WINTERIZE YOUR AQUATIC FACILITY: TIPS FOR MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT

We hope you had a safe and successful summer season! As you winterize your outdoor splash pads and pool decks, take advantage of the checklist below to reflect on how your facility performed during the season and make plans to fix any issues that arise. 

FILTERS

Be sure to flush the system and clean out the filters one last time before winterization is complete. This helps ensure no debris clogs the system and leaves less chance for microbial growth during fall and spring months before frost sets in. Annual preventative maintenance is critical to catch any issues before they turn into more serious problems. 

SPRAY FEATURES AND POOLS

Check all moving pieces for worn parts and fix them or order replacements ahead of time to ensure a smooth reopening process. Also be sure to remove and clean all nozzles and spray heads to remove any build-up. Drain all the feature lines and pool bodies so water does not sit in pipes during the winter; this could cause bursting and additional damage.

Each equipment manufacturer has specific instructions for how to winterize your facility’s spray features. We recommend that you follow them closely to ensure no damage is caused by low temperature variations. Always check to be sure your main water and electrical supplies are turned off.

SURFACING

Some of the top reasons for injuries at aquatic facilities are directly related to surfacing. Review your injury reports and categorize based on type. For example, we would recommend segmenting based on the following top categories:

Slip-and-Falls

These types of injuries are a direct result of having a slippery surface. Common injuries that are caused by this type include bruising, skinned joints, concussions, broken limbs, and abrasions in general caused by a rough or hard surface.

Burns from surface or grating 

These types of injuries result from having a surface in full sun during operation. Metal grates and filtration systems can heat up to dangerous temperatures and cause blistering and burn wounds. Concrete can also reach scalding temperatures especially in apron areas surrounding spray features so be aware of burn-related injuries when reviewing your injury reports.

Impact Injuries from Slides

These types of injuries are typically centralized in the feet since most guests will go down slides feet first. Examples include stubbed or broken toes, foot abrasions, and sprained ankles. If guests slide down head first, concussions are not uncommon and drowning incidents may occur. Installing slide landing pads at slide bottoms can help reduce or virtually eliminate the number of injuries related to slide exits by increasing impact absorption and decreasing exit speed with a slip-resistant surface.

Contamination

These types of injuries are related to water-borne pathogens or contaminants that lead to illnesses. Cryptosporidium (commonly known as Crypto) is a major concern for aquatic facilities and taking necessary precautions when cleaning surfaces is critical. The Model Aquatic Health Code is a good reference.

Once you’ve identified the top injury categories at your facility, you can begin to address your top pain points. Many of these injuries can be lessened or prevented by choosing an independent, third-party tested safety surface from NSF/ANSI/CAN 50.

DESIGN

While design can be more subjective, be sure to consider your guest experience from an overarching standpoint both physically and visually. 

Physically, how do guests from a wide range of abilities and ages interact with your facility? Are sinks in restrooms placed at a height accessible to people riding wheelchairs or Little People? Does your facility have ADA approved ramps integrated all the way from the parking lot to the features?

Visually, consider the current theme and appearance of your facility in all interactive areas. Ensure there are no broken or missing elements, and critically evaluate the experience guests will have at the location. Additionally, consider new opportunities to enhance theming or different types of play. Depending on your target market and average age of guests, add patterns or imagery to your pool deck or splash pad surface to engage and encourage play. If budget allows, add new aquatic features that expand play options to a wider range of different ages and abilities. Find opportunities to increase play value and encourage risky play. 

For more information on retrofitting your facility with Life Floor or specifying Life Floor on a new build, please contact us here or send us an email at solutions@lifefloor.com. 

Looking to budget Life Floor into the cost of your project? Reach out to our team to request our Budget Guide or a complimentary quote.

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Please Note: This article is intended to supplement winterization procedures, but should not be considered a comprehensive guide. For complete instructions, please refer to your operation manuals provided by product manufacturers.

OUR TOP 5 POOL DECK DESIGN TIPS

Over the last 10 years in the industry, our team has committed to making aquatic areas safer and more beautiful. Today, Life Floor can be found on splash pads, at resorts, on cruise ships, and on competitive pool decks around the world. As we’ve worked to develop solutions for our customers, we’ve established the following methods to increase play value, improve guest experience, enhance design, and prioritize safety and accessibility on pool decks. Dive right in!

COVER POOL DECKS WITH AQUATIC-RATED SAFETY SURFACING

Add cushioning and slip-resistance with an NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 certified safety surface to reduce injuries. Concrete and other slippery, abrasive, or hard surfaces can lead to injuries and make for dull aquatic designs. Competitive swimmers and lifeguards that spend extended periods of time standing and walking on these surfaces also know the toll they can take on feet and joints. Unfortunately, other colorful safety surfaces like pour-in-place products that haven’t been engineered specifically for aquatics often fail when exposed to harsh UV or chemicals. Even worse, the porosity of these products can harbor growth.

By using a third-party tested surface designed to meet certain criteria for slip-resistance, impact attenuation, UV and chemical resistance, impermeability, and cleanability, aquatic spaces can be equipped with a durable safety solution to improve guest experience. We’ve seen firsthand how this can reduce incident reports, empower guests of all ages and abilities to use aquatic facilities, and increase play value by creating a more comfortable surface for visitors.  

OPTIMIZE SIGNAGE AND CUES TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY

Depth markers and safety signage continue to be essential in aquatic areas for safety and accessibility. These elements should feature materials that are durable. Chipped paint, faded ink, or cracked tile can obscure the legibility of any intended messaging. Featuring markers designed to withstand the test of time with continual exposure to UV and chemicals will ensure appropriate messaging. Ideally, these markers also shouldn’t pose a safety risk. For instance, ceramic tile could make a pool perimeter particularly slippery.

When possible, including additional visual or tactile elements in and around a pool can further improve safety and accessibility. Visually differentiated or tactile bands around a pool’s perimeter can signal that a body of water is present. Varying the surface’s texture in this location is especially important to increase accessibility for the low-vision and Blind communities. Contrasting color bands on stairs can also be used to signal a change in depth.

CREATE SURFACE PATTERNS WITH GEOMETRIC SHAPES

Adding a design to an aquatic surface has the ability to instantly transform a facility by visually enhancing it and creating play value potential. Pool decks that feature colors and patterns look dramatically better than those surfaced with grey concrete. Tiled geometric shapes can create both bold and subtle looks to match a variety of aesthetic styles. Here are just a few examples of the impact this attention to design can provide:

A checkerboard pattern of squares elevated the look of a resort pool at Dolphin Bay.

A more subtle pattern of greys with interspersed triangles transformed this community center in Maple Grove, MN.

Crisp zig-zagging blues created this bright design for Hills Swimming.

