Texas Playground Mulch partners with many manufactures who manufacture IPEMA Certified Engineered Wood Fiber which is also called as Kiddy Cushion, Playground Mulch, Playground Surfacing, Playground Wood Chips, Playground Wood Mulch, Playground Safety Material, etc.

ASTM F1951, this specification establishes minimum characteristics for those factors that determine accessibility. Under "The Americans with Disability Act". For more information about this act please follow this link http://adata.org/FAQbooklet.

10. We have seen fungus or certain types of molds growing in the playgrounds where Engineered Wood Fiber is installed. Do you have any information?

Yes, we have seen growth of fungus and/or molds on certain playgrounds. After research we found that the growth of any kind of fungus and/or mold is because of combination of heat and moisture. When heat goes over 100° F that increases the temperature of wood chip or Engineered Wood Fiber, if this hot wood chip comes in contact with water or moisture this combination increases the temperature sometimes to 140° F, this is very healthy environment for bacteria that causes fungus and/or molds.

11. How can we prevent growth of Fungus and/or Mold infestation?

You have to keep following factors in consideration and take corrective actions to remove the cause.

a. Check if the playground has proper drainage system. Wood chips or Engineered Wood Fiber can develop moisture in presence of water which can eventually cause Fungus and/or Molds in summer when the temperature goes high.

b. Check for any sprinkler heads either inside the playground or at the perimeter of the playground. Having sprinkler can also cause moisture and as a result with the heat and moisture combination, it can give rise to Fungus and/or Molds.

c. Sometimes absence of Geotextile Cloth (Weed Fabric Liner) can also cause excessive moisture from the bottom of the surfacing which can also cause growth of weeds and mushrooms. It is very important to install Geotextile Cloth (Weed Fabric Liner) to prevent from any unwanted growths like Weeds, Mushrooms, Fungus, and/or Molds.

12. How can we prevent growth of Weeds?

a. As mentioned in question number (7) item number (c), it is very important to have Geotextile Cloth (Weed Fabric Liner).

b. Geotextile Cloth (Weed Fabric Liner) is a fabric with pores that allows water and air to pass through. This is a barrier between earth and playground surfacing. If there is any weed growth this barrier prevents from growing into the playground surfacing. Usually when the playground is installed, this barrier liner is installed before the installation of playground surfacing. This product is openly available in all home improvement stores.

c. Weekly surface raking works well in preventing weed growths. If you still see week growth, you can pull that with your hands and dispose. Do not use any weed killers.

13. Can we use Weed Killers or Mold Killers available in market?

a. No. Absolutely not! All weed killers and mold killers that are currently available in the market are hazardous chemicals. Spraying any kind of hazardous chemicals is strictly prohibited because it can cause health hazards to children who are playing on the ground.

b. If you see molds or fungus, scoop it off the ground using latex gloves, put it in the plastic bag and dispose.

c. If you see weeds growing on your playground, simply uproot them by hands and dispose. It is better to use gloves while performing this action. Inspect your playground on weekly basis if there are any weed growths waiting longer time may increase the intensity of weed growth.

14. What are different kinds of playground surfacing?

a. There are two major types of playground surfacing 1) Unitary Playground Surfacing and 2) Loose Fill Playground Surfacing.

i. Unitary Playground Surfacing: - Unitary materials are generally Rubber Mats, Tiles, and Poured in place rubber. Although, Artificial or Synthetic Turf is not listed in CPSC guideline booklet, it is also another kind of Unitary Playground Surfacing.

ii. Loose Fill Playground Surfacing: - Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) which is very similar to regular landscaping mulch but EWF is specially designed for playground safety surfacing. Pea Gravel, Sand, Shredded and recycled Rubber Mulch are loose fill playground surfacing available in the market.

iii. Asphalt, Concrete, Dirt, Grass, Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) treated wood products are inappropriate materials for playground surfacing and not allowed as per CPSC Guidelines.

