HOW TO SPECIFY CUSTOM LIFE FLOOR DESIGN PROJECTS

The versatility of Life Floor’s design options provides an opportunity to create truly iconic aquatic spaces. While some clients opt for simpler designs using our preconfigured Patterns, many Life Floor projects are custom. Our team has spent over a decade building a process to accommodate these unique installations and we recommend initiating project-specific discussions as early as possible.

GETTING STARTED ON UNIQUE DESIGNS

Some clients and design partners create their own designs entirely in-house while others utilize our Studio Team’s complimentary design services. To visualize possibilities for specific projects, our team generates 2-3 concepts after receiving scaled plans and general design guidelines. Our team can also facilitate a hybrid approach to optimize pre-existing designs using our established best practices. For custom projects, contact us as soon as possible to streamline the design and quote processes.

OPTING FOR PRE-ESTABLISHED THEMES + PATTERNS

For rough budgetary estimates on non-custom projects, we recommend contacting us for a copy of the Life Floor Budgetary Guide, which features pricing for our Themes and Patterns. These designs have been curated to represent the most popular color and shape combinations requested by customers and designers.

TYPICAL PROJECT TIMELINE

It takes around 12 weeks from the start of the design process to the shipment of tiles from our U.S. manufacturing facility. While times vary by project, the following phases can be referenced for planning estimates:

Design Phase

2 weeks after scaled site plans are received by our Studio Team

Material + Labor Quote

1-2 weeks following design approval

Manufacturing Production

6-8 weeks following quote approval

CONTACT US

To initiate a new project or to discuss an existing project where Life Floor has been specified, please contact us. For additional design resources, please visit the Studio Section of our website.

AQUATIC SURFACING TRENDS FOR 2022

Historically in aquatics, surfacing design has defaulted to concrete or hasn't been given much attention at all. Today, more and more facilities are exploring flooring options that increase safety, enhance design, and improve play value. As we head into the new year, be on the lookout for these surfacing trends that are increasing in popularity on pool decks and splash pads around the world. 

1. THEMED DESIGNS

A greater number of splash pad and pool deck surfaces have been featuring theming to complement and enhance facility or play fixture designs. From tropical treasure hunts and undersea environments to desert landscapes and forests, adding this attention to detail at the surface level provides a more fully-themed experience for guests. Be on the lookout for these immersive flooring options as designers use surfacing as a way to tie projects together. 

2. SURFACING CERTIFIED FOR AQUATIC PLAY 

Since 2019, a standard has recommended that splash pad surfacing materials meet certain criteria. NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 uses third-party testing to evaluate products for slip-resistance, impact attenuation, chemical resistance, UV resistance, cleanability, and impermeability. As properties have begun to renovate existing facilities and plan for new ones, many have looked to this standard as a way to follow recommended best practices. 

3. ACCESSIBLE OPTIONS 

Accommodating guests of all ages and abilities is important to any facility design and surfacing can help achieve this goal. Cushioned and slip-resistant flooring options can allow guests to feel more sure-footed as they interact with environments traditionally known for being slippery when wet. Softer surfaces accommodate guests crawling or sitting on floors at aquatic facilities. Providing visual or tactile cues that indicate depth, surfacing, or feature transitions are further measures that help guests navigate these locations. Making facilities as accessible as possible allows the greatest range of guests to enjoy the amenities offered by them. 

4. BRIGHT, GEOMETRIC PATTERNS 

Many pool decks and splash pads are opting for fun patterning created by colorful, geometric shapes as a way to increase visual interest. Adding these designs at the surface level has proven to drastically improve the look of facilities that have been retrofitted.

5. INTEGRATING ACTIVITIES 

Certain flooring types can be designed to add activities to an aquatic surface. These can be games like hopscotch or checkers, paths to follow, hopping activities, objects to find or count, and life-sized 2D objects that inspire young imaginations. Adding these options into a surfacing design has the ability to increase play value and engagement at facilities. 