Triangle gradients have provided the opportunity to gradually transition across a palette of colors like this one at Texas Tech.

An array of hexagon colors created a vibrant geometric effect on this pool deck.

For even more design possibilities, explore our portfolio!  

INTEGRATE ADDITIONAL SAFETY FEATURES WHERE NEEDED

When considering design options for a pool, it’s important to focus on areas that could impact guest experience. Thinking through the ways visitors interact with certain elements can make a significant impact on facility safety.

For areas featuring aquatic activities like lily pad walks, cushioned and textured surfacing at critical pool edges can provide more stable footing and a level of protection from injury should someone fall. Wrapping safety surfacing around other edges like coping and stairs has the potential to further protect visitors.

More durable drains that have been engineered for safety can also reduce risk of injury. When there’s an opportunity to match the drains to a surface design or even continue the surfacing material across them, a more integrated, less noticeable look can be achieved.

Lastly, operators should consider the areas beyond the immediate pool deck. For instance, continuing safety surfacing into similarly wet areas like locker rooms can also greatly reduce the risk of slip-and-fall incidents.

FEATURE CUSTOM ELEMENTS WITH THEMING OR BRANDING

For a more themed or branded facility, consider a custom design pool deck design that features specialty shapes or logos. Shapes, like the Great Wolf Lodge paw print pictured below, can be inlaid in surfaces and logos can be incorporated into pool deck design to reinforce branding. Custom curves and themed designs can be cut into flooring for unique patterning and imagery. Any of these considerations can really make an aquatic facility stand out with a specific look tailored to a particular theme, brand, design aesthetic, or play opportunity.

Together, these tips can help to maximize the design and safety of pool deck surfacing. As you look to enhance comfort, customer experience, and play value, we’re always happy to help identify solutions for your specific project.

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Interested in additional design ideas? Some our tips were recently featured in the Redfin article below! 

22 Gorgeous and Unique Tile Ideas to Brighten Up Your Home

Interior design fans will know that even as trends come and go, tile remains a top versatile decor element that can breathe life into any space in a home, especially if you go beyond tile’s go-to spot on a bathroom floor. And as much as we love tried-and-true subway tile, with so many unique color schemes and patterns to choose from, there’s nothing like a vibrant tile design to showcase your personality in a space. 

Whether you’re looking to refresh a kitchen backsplash or add some flair to your entryway, we’ve got you covered. Redfin reached out to us and other tile experts from Tucson, AZ, all the way to Markham, ON, for unique tile ideas that you can incorporate into your home interior. Here's our tip on how you can mix things up and create a one-of-a-kind look in your home.

READ MORE

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Looking for solutions to enhance a pool deck design? Reach out to our team to talk through your ideas and we’ll be happy to guide you in the right direction.

Humans Were Not Designed to Play on Concrete

Humankind has created innumerable advances in technology, science, and architecture. One of the architectural cornerstones that dates back to over 5,000 years is concrete. It has been used as support for buildings, aqueducts, sewers, streets, and bridges. These engineering feats credit how strong and durable concrete can be. However, the fact remains: concrete is unforgiving, hard, and abrasive. 

Humans were meant to thrive on soft surfaces such as grass and dirt. Sure, there are examples of humans living in caves and rocky areas, but their living spaces were covered in furs and pelts to create a softer environment. Even in today’s modern world, people gravitate towards tactile, soft finishes or materials with some amount of give. It's why we put area rugs over hardwood floors.

Free play is heightened living; faster, rougher, wilder. There is less planning and less caution, so softer surfaces protect play from getting too fast, too rough, and too wild. Playgrounds are a good example of this. Years ago, playgrounds were surfaced with that unforgiving, hard, abrasive concrete until people realized there was a better alternative that allowed for play as it was meant to happen. They realized humans weren’t designed to play on concrete.

Can you imagine if preschools, daycares, living rooms, indoor basketball courts, and soccer fields were covered in concrete instead? Not only would it be uncomfortable, but there would be exponentially more scraped knees, broken bones, shin splints, bruises, and concussions.

There are practical examples where you can’t solve every issue with an area rug. Tile and impermeable surfaces make sense in bathrooms, locker rooms, and around pools for hygienic purposes. Many softer solutions, often made for dry play, have been tried in these areas only to degrade over time or harbor growth of bacteria and mold. Thankfully hygienic aquatic safety surfacing has been introduced and adopted by the industry over the last decade. With the innovation of this type of safety surfacing, these areas can be cushioned with a product that offers the same impermeability as traditionally harder surfaces.  

Before: Concrete

After: Life Floor

Life Floor fills the need for more human-friendly materials in aquatics with the material properties required for the specific needs of these environments. Soft and impermeable. Textured for slip-resistance, but not abrasive. Third party tested by NSF International. 

Want to feel the difference of a Life Floor tile? Order a sample today. 

JUNGALA AQUA EXPERIENCE AT VIDANTA RIVIERA MAYA RESORT

In October 2020, “The World Waterpark Association recognized Jungala Aqua Experience with the 'Leading Edge' award for its extraordinary facilities, innovative concept, and exceptional customer service.” Jungala Aqua Experience has since become known for being a leader in guest experience and design both regionally in Mexico and internationally across the globe. By placing capacity limits on accommodations, this luxury resort is able to provide guests with an experience that truly feels unique, serene, and lavish. 

With lush forests on every side and a wide array of amenities available, the Jungala Aqua Experience, an “ultra-exclusive, low-density waterscape,” serves as a premium waterpark destination for guests.

Around the childrens’ slide area and beneath the RainFortress 5 multi-level play structure by WhiteWater is 17,760 sq ft (1,650 sq m) of Life Floor safety surfacing. Custom cut circles add colorful highlights to integrate seamlessly with the theme of the resort and provide a design that immerses and engages guests.

At a luxury resort such as Jungala, guest comfort and experience is absolute. Safety, comfort, design, and cleanliness are all qualities that visitors assess when choosing where to spend their vacations. Grupo Vidanta, the developer of Jungala Aqua Experience, was able to provide peace of mind for guests by choosing Life Floor’s cushioned and slip-resistant surfacing under WhiteWater’s RainFortress 5 and children’s slide areas. This flooring feature enables guests of all ages and abilities to play freely - skipping, jumping, crawling, and even cartwheeling - on a surface engineered specifically for aquatic recreation.

Thank you to WhiteWater West for their partnership in creating a safer and more enjoyable guest experience at Jungala Aqua Experience at Vidanta Riviera Maya Resort. For more information on how you can work with Life Floor and WhiteWater on your waterpark design, connect with us today.

