​​What is a Surface Impact Test?

A Surface Impact Test measures how well your playground surface absorbs impact from a fall, helping ensure it provides effective protection for children at play. Using a specialised Head Injury Criteria (HIC) impact tester, we simulate realistic fall scenarios and analyse how your surfacing performs against recognised safety benchmarks of NZS5828, EN1176 and EN1176.

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• Measures impact-absorbing performance of your surface

• Compares against critical safety standards (NZS 5828 & EN1177)

• Determines your Critical Fall Height (CFH) — the maximum height a child can fall without a high risk of serious head injury

• Professional, non-destructive testing completed on-site with minimal disruption to your service

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You’ll receive a detailed digital report with:

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• Pass/Fail outcome against safety standards

• Photo documentation and measured data

• Drop curve graphs

• Maintenance and compliance notes for improvement

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Why ECE Centres Need This Test

• Ensure child safety — Meets NZS 5828 standards for impact protection under playground equipment.

• Meet your duty of care — Demonstrate proactive safety management to parents, staff, and auditors.

• Maintenance assurance — Surfaces degrade with use, weather, and UV exposure. Regular testing ensures ongoing protection.

• Compliance confidence — Aligns with Ministry of Education and licensing expectations for play area safety and compliance.

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What Surface Types Can Be Tested?

We test all common and custom playground surfaces, including:

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• Wetpour rubber

• Synthetic turf with or without infill

• Play tiles (e.g., Play Matta®, Numat)

• Grass Retention Tile systems

• Pour-n-Play systems

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Fast, Efficient & Child Friendly

• In-situ and non-destructive on-site testing

• Minimal disruption to the centre during test

• Clear guidance if remediation is needed

• Compliant to NZS5828 and MOE requirements

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Why choose Playsafe

• Fully independent and impartial service

• Certified and calibrated equipment

• Confidential and Professional accredited provider

• International standards committee member

• Compliance partner to Ministry of Education and ERO

• Nationwide Service

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​​Keep Your Playground Safe and Compliant

 

Don't wait until there's a problem. Ensure your playground surfaces meet safety standards today.

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📞 Contact Playsafe to book your Certified Surface Impact Test or to learn more about how we help protect playground users from serious fall injuries.

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