6. COLOR GRADIENTS 

As greater emphasis to design has been placed on flooring surfaces, adding color gradients has been a popular trend, especially those that evoke natural elements like shorelines. This effect is achieved through bands of color, mosaic effects, or geometric patterning. 

7. SHOWCASING BRANDING 

The ability to add logos and branding to aquatic surfaces has been increasing in popularity. Splash pads, cruise ships, universities, and athletic facilities have featured signature imagery, logos, hashtags, and colorways within their floors to reinforce specific brands. 

8. EASE OF SANITIZATION 

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, many facilities are imposing more stringent cleaning protocols to ensure guest health and safety. As a result, surfacing options that don't support microbial growth have been increasing in popularity. Attention to cleanability and impermeability can be helpful to improve ease of maintenance at these locations and provide a marketable benefit to patrons. 

9. DELINEATED ACTIVITY ZONES 

Splash pad designs have increasingly included a diversity of features that cater to different levels of development and age groups. Likewise, more play spaces are emerging that combine different zones of play such as a dry playground that transitions to a splash pad or a splash pad that transitions to a pool. As a result, using surfacing design to more clearly delineate different play areas has become a popular option. 

10. DESIGN FOR MULTI-GENERATIONAL ENGAGEMENT 

Parks, playgrounds, and splash pads are beginning to focus on design not only for children, but also for the comfort and enjoyment of multi-generational guests (who make up about 50% of patrons). This can be accomplished by adding shade structures, seating, and play elements that accommodate adults. At the surfacing level, cushioned, non-abrasive options provide comfort to sit or play on the floor, making it easier to interact with little ones in these environments. 

Have you noticed any other aquatic surfacing trends that you would add to our list? We'd love to hear about them in the comments below! 

If you’d like to discuss the ways that Life Floor can help achieve any of these items at a specific aquatic facility, contact our team to learn more.

A Brighter, Safer Pool Deck in New Ulm, MN

The New Ulm Family Recreation Center in New Ulm, Minnesota features a budget-friendly three-color Life Floor design with a unique visual approach. Bands of 5 to 9 full-sized square tiles create a striped gradient effect across this indoor pool deck. This design creates a subtle play opportunity for children following along paths or hopping from one color to the next while also retaining a modern, geometric feel for adult guests.

As individuals enter the pool area, they have many options to choose from for engagement. 

A prominent dual water slide exits into the pool connected to the  zero depth entry where a rainbow fish slide faces one of the entrances to the pool. This zero depth entry has several small spray jets and a water umbrella where toddlers and babies can play with their parents or guardians. 

In the neighboring pool, lap swim can be quickly converted into a unique NinjaCross feature that lowers into the water where guests can navigate through obstacles. In one corner of the pool, a rock climbing wall extends out of the water for guests to use. A hot tub is nestled into another corner of the room for guests to relax and watch the activities in the main pool.

“We love the new look of this! It feels so much better than the old stuff.”

— Anonymous Guest Comment

Guests can interact with these features while feeling the safety of Life Floor’s NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 certified surfacing underfoot. With added slip resistance and cushioning around the pool, guests of all ages can engage more safely and enjoy the experience more freely.

Thank you to the City of New Ulm, Minnesota for choosing Life Floor and to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for installing this vibrant indoor pool deck. 

Are you wondering how you can also create a unique budget-friendly design for your facility? Contact our sales team today to have all your questions answered.

SPLASH PADS ARE PLAYGROUNDS TOO

Playgrounds and splash pads are designed with very similar intentions in mind. Both provide play features and open spaces that encourage imaginative exploration, running, and risky play opportunities. Playgrounds feature spring riders, slides, and play panels whereas splash pads feature spray jets, dump buckets, and water slides. However, where playgrounds require safety surfacing, splash pads are still being commonly surfaced with unforgiving concrete, tile, or stone. If splash pads are essentially wet playgrounds (leaving visitors more prone to accident and injury), how are hard and slick surfacing options still permitted?