Safety Drives Fun at Handy Park Splash Pad

In 2020, we co-hosted our first ever Make a SPLASH! Contest with Inside Edge Safety Surfaces to award grants to municipalities in the U.S. for upgrading their splash pad surfaces. We initiated this contest to be able to uplift communities across the country with beautiful splash pad surfacing designs that add increased safety for residents. Redford Township, Michigan was one of our winners, earning our 3rd place prize, a 25% grant towards tiles and installation. 

“Redford Township’s splash pad is coming up on our 15th year of operation and continues to remain one of the most popular spring and summer destinations here in our community… This destination is free and open to the public regardless of what community they live in. Many of our families and surrounding community are low to moderate income so this provides an affordable fun option for summertime fun. Back when the project was completed, options for flooring for our system, budget and for sustainability was the brushed concrete. Over time and the high volume of usage, the concrete surfacing has worn down and has become very slippery over the past couple of years. We have tried several options through local contractors to find a solution, but unfortunately we made the decision to close the splash pad at the end of the 2019 season in order to find a safe, cost effective, long term solution. Since this time, we have been looking at options to re-open this popular summertime activity and maintain a safe flooring which is essential. Due to COVID this past year, Recreation Departments have been hit hard and unfortunately we had to put the project on hold. If Redford Township won the Make A Splash Contest this would help restore this amenity for the residents of not only our community but those around us and enable us to operate for many more years to come.”

— Theresa Burgess, Redford Township Leisure Services Director

Before: Painted Concrete

After: Life Floor

The safety issues Redford Township experienced with their surfacing at Handy Park really resonated with our team. We know how important splash pads can be to provide accessible water play to communities across the country so we were happy to award this municipality a prize to make their surfacing safer. Our Studio Team designed a High Tide Theme in a 401 Pattern for the 2000 sq ft installation to brighten up the splash pad while providing a budget-friendly option along with the 25% grant. 

This automobile-themed splash pad showcases a unique car wash spray feature to inspire kids to use their imagination as they drive through the jets and sprays. With a variety of elements from very small jets to larger dumping devices, there are water play activities available to engage guests of all ages, abilities, and comfort levels.

When Kelsi Goss, our Vice President of Design, visited the splash pad one weekend this summer, she remarked at how many community members and families were enjoying this feature together.

“It was great to see such a wide age range of kids having fun in the water and how many families chose to set up picnics and tents adjacent to the splash pad at Handy Park. I watched a few kids take a tumble but they bounced right up again to resume playing. This wouldn’t have been the case if they had fallen on concrete.”

— Kelsi Goss, Life Floor Vice President of Design

Having Life Floor on the surface enables a variety of activities and types of risky play. Babies can crawl across the soft surface and begin to explore water play with smaller jets. Children can be found sprinting around the splash pad playing tag, hiding under the water umbrella, “driving” through the car wash, and even doing cartwheels. We’re happy to have helped improve this community feature so residents can fully enjoy all this splash pad has to offer! 

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Thank you to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for installing Life Floor at Handy Park Splash Pad and for partnering with us in the contest.

SEEING IS BELIEVING: HOW LIFE FLOOR TRANSFORMS AQUATIC FACILITIES

Since 2011, we’ve repeatedly seen the noticeable visual transformation that Life Floor can make at facilities. Brilliant pops of color have surfaced over drab, grey concrete and gorgeous, interactive themed designs have replaced failing pour-in-place products. Paired with the promise of safer surfaces, Life Floor makes all the difference. 

In honor of National Park and Recreation Month we’ve featured some of our favorite before and after photos of municipal projects below. 

CEDARCREST SPLASH PAD - BLOOMINGTON, MN

Cedarcrest Splash Pad in Bloomington, MN is located near our Minneapolis office and is often shown to new hires and visitors as a classic example of a Life Floor installation. Before resurfacing with our foam-rubber tiles, Cedarcrest had grey concrete that was indistinguishable from the adjacent playground. This was a major issue for the facility because kids would often come running from the playground onto the splash pad only to fall because of the hard, slippery surface. Not to mention, the park lacked color and whimsy. By choosing Life Floor to increase safety and add design, a bright blue triangle gradient pattern now serves as a visual cue to visitors that the environment is changing as they enter the water play area. This resurfacing effort was so transformative on the look of the park that residents thought an entirely new splash pad had been installed! 

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Before: Concrete

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After: Life Floor

TRAILHEAD PARK SPLASH PAD - WINTER HAVEN, FL

The City of Winter Haven, FL originally built this splash pad in 2016 with a grey concrete finish. They resurfaced it with different products about 3-4 times over the years as they tried to reduce slip-and-fall accidents since they realized concrete was ultimately unsafe on its own. The aquatics division performed a significant amount of research as they searched for the best solution when they were finally introduced to Life Floor. The committee at Winter Haven ultimately opted for our safety surfacing, pleased with the fact that our tiles could reduce injuries while also being certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50. This benefit of increased safety was paired with the vibrant blue square patterning that the city selected, visually enhancing the entire facility. 

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Before: Concrete

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After: Life Floor

PARR PARK SPLASH PAD - GRAPEVINE, TX

With concrete slabs on splash pads heating up to dangerous temperatures in hot climates like Texas, the City of Grapevine resorted to a concrete coating. Unfortunately, the coating increased the number of slip and fall injuries. The city approached Life Floor knowing our products feel cooler than concrete and remain slip-resistant when wet from their experience at the Pleasant Glade pool. The city also wanted a completely new and unique design to stand out from other splash pads in the community. Using a mottled effect across the splash pad with our hexagon shape, Life Floor was installed in a bright, modern color palette to create an elevated experience for visitors. 

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Before: Concrete Coating

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After: Life Floor

Veterans Park Splash Pad - Monroe Township, NJ

Veterans Park Splash Pad in Monroe Township, NJ was originally surfaced with a blue fleck pour-in-place product that was failing. It had needed to be patched multiple times and was getting into the facility’s filtration systems. It was difficult to clean and keep clean despite best efforts and the township was ready to replace the substrate with a more durable and easily cleanable surface. This is an issue our team has encountered on a countless number of refurbishments. Products designed for dry play simply don’t hold up in wet environments especially when paired with UV or chemical degradation over time. Inside Edge Safety Surfaces recommended Life Floor to the city and installed a beautiful 301 Pattern design at the splash pad. 

Before: Pour-in-Place

After: Life Floor

ANDREW BELLE SPLASH PAD - DOTHAN, AL

Prior to winning our 2020 Make a Splash! Grant Contest, Andrew Belle Splash Pad featured a concrete surface, similar to many other splash pads across the country. The community had a need to improve safety at this facility and a desire to brighten up the area with a vibrant design. With the addition of Life Floor, the Andrew Belle Splash Pad is now cushioned and slip-resistant while featuring a bold mix of square tiles, which have completely transformed the location. This upgrade was a welcome improvement for the local community who has already started enjoying their new surface this summer.

