It’s become a popular spot for families to cool off in the hot Florida sun and spend time together. This 4,200 sq ft splash pad opened originally with a concrete finish, but the facility unfortunately experienced several slip and fall incidents on the slick surface. With calls from the community to improve the safety of the splash pad, the City of Winter Haven applied a popular non-skid rubberized paint to try and reduce the number of injuries. Unfortunately, the issue persisted, and the city began to research options that would yield better results so they wouldn’t have to redo the surfacing a fourth or fifth time.

Life Floor’s East Coast Regional Manager, MaryAnn Eifert, reached out to the City of Winter Haven via FRPA’s E-Connect after learning about the splash pad’s chronic slip and fall issue and introduced them to Life Floor. The city was most excited to learn about the product’s built-in slip-resistance since it had the potential to solve many of their chronic slip and fall issues. It was also happy to hear about its certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 50, which provides unbiased testing results of Life Floor’s performance. 

The City of Winter Haven had a set budget that they wanted to stay within, so MaryAnn presented our pre-established High Tide Theme paired with our economically-friendly square pattern 301. This combination simulates the blue tones of a seascape, offering a simple layout while still allowing for limitless play. By choosing this option, the city was able to stay within budget and provide Life Floor as a safety solution to the Winter Haven community. Since Life Floor is truly one of its kind being the only splash pad safety surfacing certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 50, and with Inside Edge as its certified North American Installation Partner, the facility staff was able to present this plan to city council as a sole-source bid. By using the sole-source bid model, the city was able to save more time and money by eliminating the need to bid out other products since Life Floor’s certification and benefits demonstrate that it is both unique and superior to concrete and other surfacing options.

“They gave us a design and a quote, it was in our budget and met all of our needs.”

— Andy Palmer, Parks Planning & Strategic Initiatives Manager

Once the improved surface was installed, over 1000 community members showed their support via Facebook and celebrated the City of Winter Haven for addressing such a prominent issue in the community by installing a safety surface at the Trailhead Park Splash Pad. The Winter Haven Sun then picked up the story and featured the splash pad on the front page of the newspaper in their article Upgraded Splash Pad Reopens To Smiles. 

The city staff themselves were also pleased with the results. Andy Palmer, the city’s Parks Planning & Strategic Initiatives Manager, stated how pleased he was with the entire process.

“Not only does it look awesome but it meets many criteria of fall and slip resistance ... we’ve gotten nothing but great feedback from the product and that we did something to address our slip and fall issues.”

— Andy Palmer, Parks Planning & Strategic Initiatives Manager

Palmer was also impressed with the professionalism and friendliness of Inside Edge’s installation crew.

“We work with many specialty item crews such as playground and pour-in-place rubber installers. The crew who installed the Life Floor was one of the best we have seen. They were professional, friendly, clean, and the workmanship [was] exceptional.”

— Andy Palmer, Parks Planning & Strategic Initiatives Manager

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We’d like to extend a special thank you to the City of Winter Haven for your business and collaboration in transforming your parks into a safer and more playful space for your community. Thank you as well to the Inside Edge Safety Surfaces team for your continued excellence in installation and for your commitment to Life Floor’s mission!

The Benefits of Diversifying Play Features in Aquatic Environments

Everyone experiences play in different ways. It’s the reason why there isn’t just one type of spray feature or just one type of pool. Aquatic environments are always changing and adapting to new trends and regulations in the industry. Likewise, aquatics facility directors and operators are constantly evaluating updates that will deliver increased value to their guests and members. In order to provide features that appeal to a wide variety of individuals, facility staff needs to choose what combination of elements will allow for limitless play for their intended audiences.

Providing options for guests to engage with a facility in different ways is a crucial component of play value. At Life Floor, we talk about this concept often because it’s a central tenet of why we design safety surfacing to be interactive and engaging. Play value directly influences guest perception of a facility and can be a determining factor of whether or not guests will return. For example, if a child has a better experience at a park farther away, parents may be more inclined to return to that park even if it is more inconvenient. 