WHY DON’T WE OFTEN SEE SAFETY SURFACING AT SPLASH PADS IF THEY’RE PLAYGROUNDS TOO? 

Our industry has become so accustomed to seeing concrete and failing substrates that it has ignored the problem at splash pads. Many people believe that concrete isn’t an issue at all and that it’s perfectly safe for aquatic play areas. They are likely similar to the people who said concrete was perfectly safe for dry playgrounds too. It took 78 years from the time dry playgrounds were first introduced in 1903 for the Consumer Product Safety Commission to publish the Handbook for Public Playground Safety in 1981. 

78 years of avoidable injuries.

Let’s not make that same mistake with splash pads. 

A SPLASH PAD SAFETY SURFACING STANDARD DOES EXIST

In 2019, after four years of research, testing, and careful deliberation, NSF International passed NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50:26. Recognizing that splash pads function as wet playgrounds, this is the first standard to address the safety of surfaces at interactive water play venues. 

The standard cites 6 criteria that products must meet to become certified:

Slip Resistance

Slip-and-fall accidents are one of the top injuries that aquatic facilities report. Most injuries are due to slippery surfacing such as concrete or ceramic tile. Slip-resistance was included in the standard as a feature that certified surfaces should have in order to reduce the number of injuries as a direct result. Certified surfaces are slip-resistant to minimize slip-and-fall injuries. Meeting the criteria requires a 40 British Pendulum Number (BPN) and a P4 on the Australian Standard. Life Floor exceeds this criteria with a 65 BPN and P5 rating.

Impact Absorption

It’s inevitable that falls will happen regardless of slip-resistance since tripping or becoming unbalanced and falling also happens. To address this, impact absorption (also known as cushioning), was added to the standard to protect falls. The standard requires a Head Injury Criterion (HIC) maximum value of 750, with a 0.20 meter (0.66 ft) minimum fall height. Life Floor is certified to this standard with a 74 HIC which means our standard ⅜” tile recommended for splash pads and pool decks has a 1 ft critical fall height. Most raw eggs won’t break when dropped from waist height. 

Impermeability

Impermeability is important so that foreign substances such as sunscreen, fertilizer run-off, and other hazardous substances do not absorb into the tile and cause issues. Life Floor is certified to this criteria with 99.7% Impermeability which contributes to the product’s easy to maintain and cleanable features. The joints between tiles were included in testing and received the same ratings.

Cleanability

Having an easily cleanable surface is important for many facilities since it directly impacts guest experience. Life Floor is made from a closed-cell foam, which means it does not harbor bacteria or support microbial growth. During testing, our tiles showed a 99.9% reduction of bacteria after being sanitized, including the joints of tiles.

UV Resistance

Resistance to UV radiation is essential, as many splash pads experience intense, year-long sun exposure.  During testing, erosion is not acceptable if it compromises the surface’s traction and impact attenuation. Life Floor is certified to this standard. 

Chemical Resistance

As part of the standard, certified surfaces must remain slip-resistant and impact attenuating properties after undergoing exposure to high chemical shock periods without showing signs of erosion. Unlike ceramic or painted depth markers, our tiles retain color contrast and visual clarity after both UV and chemical exposure which is important for safety messaging and depth markers.   

Complying to NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 is a best practice that can be followed at facilities in order to reduce risk, improve guest experience, and benefit communities. Since certified products are third party tested through the internationally recognized standard, specifiers and operators have peace of mind knowing that these options are reputable and validated through multiple accredited sources. Even though the standard isn’t a code requirement, it has the potential to influence codes and is recognized as a standard for operational excellence.

We’ve created a free resource for facilities in the U.S. and Canada to help understand what different states and territories mention in their official codes. If you’d like to learn more about how Life Floor is certified to this standard, download our guide here.