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Before: Concrete

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After: Life Floor

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If you’re looking to transform a facility with Life Floor, we’d love to help you get started on your project. Please fill out the contact form here and one of our representatives will be in touch with you shortly!

BIG AND SMALL: LIFE FLOOR IS GOOD FOR ALL

Even though we showcase several large installations in our portfolio, no project is too small to take a step in the right direction and start mitigating risk. We have many customers that begin by addressing areas prone to slip and fall incidents such as small zero depth entries, landing pads, ramps, stairs, or locker room areas before deciding to expand Life Floor coverage to their splash pads, pool decks, or full waterparks. Below are some examples of our favorite small projects:

Piñon Park Splash Pad - Los Alamos County, NM - 1270 sq ft

Life Floor was specified by Surroundings Studio on Piñon Park’s project to increase safety and add a fun and beautiful design to the new splash pad. They were working with Los Alamos County and primarily interested in finding a product that could withstand altitude and UV while still delivering a strong warranty. Los Alamos County worked with their procurement office to get single source permission to buy Life Floor. 

Andrew Belle Splash Pad - Dothan, AL - 1358 sq ft

The Andrew Bell Splash Pad in Dothan, AL was our 2020 Make a Splash! Grant Contest winner. This facility wanted safety surfacing to solve many of their pain points and our contest provided the grant to make an upgrade possible for their neighborhood splash pad. To read the whole story, head over to our blog to learn more about this amazing community.

Belmont Splash Pad - Charlottesville, VA - 392 sq ft

Before installing Life Floor, Belmont Splash Pad’s surface was an epoxy-based substrate that needed to be replaced every year. They were tired of having to remove blue paint from their filters every day which was a hassle and ultimately unsustainable for their maintenance teams. By choosing Life Floor to replace their old surfacing, they were able to overcome this pain point while making this feature safer and more appealing to annual budgets.

Prince George's County, MD Project

Some local governments decide to group their projects across multiple parks in their county or city to tackle the highest risk areas first. Common zones that are addressed first include zero depth entries and ramps. Prince George’s County grouped five small projects together to help increase positive experiences for their communities:

Allentown, MD Splash Fitness and Tennis Center Zero Depth Entry - 550 sq ft 

North Barnaby Pool, MD Zero Depth Entry - 150 sq ft

Hamilton Splash Park, MD Zero Depth Entry - 150 sq ft

Linson E Ellen Pool, MD Main Pool & Baby Pool - 450 sq ft

Lane Manor, MD Recreation Center & Splash Park - 1,600 sq ft

Cedarcrest Park Splash Pad - Bloomington, MN - 1,520 sq ft 

We helped the City of Bloomington, Minnesota retrofit their 1,500 square foot splash pad at Cedarcrest Park in 2017. Cedarcrest Park Splash Pad features the first examples of two Life Floor concepts: Ripple 2.0 and a triangle gradient design. This surfacing update visually transformed the whole park where it’s located. Even in its fifth year of operation, this splash pad still looks beautiful and has remained safe despite being covered by snowfall each winter. See more here.

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We’ve been excited to make a difference in these communities and to see all of these facilities reopen this season! Thank you to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for installing all of these impactful projects. For customers that have smaller areas in mind, many of our partners like Inside Edge Safety Surfaces or Great Mats are available to manage the process. If you’re interested in receiving a quote for your project, big or small, we'd love to hear about it! Contact us today to get started.

Make a SPLASH! Contest Grand Prize Installation: Dothan, AL

In 2020, we co-hosted our first ever Make a SPLASH! Contest with Inside Edge Safety Surfaces to award a municipality in the U.S. with an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. Our intent in initiating this contest was to be able to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful splash pad surfacing designs that add increased safety for residents.

One of the applications we received immediately stood out.

“Let me tell you about Dothan. My City. My Heart.

Nestled in the southeast corner of Alabama, Dothan is a town of 70,000. Just 16 miles from Florida and 20 miles from Georgia, Dothan is a medical hub and is known as the Peanut Capital of the World. My charming little town is part of the Wiregrass region, which is named for a native grass, Aristida stricta, which quite literally feels like wire grass. Dothan is home to the World’s Smallest City Block, Historical Musical Murals, and the Peanut Festival.

The people here are kind. They love to play ball, swim, fish, and BBQ. They love football. You are obligated as a citizen to choose a team – Auburn or Alabama… And the rivalry is palpable. There is a church on every corner with welcoming smiles. You can merge into traffic with a wave.

However, our splash pad needs some love. It’s adjacent to a pool in a low-income area of our city… Directly behind one of the oldest recreation centers in Dothan. It’s across the tracks from a large housing project. Many of the children in this neighborhood are not able to take trips or go on vacation, but they can walk down to the splashpad for free. These guys deserve a place to play that they can be proud of and getting a Life Floor renovation would be just the ticket.

Don’t just choose Dothan, choose the citizens in this neighborhood! They deserve the best, and you can help us provide that!”

— Kelly Stakelum, Aquatics Manager

BEFORE: Andrew Belle Splash Pad, concrete surfacing

This entry struck a chord with many members of the Life Floor and Inside Edge Safety Surfaces teams who reviewed entries and ultimately chose the winner. A central tenet of our company is our core value of People. We wake up every day and strive to make the aquatics industry a safer place through surfacing so reading this heartfelt story played a strong role in our decision to award Dothan, AL the grand prize winner of our grant. The sincerity of Kelly’s entry on behalf of her city and her clear love for the people that live there made us excited to upgrade their local park with a new splash pad surface.

When it was time to call our first, second, and third place winners, we called Kelly at Dothan first. Our CEO, Jonathan Keller, our Vice President of Design, Kelsi Goss, and our East Coast Regional Sales Manager, MaryAnn Eifert, couldn’t wait to deliver the good news. The excitement in Kelly’s voice was evident and after she accepted, we proceeded with next steps to finalize the design and coordinate the installation.

As part of the design process, we collaborated with Kelly to include one of our new colors, Seafoam, as well as a custom logo to showcase Dothan’s pride. The process with our Studio Team was iterative and we ultimately landed on a vibrant 5-color square pattern featuring Ocean, Bluebird, Aviator, Limelight, and Seafoam.

The contest’s co-host and Life Floor’s North American Preferred Installation Partner, Inside Edge Safety Surfaces, completed installation of the new surface in May of 2021. The team worked with their usual high level of professionalism and expertise to create a beautiful end product. Once they were finished, the splash pad was officially ready for the grand reopening celebration to kickoff the summer season.

AFTER: Andrew Belle Splash Pad, Life Floor surfacing

The Grand Reopening Celebration of the Andrew Belle Community Splash Pad in Dothan, AL took place on May 27, 2021 – just prior to Memorial Day weekend. Many members of the local community attended the event to celebrate. It was amazing to see the visible joy on everyone’s faces as kids hopped, skipped, and ran across their new splash pad.