One way to increase play value is to provide experiences for different age groups. Any type of water play for infants and toddlers can be seen as risky from their perspective. For instance, interacting with a simple spray feature on a splash pad is often a new and exciting experience. For older children, riding down high-speed water slides, scaling lofty towers, or getting drenched under tipping buckets can be seen as more exhilarating ways to interact with aquatic environments. These different features help shape children’s development at different stages.

Awareness of how specific age groups prefer to interact with water features can be meaningful when determining how to zone a facility properly. Lopesan’s Costa Bavaro Resort is a good example of zoning for different development stages in a child’s life. At this facility, large landscaped “islands” separate the larger risky play area, equipped with slides and high platforms, from the adjacent splash pad, where smaller children may feel more comfortable. While these zones are located on opposite sides, they are also connected across one large aquatic play area. This integration allows children the freedom to move from one area to the next, encouraging them to balance safety and adventure. When an aquatic play area offers this range of features, guests can gradually choose to engage with riskier play elements, which ultimately helps to boost both decision-making skills and self-esteem. Accommodating a variety of preferences also increases play value and enables families of all ages to enjoy these spaces for longer periods of time. 

Social interaction is another crucial part of play learning. Just as it may be difficult for a child to play house alone, it is important for them to be able to collaborate with other children in aquatic environments as part of their experience. Spray features, water tables, and interactive activities that contribute to this social play can elevate learning in both creativity and problem solving. Children are able to boost their communication and social skills as they practice working together and learning to share or compromise as they explore these environments together. 

Diversity of play is encouraged by maximizing the creative options available; however, these options don’t have to be limited to the spray features, slides, and towers on site. The design of a facility’s floor can also enhance play value by giving children the opportunity to creatively invent games based on the patterns and images below their feet. When an aquatic surface is also cushioned and slip-resistant, children can more confidently run, jump, and explore to fully enjoy all that a facility has to offer. 

By engaging with visitors more holistically across all features of an aquatic design to accommodate different age groups and comfort levels, facility supervisors, operators, and decision makers can create more encompassing parks filled with limitless possibilities for play. The experiences they offer can encourage important developmental milestones for children while also creating long-lasting family memories along the way. 

LIFE FLOOR + WHITEWATER PARTNERSHIP

Bringing non-slip cushioned surfaces to the world WhiteWater is very pleased to have entered an exclusive distribution agreement with Life Floor for the global water park market. Life Floor’s patented foam-rubber flooring system significantly reduces slips and falls, the #1 cause of water park injuries. However, with Life Floor, when a fall does occur, bumps and bruises are minimized. This is a game-changing product for the water park industry because as every owner and operator knows, the majority of water park injuries occur in this category.

“The partnership further confirms WhiteWater’s designs and product offerings as the safest in the industry,”

— Geoff Chutter, WhiteWater’s President and CEO

DELIVERING FUN - SAFELY

Jonathan Keller, Life Floor’s CEO, sums up the announcement of this new partnership, “Working with WhiteWater, the market leader, was an obvious choice to access a wider market, but we’ve also found that the missions which drive our companies are very aligned. Both companies are single-minded about delivering fun safely with the highest quality products available. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we are excited by the opportunities that this agreement represents.”

Chris Biancofiore, the Product Manager for WhiteWater’s wide range of interactive water play products and attractions, commented, “On Life Floor, kids feel safer and freer to push their boundaries without the fear of getting hurt…simply put, they play differently.  The forgiving surface isn’t abrasive, so it’s soft on bare feet and won’t skin knees.  As a result, the only tears will come from when they’re told it’s time to leave the park.”

MORE THAN JUST SAFETY

Life Floor is longer-lasting and stays cleaner. While Life Floor’s non-slip ‘soft fall’ is its biggest benefit, its quality manufacturing also makes it incredibly durable. The completely waterproof tiles will not absorb water or other liquids and last as long underwater as they do above water. Its closed-cell construction does not support the growth of microbes.