15. What kind of Warranty does Engineered Wood Fiber carry?

Engineered Wood Fiber is manufactured from 100% Virgin Wood and it does not carry any warranties.

16. What are other safety instructions?

a. Fireworks, Sparklers, and other flammable items such as any petroleum products can cause fire. Hence these items should not be used on or near playground surface.

b. Spills of foreign substances like food, drinks should be avoided as it can cause fire ants which can be dangerous for the children playing on the playground.

c. Motorized vehicles of any kind should not be permitted on playgrounds.

17. How do you sell Engineered Wood Fiber (Kiddy Cushion) Playground Safety Wood Chips or Mulch?

Texas Playground Mulch sells Engineered Wood Fiber (Kiddy Cushion) Playground Safety Wood Chips or Mulch by the Cubic yards.

a. Wholesale material is sold throughout State of Texas in all major counties and cities. Engineered Wood Fiber in wholesale is delivered in large semi-trucks only. Please contact us at 214-227-2212 for more details.

b. Retail quantities are only delivered in Dallas/Fort worth Texas area. As Texas Playground Mulch is based in Dallas/Fort worth Texas area. We provide delivery and spreading services both locally. Please contact us at 214-227-2212 for more details.

c. Many people ask if this product comes in bags. No, Texas Playground Mulch sales only loose and bulk material not in bags. There may be some dealers or manufacturers selling this product in bags, but you have to do your own search in that regards.

18. Does Engineered Wood Fiber (Kiddy Cushion) attract Termites?

We receive many calls asking this question. Study shows dead trees, branches, brush, and firewood from residential areas are the primary habitat of drywood termites. Drywood termites construct round "kick holes" in infested wood and spend their entire lives inside wood. In order for termites to live they require a significant size of wood where they can create "kick holes" to live. Engineered Wood Fiber (Kiddy Cushion) is shredded material where termites cannot create "kick holes" to live which means EWF does not attract termites. You can read several articles available online to learn more about this.

As mentioned earlier dead trees, branches, brush, and firewood from residential areas are the primary habitat of drywood termites. There are several Tree Companies who recycle and convert these items into mulch to sell as landscape mulch and playground mulch. People happily use this product as this is cheap material. We recommend to not to use any recycled mulch especially from dead trees, rotten trees, and brush but only use Engineered Wood Fiber (Kiddy Cushion) that is designed specifically for use as a playground safety surface. Engineered Wood Fiber (Kiddy Cushion) is manufactured from 100% Virgin Hardwood or Softwood.

19. What is the difference between regular recycled mulch and Engineered Wood Fiber?

a. Recycled Wood Mulch – As mentioned earlier this product is manufactured from dead trees, rotten trees, branches, and brush collected from residential or commercial areas. This mulch does not qualify as playground surfacing material as it does not meet ASTM standards for playground safety surfaces. Some manufactures also produce mulch from used palettes. You know that palettes are made by nailing wooden planks, when recycled it is possible to find nails and piece of sharp metal even after using heavy duty magnets while grinding. The pieces of metal can be hazardous to children playing on the ground. Second this product is dry and hard that might have sharp splinters that can poke through the shoes of kids.

b. Engineered Wood Fiber (Kiddy Cushion) –This product is manufactures from 100% Virgin wood. Normally timber companies who manufactures landscape or home improvement timbers use the best part of the trees for the timbers and the cuttings that cannot be used to manufacture timber is converted into chips. This product later becomes Engineered Wood Fiber after going through several manufacturing and testing procedures. This product is 100% free of impurities like tramp mental, twigs, glass, brush, branches, leaves, and dirt. It is also tested in labs for Playground Safety. This is the most recommended product if you are trying use Wood Chips on your playgrounds.

Texas Playground Mulch updates these FAQ's periodically. If you have more questions, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 214-227-2212. We may decide to add your question in our FAQ list if we find it appropriate and educational for general public.