“[Concrete is] not ideal because, I mean if the kid falls, concrete hurts, but also can get hot, and it will crack and it’s just not the best experience.”

— Alison Hall, Dothan Leisure Services Director

We are immensely thankful for the opportunity to give this deserving community a new Life Floor splash pad surface and hope that it’s enjoyed for many seasons to come. Thank you to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for co-hosting this contest with us and for installation.

If you would like more information about our upcoming 2021 Make a SPLASH! Contest, please contact us by filling out the form below or send us an email at solutions@lifefloor.com. Check our contest page often for when we release more information about future contests.

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Related Articles:

Andrew Belle's new splash pad unveiled on hot day in Dothan | Govt.and Politics | dothaneagle.com

Dothan to re-open splash pad after renovation (msn.com)

Get a splash of coolness with the new SplashPad reopened now | WDHN - DothanFirst.com

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Themed Aquatic Safety Surfacing at Texas Tech University

Life Floor’s new Glacier Theme is featured at the pool and splash pad at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX with a custom logo showcasing the school’s Red Raiders pride. This project was initiated when Texas Tech approached our Preferred Installation Partner in North America, Inside Edge Safety Surfaces, to determine a solution for their aquatics facility. After experiencing issues with maintaining and repairing the previous worn concrete surface, they were in search of a new surfacing option. Life Floor ended up being the right solution due to its custom design capabilities and safety features of impact cushioning and slip-resistance.

The Texas Tech logo on the splash pad is a strong feature of this project that everyone sees when entering the facility and sparks school spirit by association alone. Custom logos and theming to match a facility’s design are two of our favorite things. Logos like this one are a great way for universities and colleges to showcase school pride since they are so unique to each institution. Integrating a logo into the aquatics deck can create a prominent feature that can also serve as advertising during swim events similar to basketball courts that showcase the home team’s logo.

In this tiered design, a triangle gradient in a slight variation of our 302 Pattern replicates sweeping waves into the deeper zone of the gradated sun deck. Students, staff, and guests can now relax in this area in the hot summer sun on the cushioned and non-abrasive Life Floor.

Thank you to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces and Texas Tech University for the collaboration on this project. If you’re interested in specifying Life Floor at a University or College aquatics facility, contact us today.

A THEMED COLLABORATION WITH WESTPORT POOLS AND MEXICO, MO

It's an exciting season for our team as we watch so many newly renovated facilities reopen across the country. One of our most recent installations at the Fairgrounds Aquatic Center in Mexico, MO features both a zero-depth entry and a separate splash pad.

The City of Mexico, MO had originally been working with Westport Pools, one of our Registered Aquatic Partners, on this project. When they mentioned their interest in a resilient safety surfacing solution, Life Floor was recommended, and our team was looped into the design process.

We worked collaboratively with the city on several flooring design options that would add aquatic theming to both their zero depth entry and splash pad. The intent was for the safety surfacing to complement their spray features and play structure on site. Ultimately, the designs they selected achieved their goals of mimicking a seashore for the zero depth entry and a body of water for the splash pad while also staying within budget.

The design of this particular zero depth entry is unique in that it combines a triangle gradient for the "sand" and "water" zones while also featuring a clean, curvy custom cut edge separating the two. Because Life Floor is manufactured as 2' x 2' tiles, cutting curves into any design results in increased overages as the squares are trimmed away. By selectively choosing to only use this effect for the shoreline, the city was able to achieve their design intent without the added expense of creating the entire gradient effect out of curves. Marine inlays were included to augment the theming. Fish and seahorses can be found in the "water" while crabs and starfish can be found on the "sand." 

The simple design of the splash pad uses our popular High Tide 301 Theme and Pattern. This tile arrangement is one of our most cost-effective options to create the effect of water and is often enhanced by thematic inlays like the fish shown here. 

Collaborating with Westport Pools and the City of Mexico, MO throughout this iterative process was extremely rewarding for our team. We're appreciative of their partnership and their shared commitment of creating safer and more beautiful aquatic spaces. 

To learn more about how you can work with our team to enhance your aquatic facility, contact us today! 

New Life Floor Tile Colors!

We’re excited to announce that we’ve expanded our color palette with two new offerings: Seafoam and Submariner. We’ve carefully chosen these colors to expand our popular blue and turquoise color families. With these new additions, we’re broadening the creative possibilities for our design partners and customers.

SEAFOAM AND SUBMARINER

SEAFOAM

Seafoam features a medium teal tone that complements Turquoise and Aqua. Together, the three colors form our new Theme: Surf. On its own, Seafoam is the perfect hue to create designs inspired by beautiful tropical getaways. Paired with Turquoise, Aqua, and our lighter tan tones, this new color can be used to create gradients representative of island seashores. 

SURF THEME: TURQUOISE, SEAFOAM, AQUA

NATURAL BRIDGE, VA
Featuring: Surf Theme
Photo Credit: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces

SUBMARINER

Submariner is a deep navy that is now the darkest blue featured in our palette. With this new color, we’ve expanded our most popular Theme, High Tide, which also features Ocean, Bluebird, and Aviator. Submariner’s rich tone adds depth to gradients and patterns. We recommend using it with our blue and tan colors to create aquatic-inspired designs. It also works well as a more neutral option to pair with greys or to contrast bright color selections. 

HIGH TIDE THEME: SUBMARINER, OCEAN, BLUEBIRD, AVIATOR

REDFORD CHARTER TWP, MI
Featuring: High Tide Theme
Photo Credit: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces

Through a limited release, these new colors have already made their debut on some installations across the country. We look forward to seeing how our expanded color palette inspires even more projects this year. 

DOTHAN, AL
Featuring: Submariner & Seafoam
Photo Credit: Dothan Leisure Services

FAYETTEVILLE, GA
Featuring: Seafoam
Photo Credit: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces

COMPLIMENTARY DESIGN SERVICES

Interested to know what a design using these colors would look like at your facility? Contact us today to have our Studio Team create a complimentary rendering of your project! 

Rain Drop Products Partners with Life Floor to Increase Inclusivity in Spray Parks through Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Program

Minneapolis, Minn., June 2, 2021 - Life Floor, an aquatic safety surface manufacturer, and Rain Drop Products, an inclusivity-focused spray feature manufacturer, today announce a non-exclusive partnership to bring safety surfacing to the national splash pad market. Rain Drop Products is the first water play feature manufacturer to offer Sourcewell cooperative purchasing with an NSF certified aquatic safety surface. Together, the companies are committed to making water play accessible to everyone.

“We are excited to make Life Floor our recommended aquatic safety surface as part of our inclusive product offerings through the Sourcewell contract. Now, we finally have an aquatic surface that we can stand behind to deliver safety and great design. And with NSF certification, our customers can trust they are investing in a surface that serves all their safety needs.”

