Schools & Playgrounds: Planning & Flooring Selection

Flooring for PE and Everyday Play

One school space, many ways to play. Contrasting tile colors define areas for PE, ball games and ground-level activities, with tile formats and court graphics to suit the school layout.

Define the users and activities

Record age groups, supervision, sports, wheeled access and the expected daily use. Identify which zones need sports flooring and which require a separate playground surfacing specification.

Everyday access and maintenance

Plan smooth transitions between activity areas, paths and entrances. Include drainage access and a cleaning routine so the school team can look after the space throughout the year.

Separate play zones clearly

Use contrasting colors to distinguish ball games, ground-level activities and routes between classrooms. Keep climbing frames, slides and swings in dedicated equipment zones.

CPSC playground surfacing guidance

Elevated play equipment: Protective surfacing required
The handbook advises against installing elevated equipment without protective surfacing.
Impact-performance evidence: Critical height ≥ equipment fall height
The manufacturer or installer should provide the relevant rating for the protective surfacing.
Equipment fall zones: Use a tested protective surface
Specify the protective surfacing for the equipment and its fall height.

The tiles below are for sports and ground-level activities. Beneath climbing frames, slides and swings, use a tested fall-protection surface selected for the equipment’s fall height and local requirements.

Official Planning References

U.S. CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (opens in a new tab)July 2025, Section 2.4: Surfacing (PDF)

Flooring Options

Choose by activity: compare elastomer tiles for children’s ground-level play, padded tiles for basketball practice and flat surfaces for roller-skating trials.