Transforming Safety and Style with KidzTrends Flooring at Southdowns College

Ian Lewin
Jun 23
2 min read

We create spaces where kids can run, jump, tumble… and land safely! Southdowns College recently installed new, beautiful jungle gyms and asked us to create a matching safety flooring solution that’s as safe as it is beautiful. We were thrilled to take on the challenge.

Step 1: Digging Deep for Safety

We kicked off by digging down to the correct depth. Why? Because true safety starts under the surface. Once the area was excavated, we filled it with a special layer of sand and compacted it properly. This forms the shock-absorbing base that makes all the difference in a fall.

Think of it like fluffing a giant pillow—just with sand, machines, and a lot more precision.

Step 2: Pouring the Safety In

Next came our safety secret weapon: wet-pour rubber. This layer is flexible, durable, and built to handle the bumps and tumbles of even the most energetic learners. It's also compliant with South Africa’s SANS 51176 and 51177 safety standards—because we don’t mess around when it comes to safety.

Step 3: Nature Meets Safety

Now for the finishing touch: artificial grass over the rubber! Southdowns wanted to keep their playground looking natural, and this combo delivers the perfect balance—lush green looks with a high-performance safety layer underneath.

You’d never guess there’s hardcore engineering under that soft, green surface.

Step 4: Tested & Certified On the Spot

Before any child set foot on that playground, we brought out our GFactorGo—a high-tech device that measures how much impact the surface absorbs. No need to send samples off to a lab; we test everything on-site and generate instant reports.

We even attached QR-coded certificates to the playground equipment so anyone (yes, even parents) can scan and check safety compliance at any time.