Abstract
Every year, some 46.000 children receive medical attention in the Netherlands as a result of accidents occurring in playgrounds. The use of protective surfacing materials in playgrounds is thought to offer considerable potential for reducing the incidence and severity of such injuries. A study has therefore been made of how best to evaluate this group of materials. A detailed description of the test method is presented in this paper along with a summary of the results obtained. In addition, recommendations are given for the type of surface that should be used in relation to the height of the equipment in the playground.