— Mark Williams, Rain Drop Products CEO

The partnership emphasizes the aquatic industry’s progress towards designing more waterparks and spray parks using universal design practices. Both companies focus their design principles around customization to provide accessible spaces for every age and ability. With Rain Drop Products’ product portfolio of sensory-specific features, they believe adding a slip-resistant, cushioned, and playful surface will complete the inclusive experience.

“It made complete sense to offer Life Floor through the Sourcewell contract with Rain Drop Products. We’ve had the chance to collaborate with Rain Drop Products and their commitment to making safe, inclusive products mirrors our mission to creating safe and beautiful aquatic spaces for everyone. We’re really excited to see how their team utilizes the custom design capabilities of Life Floor with their custom features. It’s a huge step toward building more inclusive aquatic play spaces for multi-generational play.”

— Jonathan Keller, Life Floor CEO

By winning the Sourcewell contract, Rain Drop Products and Life Floor will be able to offer their products for the next four years to municipalities, eliminating the lengthy bid process for their customers. The reputable contract’s ease of use and savings offered will make NSF certified aquatic safety surfacing more accessible to the larger market as Life Floor is the first and only surface currently certified.  

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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 their products.

Gwen Ruehle Vice President, Business Development
612.405.2718
gwen.ruehle@lifefloor.com
lifefloor.com

Rain Drop Products

Rain Drop Products is a leading designer and manufacturer of children’s aquatic play equipment with a  focus on inclusive aquatic play. Rain Drop Products has been a world-wide leader in the water play industry since 1985 and continues to strive for inclusion and innovation through their dynamic product lines.  From surface sprays to above-ground water features, to slides and structures, Rain Drop Products strives to maximize the sensory experience for children of all abilities.

Mark Williams CEO/President 
614-506-1221
mwilliams@rain-drop.com
rain-drop.com

Sourcewell

A self-sustaining government organization, Sourcewell has over 40 years of dedicated service helping government, education, and nonprofit agencies operate more efficiently through a variety of solutions. Sourcewell contract purchasing solutions are competitively solicited nationally, offering over 400 awarded contracts every four years. 

010521-RDP | Sourcewell (sourcewell-mn.gov)

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General FAQ’s

Can other manufacturers still work with Life Floor?

Yes! The Rain Drop Products and Life Floor partnership is non-exclusive.

What does this partnership mean for Life Floor?

Life Floor is now Rain Drop Products' recommended safety surface. Life Floor can be included in all designs for Sourcewell projects for splash pads.

How was this partnership established?

Both Rain Drop Products and Life Floor value safety and inclusivity. As Rain Drop Products applied for the Sourcewell contract this past year, they saw value in including Life Floor as a safety surfacing option to enhance their design packages for spray parks.

How will this partnership work for customers?

New clients with splash pad projects interested in purchasing and installing Life Floor or Rain Drop Products Features for their facility can contact either company to begin the process for all splash pad feature needs.

If this sounds like your type of project, you may contact either Life Floor or Rain Drop Products directly at the contact information below:

Life Floor: Contact us here or email us at solutions@lifefloor.com

Rain Drop Products: Contact us here

Have Life Floor and Rain Drop Products merged?

No. We remain independent companies, and we look forward to seeing how this game-changing partnership will serve the industry going forward.

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.

Methods to Reduce Surfacing-Related Drowning Risks

“All over the world, infants and toddlers drown more frequently than people at any other age. In this age group drowning is the leading cause of death, followed by accidents in and around the home and road traffic accidents. Inadequate supervision, an inability to swim, and lack of barriers separating toddlers from pools and other water are the main causes of drownings of small children… The vast majority of drownings occur in open water: the sea, lakes, ponds, rivers. However, drownings occur in all water including swimming pools and bathtubs. Small children have been known to drown in just a few inches of water - in buckets and ditches for example.”

— Santa Maria Law, Davie, FL

The most common causes of drowning include a lack of swimming ability, a lack of barriers, a lack of close supervision, failure to wear life jackets, alcohol use, and seizure disorders according to the CDC. Less common risks can still be prevented by paying closer attention to potential hazards at the surface level. Safety standards and recommended best practices should be followed wherever possible to further reduce potential for injury and drowning incidents at both pools and splash pads.

Pools

Swimming pools are generally associated with having a high risk of drowning due to significant standing water. In addition to standard safety measures like encouraging swim lessons, posting lifeguards, and having guests keep an eye on the members of their groups, there are some additional ways that facilities can reduce risk associated with injuries that may lead to drowning accidents.

Edge Pads and Lily Pad Walk Landings

Edge pads and lily pad walk landings are the aquatic counterparts to dry playground landings present at either end of zip lines, monkey bars, and other crossing-related activities. Having a cushioned surface at either end of a lily pad crossing or similar activity allows for a safer landing. These protected landings can help reduce injuries associated with missteps if the individual were to come into contact with the pool edge. If the pool edge is not cushioned in these applications, concussive injuries can result from missed footholds and lead to drowning accidents if unseen by facility staff or a member of the individual’s group.

Landing Pads

Water slide exits are an important part of a facility’s operation. Ensuring that there are landing pads at the bottom of slides enables people at the bottom of slide run-outs to enter the pool and exit more safely. Unsafe slide run-outs, especially ones that are submerged and lead into the rest of a pool, can result in trip-and-fall accidents or missed landings which propel guests into the pool. Exiting a slide at a higher than usual velocity can result in collisions with other guests, submersion, and impact-related injuries such as stubbed toes, scraped legs, and cut feet on pool bottoms. Using landing pads in these locations can help prevent many of these incidents.

Drains and Filters

Drains and filters often go unnoticed until they cause issues or injuries. Grating that is too wide can entrap fingers and toes and result in injuries in close proximity to the pool edge. To learn more about recommended best practices, reference this Whitepaper by Daldorado to help you mitigate risk at your facility related to drains. Filtration and drainage systems that do not have proper covers are also hazardous and can introduce risk into the environment by allowing access to guests that should not have access to per the ANSI/APSP-16-2009 and soon the ANSI/APSP-16 2017 performance standards. Making sure that these covers are code-compliant is essential in ensuring that guests are not at risk for entrapment injury or drowning. 

Edge Surfacing 

Many drownings are a result of unintended submersion in water, especially when paired with an inability to swim. For this reason, the treatment of surfaces along the edge of pools should be considered to ensure that guests don’t accidentally slip and fall into the water. Replacing slippery ceramic tile or stone with a textured surface that has enough traction to provide steady footing could help reduce this risk. Zero-depth-entries can similarly benefit from this treatment.  

