SMARTE. SMARTE - The Safer Playground Surfacing Alternative. SMARTE is:

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1 ProductSurfacing Name SMARTE Product Name SMARTE - The Safer Playground Surfacing Alternative SMARTE is a hybrid playground surface that incorporates secured, recycled rubber mulch in special pillows that are topped by a unitary layer. SMARTE meets requirements for accessible routes per Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines Accessible (ADAAG) and provides a safe surface that promotes inclusive play activities on the playground. SMARTE is: Safer Testing proves that SMARTE offers more impact protection than other types of playground surfacing at average critical fall heights 8 (2,44m) and beyond [up to 10 (3,05m)] up to 500 HIC (see charts, pages 4 and 6). Accessible We offer a unitary turf surface that complies with ADAAG requirements, including firmness, stability and slip resistance. SMARTE improves access to the playground and promotes inclusive play. Sustainable Made from recycled materials, SMARTE can also be further reused, repurposed and further recycled. ssh Playworld Systems, Inc. Cross section of SMARTE Surfacing Layers (full description on page 5). Convenient SMARTE can be installed AT THE SAME TIME as playground CONTENTS: Concussion Facts...2 The SMARTEst Choice - SMARTE Details...4 Value of Safety...6 Playground Surfacing Comparison Table...7 Glossary...8 SMARTE Surfacing turf top layer

2 equipment, saving you time! Concussion Facts: Did you know that falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI)? Nearly half a million (473,947) annual ER visits are for children up to 14 years old - Over 16,000 of these incidents happen on playgrounds. After an incident on the playground, parents check for blood and broken bones. Most will tell the child to shake it off and go back and play if they don t seem to be hurt. After all, toughening kids up to participate in sports, school, and life is normal, right? But did you know that a fall off of playground equipment has greater impact than being in a car collision at 40 mph? Studies have found that often after children seem okay, complications and indications of TBI show up hours, days, even weeks after the incident. Concussions have become a growing concern for parents, especially if their children play certain types of sports. To date, 49 states (including the District of Columbia) have passed legislation relating to concussions, South Carolina has legislation pending, and Mississippi has not filed (as of June 5, 2013). Repetitive concussions that often occur to professional athletes have been linked to issues later in life like severe depression. Proper treatment for concussion includes quiet time in a darkened atmosphere akin to sensory deprivation allowing the brain to rest and heal. Stimuli can impede the healing process. It s important that enough time is allowed for rest and healing since concussions can have cumulative effects over time. Subsequent Head Injuries by Impact Value DANGER SAFE SIGNIFICANT CONCUSSION OCCURS 0.2 Head Nod year old in a car accident: Acceptable limit* year old in a car accident: Acceptable limit* 840 Adult in a car accident at 40 MPH (not head-on) 844 Heading a Soccer Ball** 1 HIC15 - an impact value used to determine safety * A limit as set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ** Accidental heading - ball kicked full force at close range - HIC impacted by ball inflation, rate of ball speed, proximaty and angle Page 2 of 8

3 concussions require longer periods of rest and healing. Concussion grading system has been put in place to evaluate the severity of a concussion. Grade I concussions - No loss of consciousness, and symptoms of confusion lasting less than 15 minutes - Neurological evaluations are made every 5 minutes immediately following the injury--if the symptoms resolve themselves within 15 minutes, the athlete may be permitted to return to play Grade II concussions - No loss of consciousness, more than 15 minutes of confusion - Must wait at least a week before returning to play - WARNING: May result in permanent brain injury! Grade III concussions - Involve periods of unconsciousness - Further qualified by the length of time the person is unconscious (seconds vs. minutes) - One to six months of rest may be required - WARNING: May result in permanent brain injury! Additional information includes danger signs of symptoms that may worsen over time and indicate that the child needs emergency medical attention: One pupil (the black part in the middle of the eye) larger than the other Drowsiness or cannot be awakened A headache that gets worse and does not go away Weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination Repeated vomiting or nausea Slurred speech Convulsions or seizures Diffculty recognizing people or places Increasing confusion, restlessness, or agitation Unusual behavior Loss of consciousness (even a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously) For more information about concussions, please visit The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has developed a series of materials for schools to help school professionals, students and parents identify symptoms of concussions. Their campaign for concussion awareness is called Heads up to Schools: Know Your Concussion ABCs : Assess the situation Be alert for signs and symptoms Contact a health care professional In addition to free educational posters, the CDC also offers concussion symptom checklists that allow a school healthcare provider or professional to assess a student after an incident. Criteria is separated into observed, physical, cognitive, and emotional categories. Head Impact Criterion (HIC) HIC values calculate impact and are used to rate safety issues relating to playground surfacing, automobiles (safety ratings of cars are based on HIC values from crash tests), personal protective gear, and sports equipment. It has been determined that skull fractures and severe concussions occur at impacts of 500 HIC. New technology has been utilized to further study HIC values and significant strides have been made in the development of protective gear such as helmets for football and hockey players at all levels. Playground surfacing softens a fall compared to harder surfaces such as packed ground, grass or pavement and makes it less likely that a serious injury will occur. This cushioning or dampening of the impact is referred to as attenuation. HIC values are a measure of the playground s shock absorbing properties. The lower the HIC, the safer the surfacing and the less likely a severe concussion might occur when a child falls onto it. Not all playground surfacing protects equally Page 3 of 8

