US Playground Surfacing’s “LMADRS Accessibility Matting” Installation Instructions
Although we can provide an installed cost, the LMADRS mat systems can be easily installed by the owner or contractor. Confirm the required Critical Fall Height (CFH) with the Playground Equipment Manufacturer, CPSI, or Landscape Architect, and ensure a level, compacted subgrade (preferably gravel); a compacted existing subgrade that allows stormwater to drain or infiltrate is acceptable. Although a filter fabric is recommended over the compacted subgrade before wood fiber installation, it is not required. Depending on the required CFH, installers should install and ensure 6, 9, or 12 inches of compacted IPEMA Certified Playground Safety Surfacing, raked smooth and level, uniformly across the entire playground area before starting.
For example, if the required CFH is only 9 ft, the wood fiber layer is only required to be 6 inches deep. Again, if the playground area has multiple pieces of equipment with different CFH, use the greater CFH and greater depth of engineered wood fiber for that playground area to achieve the best factor of safety.
- 6 inches of Engineered Wood Fiber combined with
LMADRS Matting gives a 9 ft CFH - 9 inches of Engineered Wood Fiber combined with
LMADRS Matting gives a 15 ft CFH - 12 inches of Engineered Wood Fiber combined with
LMADRS Matting gives a 20 ft CFH
The uniformity and surface flatness of the wood fiber is critical to the finished job.
Assemble all the LMADRS mats into a single, accessible playground safety surface.
Attach individual Mats together, forming a uniform surface, assembling with two options:
- Appropriate Cable Ties supplied by US Playground Surfacing.
(Zip Ties ends tucked under) - US Playground Automatic Crimping Tool with aluminum fasteners system
(contact US Playground Surfacing for additional Information).
Install fasteners along each adjoining mating surface/seam. Use at least one fastener for every 4-5 holes along adjacent edges of individual mats, and connect at all corners. Mats can be cut around playground equipment posts and ground-mounting structural connections, as well as on an angle or radius to meet an existing pavement, lawn, or curbing edge. The connected LMADRS matting system should maintain a flat, uniform, connected surface within all designated CFH zones, or over the entire playground surface.
On the final outside edge of the assembled matting, the Engineered Wood Fiber should be dug out. This keeps the outside edge of the assembly flush with other surfacing, including grass, sidewalks, stone dust paths, etc.
For traffic flow and appearance, some feel it is appropriate to fill open areas between mats and to install diagonally cut half mats in open square corners to improve pedestrian accessibility through the playground and the appearance of the finished LMADRS system assembly.