Splash Pads

Many facilities have chosen to replace public pools with splash pads to provide aquatic recreation while drastically reducing drowning risks. While incidents are much lower with little to no pooling water, some potential still exists, especially with more limited supervision. Drowning awareness is common in places that have been historically associated with related risk such as pools or other large bodies of water. While large bodies of water are the most common places where drowning is likely to occur, “most drownings happen in environments and during activities unsupervised by lifeguards,” according to the International Life Saving Federation.

Splash pads in the U.S. do not typically have lifeguards present due to water not surpassing a few inches in depth at most. It should be noted that drowning risk is still a factor wherever water is present, especially for young children. 

Proper Supervision 

Imagine a warm summer day at a splash pad with several families with young children playing in the water features. Parents and caretakers may be socializing, relaxing nearby, and checking in with their children periodically. In an instant, two children could collide or a child could slip on slippery concrete, stone, or tile and knock themselves out on that same hard surface. If that unconscious child was too close to a water feature or pooling puddle, they would be at increased drowning risk if their guardian was not paying attention. 

In order to help prevent situations like this from occurring, there are some ways to be more vigilant about safety. Caretakers should consistently watch their children and avoid distractions. Facility operators can take steps toward mitigating risk at splash pads by ensuring drains are working properly and by investing in safety surfacing that reduces risk of slip and fall injuries by having slip-resistant and cushioned properties.

Safety Surfacing 

Safety surfacing is a good feature to include on a splash pad, pool deck, or any other aquatic facility to mitigate facility risk, especially when choosing a safety surface tested and certified by an independent third party organization. Slip-resistance helps prevent slip and fall accidents, cushioning helps protect falls if they occur, and having an impermeable and cleanable surface means that microbial growth is not supported and the surface is easier to maintain and keep hygienic. Cushioned safety surfacing also helps protect children when collisions happen during play and can help prevent risks associated with becoming unconscious or falling into a nearby body of water.

Conclusion

It’s important to be aware of drowning risks in aquatics and to ensure that your facility is taking steps to mitigate risk wherever possible. Choosing safer options at the surface level and re-evaluating more traditional materials like concrete and tile can help to reduce risk of injuries.

In order to help mitigate risks associated with drowning and near-drowning accidents, we recommend that your staff evaluates your facility from a guest’s perspective. Slide down slides, cross lily pad landings, and engage with the facility as they would. Take notice of what is uncomfortable, pay attention to areas that commonly experience incident reports, and take steps to remediate those issues.

“According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database, in 2014 alone, estimated 20,000 injuries occurred on pool decks, splash pads or water parks, resulting in emergency room visits. The common denominator in all these splash pad injuries is the surfacing. From personal research that I conducted after visiting this particular splash pad, the most common splash pad surface is concrete, often treated with an abrasive coating. With the leading cause of admission to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt being unintentional pediatric falls, this type of flooring is concerning.”

— Emily Riley, a former injury prevention program manager for Be in the Zone at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital

ARE WE BUBBLE WRAPPING KIDS WITH SAFETY SURFACING IN AQUATICS?

Many adults today remember childhoods full of hot metal slides baking in the sun, sky-high monkey bars with rough concrete beneath them, and swings that soared above a seemingly endless expanse of worn grass. Today, you look around at playgrounds and see brightly colored plastic slides surrounded by sand, complex multi-level play structures with spongy surfaces waiting below, and zip lines with impact absorbing platforms on either side.

Photo Credit: Click Americana, Vintage and Retro Memories | 1900’s

Photo Credit: Landscape Structures | 2017

Seeing all of these cushioned corners and safety rails, the question lurks at the back of our minds, “Are we bubble wrapping kids?”

Now contrast that playful imagery of modern playgrounds with abrasive, injury-prone concrete surfaces that coat many splash pads and pool decks still today.

Consider the playground example: for decades playgrounds had no safety surfacing and as a result kids were injured often. Then wood chips, rubberized surfaces, sand, and other cushioned materials were introduced in an effort to promote play while mitigating injuries. The result was an environment that promotes play, reduces liability, and limits the number of serious play-related injuries.

Splash pads are essentially playgrounds with water, so why wouldn’t we treat them the same way?

When water is combined with concrete surfacing on splash pads, hydroplaning occurs and results in slip and fall accidents. These accidents typically involve concussions, road rash, and other major play-halting injuries due to the unsafe risks associated with concrete surfacing.

TYPES OF RISK

You may ask, “But isn’t it good for kids to learn how to handle risk and learn how to fall properly?”

We completely agree that learning how to fall is important, but injuries that halt play because of a concussion or broken limb are not acceptable. These injuries are avoidable, costly, and can have lasting negative implications. Simply put, there’s bad risk and there’s good risk. 

Bad risk is also known as a hazard and involves things that can cause harm to an individual such as sharp edges, hot surfaces, and hard impacts (1). This kind of risk does not allow for children to grow and learn positively - it often causes aversion to the source and triggers fear responses. Young toddlers are inherently clumsy and do not yet have full motor control of their limbs. When this clumsiness is paired with their inability to reason and determine dangerous situations, injuries can feel more terrifying and out-of-control. Often, when a child is injured they tend to associate the injury with their surroundings instead of the specific thing that hurt them which causes aversion to an environment (2).

Good risk is often associated with what we call ‘risky play.’ Risky play can appear in many different forms based on age, motor skills, and ability. Some types of risky play include (3): 

• Play with High Speed

• Rough and Tumble Play

• Play Near Dangerous Elements (Water)

Splash pads that feature concrete surfacing inhibit children from engaging in some of these types of risky play. When a surface is slip-resistant and cushioned instead, the opportunities for engaging a greater range of activities and types of risky play are more available. Children are able to run, hop, crawl, cartwheel, tumble, and move freely around a zone of water play in more ways than if safety surfacing wasn’t included on the splash pad. 

Like we said, kids are inherently clumsy and they will trip over their own feet and fall. However, when they do fall, our mission at Life Floor is to ensure they get right back up and continue imagining, learning, and creating their own world of risky play instead of getting injured and ending their day of family fun. 

NSF International agrees that splash pads need safety surfacing. In 2019 they passed NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50:26 outlining criteria for safety surfacing products which include slip-resistance and cushioning. They recognize that similar safety parameters are needed in comparison to dry playgrounds.

We don’t want kids to feel averse to aquatic facilities especially as they're first introduced to aquatics and water; we want to enable them to positively play, explore, and learn through these new experiences. 

SO TO ANSWER THE BURNING QUESTION:

No, we aren’t bubble wrapping kids with safety surfacing. We’re enabling risky play and we’re helping them avoid unnecessary hazards until they’re old enough to understand them. 

Let’s let them explore, run, jump, and play freely instead of telling them to walk slow and mind the slippery concrete in an effort to try and stay safe.

