Why ordinary sand does not pass
Softfall sand has one job: absorbing the impact when a child falls. Whether a sand does that depends on its particle shape, grading and how it behaves when compacted and when wet. Two sands that look identical in a stockpile can test completely differently. That is why the standard requires each product to be lab tested for impact attenuation, and why the certificate belongs to a specific product from a specific source, not to sand in general.
What the standards actually require
Two standards work together. AS 4685 (playground equipment and surfacing) says impact-attenuating surfacing is required under equipment with a free fall height of 600mm or more, and under slides, swings, carousels and rockers regardless. AS 4422 is the test standard the surfacing itself must pass.
What to ask your supplier for
Before any sand lands on a certified job, the supplier should hand over the AS 4422 test report for the exact product being delivered: current, naming the source, and showing the rated fall height and tested depth. Keep it with the project QA records, because on school and council work someone will ask for it, sometimes years later.
How much to order
Playground softfall is ordered by volume: area times depth, plus an allowance for settling and loss. Ordering a margin over the calculated figure saves a second delivery when it settles.
| Worked example | Figure |
|---|---|
| Playground area | 200 m² |
| Installed depth | 300 mm |
| Volume (area × depth) | 60 m³, plus a settling margin |
| Weight for cartage planning | ~1.4 to 1.5 t per m³, so roughly 85 to 90 tonnes |
That is real truck movements, not a trailer load. See how much a truckload holds for planning deliveries.