Virtually impossible to stain, its more resistant to chlorine and UV exposure than other rubber composite products on the market, making Life Floor not just a safety choice, but an economical one as well.

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About WhiteWater

WhiteWater, The Water Parks and Attractions Company, is the leading global designer and manufacturer of innovative water park products and active family attractions for world-class clients. We specialize in water slides, multi-level water play structures, wave-generating equipment, FlowRider® stationary surfing machines, harnessed attractions, interactive play, and water rides. WhiteWater is dedicated to providing the ultimate WOW experiences to our clients and their guests by delivering projects on time, on budget, and to the industry’s highest quality and safety standards. Our industry-leading innovation is driven by a team of 600 extremely talented employees in eight offices around the world working together to complete over 5,000 projects since 1980. Recently, WhiteWater was awarded Canada’s Best Managed Companies designation for its excellence in management and business practices.

Una de Boer | Director of Marketing
+1.604.249.3432 | una.deboer@whitewaterwest.com
whitewaterwest.com

About Life Floor

Life Floor manufactures Life Floor tiles, a foam-rubber flooring system designed for use in wet areas with barefoot traffic. Created as an alternative to concrete and other conventional materials, Life Floor is the only safety surface specifically designed and engineered to perform in aquatic environments. Life Floor combines award-winning safety with unparalleled design capabilities, delivered by an expert team committed to a world-class experience for everyone who interacts with our products. All over the world, people trust Life Floor to make their aquatic environments look and feel extraordinary. Life Floor was founded in 2011, and has served the biggest names in water parks, including Carnival Cruise Line, LEGOLAND, Cedar Fair, and Great Wolf Lodge. In 2016, Life Floor became the only surfacing company ever to win the World Waterpark Association's prestigious Kelly Ogle Memorial Safety Award.

Gwen Ruehle | Vice President, Business Development
+1.612.405.2718 | gwen.ruehle@lifefloor.com
lifefloor.com

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FAQS

Who is WhiteWater West Industries (WWI)?

The Original Waterpark Company! Founded in 1980, WWI helped start the World Waterpark Association and are the oldest manufacturer of fiberglass water slides. They are also the largest supplier of equipment (slides, wave pools, surfing machines, play structures) in the entire world, in fact their business is as large as all of their competitors combined. They have done over 6000 projects in the 38 years they have been in business. To get a sense of scale, if they were to install Life Floor around all of their previous projects, that would require more than 60 million square feet of Life Floor.

At this point, WWI does everything from designing, specifying, planning, supplying, managing projects, and helping maintain waterparks and theme parks all over the world. Their largest markets are China, the United States, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, and they complete from 170-220 projects per year.

What does this partnership mean for Life Floor?

Life Floor is now WWI’s recommended safety surface. Soon, Life Floor will be included in all designs for water park Multi-Level Play Structure (MLP) equipment, as well as on applications such as slide towers, wave pools, and around FlowRiders and slide pads.

How did this partnership happen?

WWI and Life Floor both value safety, and the partnership is focused on safety first and foremost. We believe that bringing the leader in aquatic safety surfacing design and manufacture in partnership with the leader in water park design and manufacture will create safer aquatic recreation experiences for potentially millions of people.

How will this partnership work for customers?

New water park customers interested in purchasing and installing MLPs can obtain Life Floor for their facility by working exclusively through WWI.

If you are a water park customer with a preexisting relationship with Life Floor, you may contact either Life Floor or WWI directly for MLPs and other projects.

If your park does not have WhiteWater equipment, you can still buy from Life Floor directly.

What about splash pads?

Given our commitment to splash pad safety via our work with NSF-50, Life Floor will still be selling splash pad surfacing directly to clients.

Has WWI purchased Life Floor?

WWI has not purchased Life Floor. Life Floor remains an independent company, and we look forward to seeing how this partnership will serve the waterpark industry going forward. 

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If you have any questions about how this partnership affects you, or how to best obtain Life Floor for a project, please contact solutions@lifefloor.com.