4 Playground Fall Height: Head Injury Potential DANGER SAFE SIGNIFICANT CONCUSSION OCCURS Fall Height 8 Fall Height 9 Fall Height 8 Fall Height (2,44m) (2,44m) (2,74m) (2,44m) SMARTE* Rubber Tile Turf Poured-in-Place (PIP) 1 HIC (Head Impact Criterion, measurement used to determine safety) values from playground safety testing and studies. * At a limit of 500 HIC, SMARTE provides safety up to 10 (3,05m). + HIC values attained during site testing at 40 F; HIC values fluctuate in various temps lower HIC values expected in warmer temps. SMARTE The SMARTEst Choice for Safer Playgrounds Playworld Systems designs playgrounds with the utmost care and attention to detail and safety. Sometimes accidents can--and do-- happen, and now we can offer you additional safety and peace of mind with our new, patented SMARTE safety surfacing. Critical fall height protection up to 10 (3,05m) at approximately 500 HIC*, well under the ASTM 1292 limit of 1000 HIC Resiliency the ability to return again and again to its original state after impact. This is important because some surfaces will compress over time, which lessens their impact resistance qualities (but not SMARTE!) Eco-friendly rubber mulch derived from recycled tires contained in a patented system (every square foot=1 tire out of landfills!) Flexible in all climates with excellent durability *See Surfacing Material Value chart, page 6. Certification for playground surfacing states that surfaces must not exceed a 1000 HIC limit when tested. However, studies have found that skull fracture and severe concussions can occur at impacts of 500 HIC. With that number in mind, it became important to examine the protection offered by various surfacing if limited by a safe value of 500 HIC. Page 4 of 8

5 SMARTE Surfacing Product Name continued continued Sustainable Accessible SMARTE exemplifies Playworld Systems dedication to our green initiatives. Not only is SMARTE composed primarily of recycled tires (1 tire per square foot), but SMARTE s environmental considerations are numerous: SMARTE is a hybrid surfacing system. It incorporates loose fill rubber mulch which is contained in geo-textile pillows that are placed on a foundation of compacted soil and a 4 (0,1m) compacted layer of crushed stone and topped by a unitary top layer that allows wheelchair access and promotes inclusive play. For every square foot of SMARTE, there is one less tire in a landfill! If wear or damage occurs on the top layer, it can be removed leaving the SMARTE foundation layer intact and a new surfacing layer can be applied. SMARTE can be moved to a new location without purchasing all new surfacing. SMARTE can be reused and recycled if a playground is no longer needed rubber mulch can be used in other applications. Turf top layer [1 (2.54 cm)] Layer of loose fill recycled rubber mulch [1 (2.54 cm)] ssh Playworld Systems, Inc. Geo-textile pillowcase pre-filled with rubber mulch [4 (10.16 cm)] Landscape fabric (not shown)** Layer of crushed washed stone to provide stable [4 (10.16 cm)] foundation and aid in drainage** Compacted soil below** SMARTE Surfacing top view. Cross section of SMARTE Surfacing layers. **Not part of SMARTE product, but required elements for installation. Page 5 of 8