If you would like to continue the conversation, please email us at solutions@lifefloor.com to share your ideas.

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Related Articles:

The Benefits of Diversifying Play Features in Aquatic Environments

Including Play Elements in Splash Pad Surface Design

The Importance of Free Play in Aquatic Environments

Pairing Safety Surfacing with Risky Play at Costa Bavaro Resort

Putting Humane Design Into Perspective

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Sources:

1. Ken Kutska | Executive Director of the International Playground Safety Institute | Past president of NRPA | Chair of the ASTM F15.29 Subcommittee for performance requirements for public play equipment.

2. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/think-act-be/201609/21-common-reactions-trauma

3. Source: Sandsetter, Ellen Beate Hansen (2009): "Characteristics of Risky Play". Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning. 9:1, 3-21.

Daldorado and Life Floor are About to Make Aquatic Environments Even More Extraordinary

NAPLES, FL—Wednesday, May 5th 2021 — Daldorado, LLC, a leading provider of main drains, sumps and perimeter grating, and Life Floor, the industry leading standard for aquatic safety surfacing, today announced the exciting integration between the two companies’ products never before offered.

As families seek unique ‘go to’ and safe venues where parents can watch their children run and play, the new construction and renovation of waterparks continue to experience explosive growth. For aquatic designers and consultants the need to create bright and colorful interactive aquatic environments while also focusing on mitigating the risk of slip-and-fall injuries and tripping hazards can be a challenge. Therefore, it stands to reason decking and drainage systems are main areas of concern.

Life Floor knows this all too well. Life Floor is world-renowned for creating flooring systems that not only look and feel fun, but also feature incredible traction and slip-resistance. Brian Howell, Life Floor Director of Design Partnerships, states, “Life Floor is trusted by aquatics professionals all over the world. The subject of drainage has always been a topic of discussion, more specifically preventing small fingers and toes from getting caught in deck drains, or tripping on main drains. Plus, drains are extremely limited in choice of colors and materials, which means they can be visually distracting to our overall floor designs.”

Enter Daldorado. Daldorado introduced the DalLUX support grate system in the fall of 2020. Originally designed and manufactured for luxury pools, DalLUX support grates allow designers to maintain the aesthetics of a stone or tile deck all the way to the pool edge while also providing efficient and necessary drainage. Rob Lawson, CEO and Founder of Daldorado, met with aquatic designers who expressed their plan to use Life Floor in their projects, but needed a solution to their drainage issues and also to mitigate risk. He saw the opportunity to utilize the DalLUX system with Life Floor and the rest is history. Mr Lawson adds “Safety is paramount at Daldorado. To be able to fulfill the expressed need for a drainage system that meets International Building Code (IBC) standards and is NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 certified is something we are very proud to tout. We knew that our DalLUX support grate system would work in tandem with Life Floor and give designers everything they wanted in an end product, but we did not expect the reaction it would receive, not to mention the ‘Wow!’ factor.”

The integration of Life Floor safety surfacing with the Daldorado drainage system is already creating some chatter among designers, indicating that it will not only take the aquatics industry by storm but possibly vaulting waterparks into something more evolutionary. Add to this that both companies have a reputation for designing and manufacturing the highest quality products and offering unparalleled customer service, it can only be surmised that it will be a win-win for everyone.

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Editor's Note:

To arrange an interview, contact:
Rob Lawson, Daldorado, LLC.
RLawson@daldorado.com
+1 888.509.8128

About Daldorado

Headquartered in Naples, FL, Daldorado is comprised of a team of water flow solutions specialists, leading the commercial aquatics industry by being the only American company to follow the strictest IBC and NSF requirements for main drains and rim flow systems. Daldorado maintains its reputation around the world as 'the Gold Standard' through its commitment to manufacturing the highest quality products with safety being its #1 priority.

About Life Floor

Life Floor is transforming the aquatics industry by making facilities safer, more accessible, and more fun for everyone. Life Floor is the first product certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 and is leading the revolutionary change to the industry in a call for safety surfacing at aquatic facilities across the world. With virtually limitless design possibilities, Life Floor creates a uniquely beautiful experience for people of all ages and abilities.

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.

A Beachy Transformation in Tasmania

The renovation at Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre in Tasmania began during 2020’s mandatory COVID-19 closure and included many updates to the facility including adding approximately 480 square metres of Life Floor on the surface of a large zero depth entry play area and on some of the walls and stairs to increase cushioning. 

“The new pool has already had a rousing response from our first young visitors, who absolutely loved it. The new slide and bucket play space is an exciting area for the bigger kids, but there’s also a zero-depth splash-pad with water features, which is suitable for babies and toddlers.”

— Anna Reynolds, City of Hobart Lord Mayor

By installing Life Floor on their surfaces in different zones of play, the aquatic centre was able to capture added value for patrons of varying ages and abilities.

This Seashore Theme is arranged in a custom pattern replicating a beach with shallow water. Given Hobart’s temperate climate, this indoor haven is perfect for families who want to enjoy a beach day any day of the year. Marine inlays have been interspersed throughout the area to spark childhood imagination and increase overall play value at the centre.

Thank you to the Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre for installing Life Floor and increasing safety and play at your facility! To learn more about how to get Life Floor at your facility in Oceania, please visit Life Floor Australia + New Zealand’s website. 

For other international regions, please visit our international team page. For North American projects, please contact us directly.

Pairing Luxury with Fun at ULTIQA Beach Haven on Broadbeach Resort

Located on the Gold Coast in Australia is ULTIQA Beach Haven on Broadbeach Resort. A recent refurbishment of this unique outdoor swimming pool included Life Floor to improve comfort and underfoot safety on the pool island deck, stair step, and wading pool floor at this popular family resort. 

“Guests are loving the Life Floor tiles especially the safe texture for the little ones in the wading section. The colourful design of the Life Floor tiles on the pool island is inviting and provides a safe area for children to enjoy.”

— Pam McIntyre, Resort Manager, ULTIQA Beach Haven on Broadbeach Resort

Featuring a wavy pattern in Life Floor’s High Tide Color Theme, this slip-resistant safety surfacing enables guests to run, jump, and play without fear of slipping and falling on the island platform. One of the top concerns for many facilities is related to slip-and-fall injuries and increased liability, so choosing Life Floor is not only a beautiful choice, but also a decision that can help mitigate risk. Due to Life Floor’s NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50 Certification, facility operators can be assured that Life Floor provides an industry-leading safety surfacing option to improve guest experience. Through feedback from families, this resort has experienced a positive increase in overall user happiness that contributes to an immersive and inclusive experience for all ages.

Thank you to ULTIQA Hotels and Resorts for the opportunity to make your pool deck safer and more beautiful with Life Floor. We look forward to continuing to serve you and your guests.