Rubber Playground Safety Mats 910 x 910mm (36in x 36in) 17mm – Interlocking Outdoor Play Area Tiles, Black

Rubber Playground Safety Mats – Large 910 x 910mm Interlocking Tiles

If you look after a school playground, nursery garden, park or home play area, you need surfacing that cushions everyday trips and tumbles, stays put under running feet and shrugs off British weather. These 910 x 910mm (36 x 36in) rubber playground safety mats do exactly that. Each 17mm thick tile is moulded from high-density recycled rubber and lays straight over concrete, tarmac or compacted hardcore, turning a hard, unforgiving surface into a firmer, more forgiving one. And because each tile covers 0.84 m² – the area of more than three standard 500mm tiles – you get fewer joints, faster laying and a neater finish.

Why these tiles work

The mats are pressed from high-density SBR rubber reclaimed from vehicle tyres, the same material used across commercial safety matting. That density does two jobs at once: it gives each tile enough mass to sit flat without adhesive, and enough give to take the sting out of falls, dropped toys and scooter spills. The textured top surface keeps its grip in the wet – which matters more in a UK playground than almost anywhere else – and the rubber tolerates frost, summer heat and UV exposure without cracking or going brittle.

Because the tiles interlock, the finished surface behaves as one mat rather than twenty loose pieces: edges stay aligned, tiles do not creep apart under play, and a damaged tile can be lifted and swapped on its own without disturbing the rest. The 17mm low profile keeps gates, thresholds and doorways usable in most layouts, while the matching 1m yellow and black edge strips give you a tidy, high-visibility border where the matting meets open ground.

• High-density recycled SBR rubber – hard-wearing and weatherproof
• Textured, slip-resistant surface for wet and dry conditions
• Interlocking edges – no adhesive needed on most level areas
• Large 0.84 m² tile format – fewer joints than 500mm tiles
• Individual tiles lift out for cleaning or replacement
• Matching yellow or black 1m edge strips for a finished border

Where they're used

You will find this style of tile around ground-level play equipment in primary schools and nurseries, on park walkways and queuing areas, under garden swings and trampolines, across muddy gateways that need a firm rubber surface, and indoors in soft-play rooms and activity spaces. The black finish hides scuffs and dirt between cleans, and the yellow strips mark out borders and walk-on edges clearly.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Order one tile per 0.84 m² of area and round up: a 3 x 3m corner (9 m²) needs 11 tiles, and allowing around 5% for cuts makes it 12. Add yellow edge strips where the matting meets paths or open tarmac, so the border is obvious to children and easy to step onto; choose black strips where you would rather the border disappear into the surface. Each strip finishes 1m of edge, so a free-standing 3 x 3m island needs 12 strips.

A note on fall heights, from the regulations rather than the brochure: BS EN 1176 only requires impact-attenuating surfacing where play equipment has a free height of fall above 600mm. This 17mm tile is a low-profile surface for exactly those lower-risk areas – ground-level equipment, surrounds and walkways. A certified critical fall height is not published for this line, so for climbing frames and slides with higher fall heights, specify a thicker certified tile instead.

Installation, use and care

Prepare a firm, level, free-draining base – concrete, tarmac, paving or compacted MOT stone – and sweep it clean. Start in one corner, interlock each tile as you go and check alignment every few rows. Cut around posts with a sharp utility knife against a straight edge. On slopes and busy thresholds, bed the tiles on polyurethane adhesive. Afterwards, sweep weekly, hose down monthly and wash with mild detergent when needed, lifting the odd tile occasionally to clear anything underneath.

Frequently asked questions

How many tiles do I need?
Each tile covers 0.84 m². Divide your area in square metres by 0.84, round up, and allow roughly 5% extra for cuts.

Can I lay them on grass or soil?
No. Soft ground lets tiles rock and separate. Lay them on concrete, tarmac, paving or properly compacted stone.

Are they suitable under climbing frames and slides?
Use them around ground-level equipment and areas with free fall heights up to 600mm. Where BS EN 1176 calls for a certified critical fall height, choose a thicker certified surface.

Do they get hot or fade outdoors?
Black rubber warms in direct summer sun and cools quickly in shade. Gradual surface weathering over the years is normal and does not affect grip.

Ordering and delivery

Tiles and edge strips are priced individually, so you can order exactly the mix your layout needs. Stock is held in the UK and delivered across the mainland. Fitting out a school, nursery or park? Ask about trade quantities before you order.