To purchase the standard for your office’s or city’s use, visit the official NSF International website here.

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Previous Life Floor Blogs related to NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26: 

Taking the Lead in Splash Pad Safety

Splash Pads Need Safety Surfacing: Part 1

Splash Pads Need Safety Surfacing: Part 2

Splash Pads Need Safety Surfacing: Part 3

Splash Pads Need Safety Surfaces: Part 4

Water Safety Month: NSF and Independent Standards 

NSF/ANSI 50 Passes Surfacing Standard for Interactive Waterplay Areas

National Water Safety Month: Clean Surfaces Make Aquatic Facilities Safer 

National Water Safety Month: Getting Traction on a Slippery Issue

WINTERIZE YOUR AQUATIC FACILITY: TIPS FOR MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT

We hope you had a safe and successful summer season! As you winterize your outdoor splash pads and pool decks, take advantage of the checklist below to reflect on how your facility performed during the season and make plans to fix any issues that arise. 

FILTERS

Be sure to flush the system and clean out the filters one last time before winterization is complete. This helps ensure no debris clogs the system and leaves less chance for microbial growth during fall and spring months before frost sets in. Annual preventative maintenance is critical to catch any issues before they turn into more serious problems. 

SPRAY FEATURES AND POOLS

Check all moving pieces for worn parts and fix them or order replacements ahead of time to ensure a smooth reopening process. Also be sure to remove and clean all nozzles and spray heads to remove any build-up. Drain all the feature lines and pool bodies so water does not sit in pipes during the winter; this could cause bursting and additional damage.

Each equipment manufacturer has specific instructions for how to winterize your facility’s spray features. We recommend that you follow them closely to ensure no damage is caused by low temperature variations. Always check to be sure your main water and electrical supplies are turned off.

SURFACING

Some of the top reasons for injuries at aquatic facilities are directly related to surfacing. Review your injury reports and categorize based on type. For example, we would recommend segmenting based on the following top categories:

Slip-and-Falls

These types of injuries are a direct result of having a slippery surface. Common injuries that are caused by this type include bruising, skinned joints, concussions, broken limbs, and abrasions in general caused by a rough or hard surface.

Burns from surface or grating 

These types of injuries result from having a surface in full sun during operation. Metal grates and filtration systems can heat up to dangerous temperatures and cause blistering and burn wounds. Concrete can also reach scalding temperatures especially in apron areas surrounding spray features so be aware of burn-related injuries when reviewing your injury reports.

Impact Injuries from Slides

These types of injuries are typically centralized in the feet since most guests will go down slides feet first. Examples include stubbed or broken toes, foot abrasions, and sprained ankles. If guests slide down head first, concussions are not uncommon and drowning incidents may occur. Installing slide landing pads at slide bottoms can help reduce or virtually eliminate the number of injuries related to slide exits by increasing impact absorption and decreasing exit speed with a slip-resistant surface.

Contamination

These types of injuries are related to water-borne pathogens or contaminants that lead to illnesses. Cryptosporidium (commonly known as Crypto) is a major concern for aquatic facilities and taking necessary precautions when cleaning surfaces is critical. The Model Aquatic Health Code is a good reference.

Once you’ve identified the top injury categories at your facility, you can begin to address your top pain points. Many of these injuries can be lessened or prevented by choosing an independent, third-party tested safety surface from NSF/ANSI/CAN 50.

DESIGN

While design can be more subjective, be sure to consider your guest experience from an overarching standpoint both physically and visually. 

Physically, how do guests from a wide range of abilities and ages interact with your facility? Are sinks in restrooms placed at a height accessible to people riding wheelchairs or Little People? Does your facility have ADA approved ramps integrated all the way from the parking lot to the features?

