b'Dispelling the Myths of Maintenance Free Poured-In-Place Playground Safety SurfacingA nyone that has purchased Poured-In-Place (PIP) rubber safety surfacing has heard the claims of Maintenance Free!but like everything else on the playground, even PIP requires maintenance to keep it colorful, bouncy, and most importantly safe for the kids playing on it.First, from a safety and liability standpoint, youll want to keep that unitary surface unitary by preventing cracks and wear granulation with a roll-on or spray-on topcoat; which will also keep your colorful playground colorful. Performing this maintenance work throughout the life of your surfacing can extend or even double its life at a fraction of the costs of a full replacement (fig. 1, right) Fig. 1Although climate conditions and usage will dictate how often, having a topcoat applied every 24-months is an average. Also important is making sure a certified PIP installation crew performs the work. A poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing system is only as good as the materials and the installation crew same goes for the maintenance topcoat . Make sure your playground partner supplies not only the crew, but the factory-certified credentials and insurance certificates to make sure the work is done right.Second, lets consider the maintenance repairs you might face with Poured-In-Place (fig. 2, right)Concerning repairs, even using the exact colors and blend as the initial installation, dont expect the colors of the patch to match. Rather, take the opportunity to introduceFig. 2a shape such as a circle, star, or other small graphic in a contrasting color. This will prevent the patched look, and give your playspace some additional color and whimsy.Recapping a comprehensive poured-in-place maintenance program, heres a quick guide to repair issues, time to repair, life extension and cost (fig. 3, next page).Learn More:Were always there to help contact your Play & Park Structures representative or our SurfaceMax department for a free poured-in-place Maintenance Guide, cleaning and stain removal tips, and for solutions to all your playground surfacing and equipment questions.Steve CasadaYour Missouri Factory-Direct Play Consultant steve.casada@playandpark.com (573) 631-196812|SCHOOL PLANT MANAGER MAGAZINE|SPRING 2025'