Poured rubber surfacing or poured-in-place (PIP) surfacing is commonly used for playground surfaces, splash pads, and sports surfaces such as basketball, tennis, and running tracks. Where walk safety and slip prevention are critical, rubber surfacing is ideal.
Its application, over the past ten to twenty years since adding fresh new colours and design choices, has grown extensively; its slip-proof properties are unparalleled and have helped to reduce falls and injuries.
Its chemical ingredients include crumb rubber (a recycled by-product of road tires), synthetic rubber granules (ethylene propylene diene monomer or EPDM for short), and synthetic additives.
They are necessary to bind together the PIP surface and are tested by government agencies and nongovernmental organizations such as public health institutions, sports federations, crumb rubber manufacturers and universities.
The investigation of possible health risks of these chemicals was carried out by these organizations, primarily in response to requests to meet standards of The Canadian Standards Association in 2014, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency in 2016, and the World Health Organization.
Want to know more about the different qualities of rubber surfacing? Please read our article ‘Crumb/Recycled Rubber vs EPDM Material’
Ontario Specialty Coatings cares about our workers’ health.
We want to help ease your concerns about the chemicals in place. In a bound state, no health risks are associated.
The rubber surfacing layers are held together by moisture-cure polyurethane binding agents, which are used throughout the adhesive and coating industries to bond specifically with rubber. They allow the physical pliability necessary for freeze and thaw and are resistant to spilled chemicals.
When uncured in a liquid state, the individual source chemical components do present a health hazard. When cured in a hardened state as with rubber surfacing, no health risks are associated. The product is inert and poses no risk since there is no leaching.
The topping layer of your rubber surfacing is notably different from the centre layer:
The topping layer is UV, ozone, water, and heat resistant when using an organic synthetic elastomer. It similarly provides added protection from the middle layers of chemicals.
Other possible chemical concerns in the original rubber tires:
In 2016, Environment and Climate Change Canada looked at the aromatic extender oils found in the original composition of tires. They measured the PAH levels and found them low. Manufacturers produce newer tires with even lower levels of PAH.
CB and SAS, used as melders in tire rubber, pose a respiratory concern in their pure state. Hardened in the rubber crumb form, prevents the chance of release of these chemicals.
All rubber surfacing uses these binding agents. Before the binders come to us, they must be created by using the manufacturing process. Diisocyanates are used to develop the binders and can cause skin and respiratory irritations. The workers must wear personal protective equipment in the manufacturing workplace.
For more information on pored rubber surfacing, check out our Ultimate Guide for Rubber Surfacing.
How do Ontario Specialty Coatings ensure our worker’s safety?
Even though the risks are limited, we prioritize our employees’ health and safety very seriously.
We supply our employees with the necessary personal protection equipment (PPE): Gloves, respirators where necessary, eye protection and knee pads.
We provide thorough training to explain the hazards and risks of working with the rubber surfacing system, including the typical skin irritations caused by polyurethane.
Your project manager will talk to you about the cure time needed before you can use your new rubber surface.
The environment is important to us too.
We are all in this together. Our business is to provide aesthetically attractive, and the highest quality surfacing and coatings. We must also make sure we stringently follow the compliance guidelines issued by the Canadian Government and the Ontario Waste Management Association.
You can feel good knowing there is no product waste. We use recycled rubber crumble for all our base coats and use new rubber aggregates (EPDM) and urethanes for the topcoat, providing better longevity and protection.
A note about how you can take action to help the environment.
Plastic has permeated our planet. The urethane (plastic) binders in our clothing provide longevity; in fact, most of the plastic used on earth is for the manufacturing of clothing. However, manufacturers now make all paint products from liquid plastic.
Of real concern is the liquid state of paint.
In paint’s liquid form, its plastic components enter our watersheds. When painting your home, it is far better environmentally to throw out your rollers and brushes, than allow the plastic in the paint to enter our waters. Instead, leave the paint to dry in the can into a blob; it will become inert and unharmful in the environment.
We are always at your service to answer any questions you have about specialty surfacing. Contact Us online or call us for a quote for your project: (519) 203 8800
March 3, 2021 12:26 pm