Technical Details

Flexitop is a two course wet pour system which protects by absorbing the impact of a fall. The top course comprises hard wearing EPDM rubber granules mixed with a polyurethane binder. These clean cut and clean faced granules provide a well bonded surface with a high tensile strength that will prove to be extremely durable. The recycled rubber base mat will vary in depth depending on the free fall height of the play equipment around which it is laid.

Base Construction

A sound, well prepared base is essential for a long lasting surface. When the depth of Flexitop is 50mm and above it can be laid directly onto an accurately laid free draining aggregate sub base. For depths below 40mm the base will need to be tarmac or concrete.

Flexitop can also be laid onto existing tarmac or concrete providing that they are in sound condition. A primer provides adhesion between the substrate and the rubber and a chase is cut at the perimeter to anchor the surface into place. A full technical specification is available on request.

Sub-base specification when laid directly onto existing concrete/tarmac

Flexitop can be laid on top of existing concrete/tarmac, which is in satisfactory condition, by creating ramped perimeter edges (Fig 1.)

1. Cut a chase 25x25mm into concrete/tarmac at perimeter of area.
2. Ensure that the minimum required surface area for any play equipment is at the full depth (i.e. not ramped).
3. Where the surface depth is 50mm or less, the length of the ramp is to be twice the depth of surface.
4. Where the surface depth is above 50mm, the length of the ramp is to be 2.5 times the depth of surface.

Sub-base specification when depth is 40mm or greater (Fig 2.)

1. Excavate surface to required depth. (i.e. depth of stone sub-base & depth of Flexitop).
2. Install 150x150mm pre-cast concrete edgings at perimeter of area, bedded on & backed with concrete. These may be substituted with brick paviours, treated timber, or other forms of edging.
3. Lay a compacted MOT type 1 aggregate sub-base to a minimum 100mm depth. (Local soil conditions may dictate that a greater depth is required).
4. Re-instate areas to outside of perimeter edging (e.g. with topsoil/turf) to ensure that no trip hazard is created.

Sub-base specification when depth is less than 40mm

Flexitop cannot be installed directly onto an aggregate sub-base when the required depth is less than 40mm & will require one of the following procedures:

1. Flexitop wearing course laid on 35mm of open textured Tarmacadam & 100mm of compacted MOT type1. (Fig 3.)
2. Flexitop wearing course laid on 100mm concrete sub-strate. Adequate drainage to be provided by drilling 30mm diameter holes at 1M centres, or by using no fines concrete. (Fig 4.)

Composition

Flexitop is made from rubber granules mixed with a one part polyurethane binder. Its variable depth base mat uses recycled truck tyre rubber. Black surfaces use a recycled EPDM rubber derived from the waste produced in the manufacture of industrial rubber mouldings and also from rubber seals derived from the automotive trade. Coloured surfaces are formed using another form of EPDM rubber, but this time in a virgin form. These granules are coloured all the way through.

To avoid potential future problems with slipperiness ensure that water can be removed from the surface and sub base with adequate drainage. Consider using our Rubber Scrub process if your surfacing has become slippery and dirty.

Overlays: Flexitop can be used to overlay an existing wet pour surface in most circumstances.In these situations it is imperative that the substrate is completely dry before being overlaid. The substrate must be fully primed prior to the installation of the overlay surface.

Repairs: Where the safer surface is being used to repair existing surfacing the existing surface must be completely dry. The edge to the repair area must be fully primed before the installation of the repair material.

A full technical specification is available on request > contact us

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