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Play Safely.
Surfacing Materials Certification
New Zealand’s Leading Playground Surfacing Certifier
Playsafe is proud to be the largest and most trusted certifier of playground surfacing products in New Zealand. Our certification services are independent, internationally accredited, and fully compliant with NZS 5828:2015—the standard for playground impact safety.
Our certifications are widely recognised by the Ministry of Education, the Education Review Office (ERO), and local authorities across the country, giving manufacturers and suppliers the confidence to deliver safe, compliant playground environments.
Why Surfacing Certification Matters
Playground surfacing plays a critical role in reducing injury risk from falls. Playsafe’s impact attenuation testing ensures your products meet the Critical Fall Height (CFH) requirements set out in NZS 5828:2015 and EN 1177:2008.
Through our rigorous testing and documentation process, we help you:
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✅ Demonstrate compliance with safety standards
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✅ Instil confidence in your clients and stakeholders
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✅ Reduce your liability with certified performance data
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✅ Enhance your product’s credibility in the market
What We Offer
Our surfacing product certification includes:
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Impact Attenuation (CFH) Testing using Head Impact Criterion (HIC) testers
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Detailed Test Data Acquisition & Analysis Reports
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Product Certification Issued for successful surfaces (valid for 3 years of repeatable use)
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Peer Review & Constructive Feedback for pre-certification improvement
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Independent, confidential, and internationally accredited testing services
We test and certify both synthetic and loose-fill surfacing materials.
Certified Products
Playsafe has tested and certified materials from a wide range of trusted brands and suppliers, including:
TigerTurf • Matta Products • EcoLawn • Numat • Burgess Matting • SGC Matting • Reharvest Timber Ltd • Intelligro Ltd • Southern Aggregates • Composting NZ Ltd • TNZ Growing Products • Stevensons • GHD Ltd • Lumbr Limited • Lindsay & Dixon Ltd • The Woodshed…and many more.
Materials We Certify
We regularly test and certify the following surface types:
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Bark
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Woodchip
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Pea-metal
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Rubber crumb
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Wetpour granule
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EPDM
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Foam underlays
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PVC tiles
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Poured-in-place rubber
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Synthetic turf systems
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Ready to Get Certified?
If you manufacture or supply playground surfacing products, Playsafe can help you achieve trusted, compliant certification that sets you apart.
🔗 Click here to view the Certified Surfaces Register
📞 Contact us today to book your product testing or learn more about our process.
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What is a Certified Level 3 Playground Inspection?A Level 3 inspection is the most comprehensive audit available, conducted by an RPII-certified inspector. It assesses compliance with NZS5828:2015/EN1176, identifies safety risks, and provides actionable recommendations.
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Who needs a Level 3 inspection?Schools, early childhood centres, councils, and anyone responsible for playground safety should schedule regular Level 3 audits to ensure legal and ethical responsibilities are met.
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How often should I get a Level 3 inspection?The NZS5828 standard recommends an annual Level 3 inspection to maintain compliance and identify issues such as wear and tear, environmental changes, or structural concerns. In practice, we advise Schools and Councils to schedule comprehensive inspections annually, while Early Childhood Education (ECE) centres may consider a 2-yearly inspection cycle.
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What does the inspection cover?Our 10-point audit includes structural integrity, entrapment risks, fall zones, surfacing, maintenance issues, material condition, and full compliance with NZS5828:2015.
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What qualifications do your inspectors have?All inspections are carried out by RPII Level 3 Certified Playground Inspectors — the highest internationally recognised certification for play safety auditing.
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What do I receive after the inspection?You’ll get a digital report with risk ratings, recommendations, compliance details, photos, a Certificate of Inspection, and an audit label for your site.
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Is this service recognised by the Ministry of Education or ERO?Yes. Our inspection service is recommended by both the Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office (ERO), and is widely used across New Zealand by Local Govt, Early Childhood and Indoor Commercial entities.
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Is the inspection impartial?Absolutely. Playsafe provides unbiased, third-party evaluations. We are independent of all suppliers and manufacturers and do not sell equipment, so our advice is always in your best interest.
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How long does an inspection take?Most inspections take 1–2 hours on site, depending on the size and complexity of the playground. The final report is typically delivered within 5 working days.
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What if my playground doesn’t pass the inspection?Don’t worry — our reports include practical guidance to bring your playground up to standard, whether that’s through repairs, replacements, or surface improvements.
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Are your inspectors vetted and insured?Yes. All Playsafe inspectors are police-vetted, professionally trained, and covered by public liability and professional indemnity insurance.
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Can you inspect multiple sites or centres?Yes, we offer inspections for multi-site providers, trusts, and councils. Group discounts and consolidated reporting are available.