Visually, consider the current theme and appearance of your facility in all interactive areas. Ensure there are no broken or missing elements, and critically evaluate the experience guests will have at the location. Additionally, consider new opportunities to enhance theming or different types of play. Depending on your target market and average age of guests, add patterns or imagery to your pool deck or splash pad surface to engage and encourage play. If budget allows, add new aquatic features that expand play options to a wider range of different ages and abilities. Find opportunities to increase play value and encourage risky play. 

For more information on retrofitting your facility with Life Floor or specifying Life Floor on a new build, please contact us here or send us an email at solutions@lifefloor.com. 

Looking to budget Life Floor into the cost of your project? Reach out to our team to request our Budget Guide or a complimentary quote.

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Please Note: This article is intended to supplement winterization procedures, but should not be considered a comprehensive guide. For complete instructions, please refer to your operation manuals provided by product manufacturers.

OUR TOP 5 POOL DECK DESIGN TIPS

Over the last 10 years in the industry, our team has committed to making aquatic areas safer and more beautiful. Today, Life Floor can be found on splash pads, at resorts, on cruise ships, and on competitive pool decks around the world. As we’ve worked to develop solutions for our customers, we’ve established the following methods to increase play value, improve guest experience, enhance design, and prioritize safety and accessibility on pool decks. Dive right in!

COVER POOL DECKS WITH AQUATIC-RATED SAFETY SURFACING

Add cushioning and slip-resistance with an NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 certified safety surface to reduce injuries. Concrete and other slippery, abrasive, or hard surfaces can lead to injuries and make for dull aquatic designs. Competitive swimmers and lifeguards that spend extended periods of time standing and walking on these surfaces also know the toll they can take on feet and joints. Unfortunately, other colorful safety surfaces like pour-in-place products that haven’t been engineered specifically for aquatics often fail when exposed to harsh UV or chemicals. Even worse, the porosity of these products can harbor growth.

By using a third-party tested surface designed to meet certain criteria for slip-resistance, impact attenuation, UV and chemical resistance, impermeability, and cleanability, aquatic spaces can be equipped with a durable safety solution to improve guest experience. We’ve seen firsthand how this can reduce incident reports, empower guests of all ages and abilities to use aquatic facilities, and increase play value by creating a more comfortable surface for visitors.  

OPTIMIZE SIGNAGE AND CUES TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY

Depth markers and safety signage continue to be essential in aquatic areas for safety and accessibility. These elements should feature materials that are durable. Chipped paint, faded ink, or cracked tile can obscure the legibility of any intended messaging. Featuring markers designed to withstand the test of time with continual exposure to UV and chemicals will ensure appropriate messaging. Ideally, these markers also shouldn’t pose a safety risk. For instance, ceramic tile could make a pool perimeter particularly slippery.

When possible, including additional visual or tactile elements in and around a pool can further improve safety and accessibility. Visually differentiated or tactile bands around a pool’s perimeter can signal that a body of water is present. Varying the surface’s texture in this location is especially important to increase accessibility for the low-vision and Blind communities. Contrasting color bands on stairs can also be used to signal a change in depth.

CREATE SURFACE PATTERNS WITH GEOMETRIC SHAPES

Adding a design to an aquatic surface has the ability to instantly transform a facility by visually enhancing it and creating play value potential. Pool decks that feature colors and patterns look dramatically better than those surfaced with grey concrete. Tiled geometric shapes can create both bold and subtle looks to match a variety of aesthetic styles. Here are just a few examples of the impact this attention to design can provide:

A checkerboard pattern of squares elevated the look of a resort pool at Dolphin Bay.

A more subtle pattern of greys with interspersed triangles transformed this community center in Maple Grove, MN.

Crisp zig-zagging blues created this bright design for Hills Swimming.

Triangle gradients have provided the opportunity to gradually transition across a palette of colors like this one at Texas Tech.

An array of hexagon colors created a vibrant geometric effect on this pool deck.

For even more design possibilities, explore our portfolio!  

