On playgrounds, surfaces under play equipment must cushion falls. The critical fall height describes how well a surface can do this. It is determined according to the DIN EN 1177 standard: a test body is dropped onto the surface from various heights, and the impact load (HIC value) is measured.
Connection to the Play Equipment Standard
The required critical fall height is derived from the free fall height of the play equipment according to DIN EN 1176. The higher the equipment, the more effective the impact protection must be.
Artificial Grass and Impact Protection
Artificial grass alone only achieves low fall heights. Combined with a certified impact protection mat underneath, significantly higher values can be achieved depending on the system. The manufacturer’s test certificates are always authoritative.
Note: The current versions of DIN EN 1176 and DIN EN 1177 apply to binding requirements.