6 MOST PROTECTION 16 (4,88m) Maximum Fall Height Limited to 500 HIC 1 Fall Height 8 (2,44m) 10 * (3,05m) 5 * 5 * 6 * (1,52m) (1,52m) (1,83m) NO PROTECTION 0 SMARTE Poured-in-Place Rubber Tile Turf 1 Value is based on amount of protection provided by surfacing at a 500 HIC limit, which is threshold for skull fracture and severe concussion. * Fall height values at 500 HIC are approximate based upon calculations from actual HIC data and fall height data. Value of Safety While the bottom line can always be a determining factor in selecting products and services; value, safety and trust are also main contributors in decision making. Because many other types of surfaces require different thicknesses of application of materials, foundation applications, and padding; costs can vary depending on the critical fall height needed for a playground - SMARTE doesn t! Something else to consider is that perhaps a playground may grow over time to incorporate new equipment. What happens when the playground is surfaced to meet the 6 (1,83m) fall height of the structure when it s first built and then a year or two later, swings or a freestanding slide is added with fall heights of 8 (2,44m) or even 10 (3,05m)? Greater protection means higher costs. With SMARTE, one single system protects no matter if your fall height is 4 (1,22m) or 10 (3,05m) and for the same price! There are no additional considerations to be made. SMARTE has been the subject of various testing and scientific studies. As a hybrid surfacing system, it s relatively new to the playground industry. But with its low HIC values for varying critical fall heights, accessibility and sustainability qualities, we are proud to offer SMARTE as the SMARTEr playground surfacing alternative for safer communities. Page 6 of 8

7 Playground Surfacing Comparison Table VALUES SMARTE POURED IN PLACE RUBBER TILES ARTIFICIAL TURF * Safety (ASTM Standard Max value 1000 HIC) Well under industry standards Meets industry standards Meets industry standards Meets industry standards HIC Values for Average Playground Fall Height [8 (2,44m) + ] Highest fall height (limiting to 500 HIC ** ) 391 HIC 867 HIC 750 HIC 813 HIC* 10 (3,05m) 5 (1,52m) 5 (1,52m) 6 (1,83m) Impact Attenuation (dampening) Values Over Time No change--rubber content retains memory Safety failure < 1 yr -3 yrs after installation (binder hardening) Wheelchair Access Yes Yes Edges curl; hardening, cracking and pitting can occur Caution--shrinking can occur leaving open seams Displaced infill lowers safety standards, foam backing can deteriorate changing values Difficult with infill, longer grass w/ nap over ½ does not meet ADAAG req. Recycled Content Yes Maybe Maybe Maybe Can it be recycled? Yes No Yes Maybe Can it be reused? Yes No No No Maintenance Easy, cost-efficient repair Costly repair Repair can be costly Turf infill needs to be replaced due to displacement + Based on a sampling of Playworld Systems playground designs, 8 critical fall heights. * Regular commercial turf, not to be confused with SMARTE turf surface option. ** Approximated see Surfacing Material Value chart on page 6. Page 7 of 8

8 Glossary Attenuation a term used when discussing playground surfacing as in impact attenuation values. Pertains to the ability of the surfacing to dampen or lessen the impact from a fall. For example, poured in place surfacing s impact attenuation values change over time as chemical binders in the material harden, which then affect the surface s ability to cushion an impact from a fall. HIC (Head Impact Criterion) a measure of value used to calculate impact. HIC testing has determined that skull fracture can occur at impacts of 500 HIC, which is also the threshold for concussions that are considered to be significant in nature. HIC values are used to rate safety of a variety of products ranging from playground surfacing, automobiles, personal protective gear, and sports equipment. The lower the HIC value, the safer a product is deemed to be. Hybrid a combination of two or more types to produce something new. In the case of hybrid playground surfacing, loose fill material (SMARTE uses rubber mulch) is utilized in conjunction with a top surface that provides wheelchair access (which is extremely difficult, nearly impossible when only loose fill is used as playground surfacing). Unitary a term used in playground surfacing to communicate the ability of the surfacing to be accessible to those using mobility devices, such as wheelchairs. Unitary surfacing has generally meant poured in place and rubber tile surfacing options, but also includes hybrid surfacing systems, like SMARTE. Page 8 of 8