INTEGRATE ADDITIONAL SAFETY FEATURES WHERE NEEDED

When considering design options for a pool, it’s important to focus on areas that could impact guest experience. Thinking through the ways visitors interact with certain elements can make a significant impact on facility safety.

For areas featuring aquatic activities like lily pad walks, cushioned and textured surfacing at critical pool edges can provide more stable footing and a level of protection from injury should someone fall. Wrapping safety surfacing around other edges like coping and stairs has the potential to further protect visitors.

More durable drains that have been engineered for safety can also reduce risk of injury. When there’s an opportunity to match the drains to a surface design or even continue the surfacing material across them, a more integrated, less noticeable look can be achieved.

Lastly, operators should consider the areas beyond the immediate pool deck. For instance, continuing safety surfacing into similarly wet areas like locker rooms can also greatly reduce the risk of slip-and-fall incidents.

FEATURE CUSTOM ELEMENTS WITH THEMING OR BRANDING

For a more themed or branded facility, consider a custom design pool deck design that features specialty shapes or logos. Shapes, like the Great Wolf Lodge paw print pictured below, can be inlaid in surfaces and logos can be incorporated into pool deck design to reinforce branding. Custom curves and themed designs can be cut into flooring for unique patterning and imagery. Any of these considerations can really make an aquatic facility stand out with a specific look tailored to a particular theme, brand, design aesthetic, or play opportunity.

Together, these tips can help to maximize the design and safety of pool deck surfacing. As you look to enhance comfort, customer experience, and play value, we’re always happy to help identify solutions for your specific project.

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Interested in additional design ideas? Some our tips were recently featured in the Redfin article below! 

22 Gorgeous and Unique Tile Ideas to Brighten Up Your Home

Interior design fans will know that even as trends come and go, tile remains a top versatile decor element that can breathe life into any space in a home, especially if you go beyond tile’s go-to spot on a bathroom floor. And as much as we love tried-and-true subway tile, with so many unique color schemes and patterns to choose from, there’s nothing like a vibrant tile design to showcase your personality in a space. 

Whether you’re looking to refresh a kitchen backsplash or add some flair to your entryway, we’ve got you covered. Redfin reached out to us and other tile experts from Tucson, AZ, all the way to Markham, ON, for unique tile ideas that you can incorporate into your home interior. Here's our tip on how you can mix things up and create a one-of-a-kind look in your home.

READ MORE

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Looking for solutions to enhance a pool deck design? Reach out to our team to talk through your ideas and we’ll be happy to guide you in the right direction.

Humans Were Not Designed to Play on Concrete

Humankind has created innumerable advances in technology, science, and architecture. One of the architectural cornerstones that dates back to over 5,000 years is concrete. It has been used as support for buildings, aqueducts, sewers, streets, and bridges. These engineering feats credit how strong and durable concrete can be. However, the fact remains: concrete is unforgiving, hard, and abrasive. 

Humans were meant to thrive on soft surfaces such as grass and dirt. Sure, there are examples of humans living in caves and rocky areas, but their living spaces were covered in furs and pelts to create a softer environment. Even in today’s modern world, people gravitate towards tactile, soft finishes or materials with some amount of give. It's why we put area rugs over hardwood floors.

Free play is heightened living; faster, rougher, wilder. There is less planning and less caution, so softer surfaces protect play from getting too fast, too rough, and too wild. Playgrounds are a good example of this. Years ago, playgrounds were surfaced with that unforgiving, hard, abrasive concrete until people realized there was a better alternative that allowed for play as it was meant to happen. They realized humans weren’t designed to play on concrete.

Can you imagine if preschools, daycares, living rooms, indoor basketball courts, and soccer fields were covered in concrete instead? Not only would it be uncomfortable, but there would be exponentially more scraped knees, broken bones, shin splints, bruises, and concussions.

There are practical examples where you can’t solve every issue with an area rug. Tile and impermeable surfaces make sense in bathrooms, locker rooms, and around pools for hygienic purposes. Many softer solutions, often made for dry play, have been tried in these areas only to degrade over time or harbor growth of bacteria and mold. Thankfully hygienic aquatic safety surfacing has been introduced and adopted by the industry over the last decade. With the innovation of this type of safety surfacing, these areas can be cushioned with a product that offers the same impermeability as traditionally harder surfaces.  

Before: Concrete

After: Life Floor

Life Floor fills the need for more human-friendly materials in aquatics with the material properties required for the specific needs of these environments. Soft and impermeable. Textured for slip-resistance, but not abrasive. Third party tested by NSF International. 

Want to feel the difference of a Life Floor tile? Order a sample today. 

BIG AND SMALL: LIFE FLOOR IS GOOD FOR ALL

Even though we showcase several large installations in our portfolio, no project is too small to take a step in the right direction and start mitigating risk. We have many customers that begin by addressing areas prone to slip and fall incidents such as small zero depth entries, landing pads, ramps, stairs, or locker room areas before deciding to expand Life Floor coverage to their splash pads, pool decks, or full waterparks. Below are some examples of our favorite small projects:

Piñon Park Splash Pad - Los Alamos County, NM - 1270 sq ft

Life Floor was specified by Surroundings Studio on Piñon Park’s project to increase safety and add a fun and beautiful design to the new splash pad. They were working with Los Alamos County and primarily interested in finding a product that could withstand altitude and UV while still delivering a strong warranty. Los Alamos County worked with their procurement office to get single source permission to buy Life Floor. 

Andrew Belle Splash Pad - Dothan, AL - 1358 sq ft

The Andrew Bell Splash Pad in Dothan, AL was our 2020 Make a Splash! Grant Contest winner. This facility wanted safety surfacing to solve many of their pain points and our contest provided the grant to make an upgrade possible for their neighborhood splash pad. To read the whole story, head over to our blog to learn more about this amazing community.

Belmont Splash Pad - Charlottesville, VA - 392 sq ft

Before installing Life Floor, Belmont Splash Pad’s surface was an epoxy-based substrate that needed to be replaced every year. They were tired of having to remove blue paint from their filters every day which was a hassle and ultimately unsustainable for their maintenance teams. By choosing Life Floor to replace their old surfacing, they were able to overcome this pain point while making this feature safer and more appealing to annual budgets.

Prince George's County, MD Project

Some local governments decide to group their projects across multiple parks in their county or city to tackle the highest risk areas first. Common zones that are addressed first include zero depth entries and ramps. Prince George’s County grouped five small projects together to help increase positive experiences for their communities:

Allentown, MD Splash Fitness and Tennis Center Zero Depth Entry - 550 sq ft 

North Barnaby Pool, MD Zero Depth Entry - 150 sq ft

Hamilton Splash Park, MD Zero Depth Entry - 150 sq ft

Linson E Ellen Pool, MD Main Pool & Baby Pool - 450 sq ft

Lane Manor, MD Recreation Center & Splash Park - 1,600 sq ft

Cedarcrest Park Splash Pad - Bloomington, MN - 1,520 sq ft 

We helped the City of Bloomington, Minnesota retrofit their 1,500 square foot splash pad at Cedarcrest Park in 2017. Cedarcrest Park Splash Pad features the first examples of two Life Floor concepts: Ripple 2.0 and a triangle gradient design. This surfacing update visually transformed the whole park where it’s located. Even in its fifth year of operation, this splash pad still looks beautiful and has remained safe despite being covered by snowfall each winter. See more here.

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We’ve been excited to make a difference in these communities and to see all of these facilities reopen this season! Thank you to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for installing all of these impactful projects. For customers that have smaller areas in mind, many of our partners like Inside Edge Safety Surfaces or Great Mats are available to manage the process. If you’re interested in receiving a quote for your project, big or small, we'd love to hear about it! Contact us today to get started.

A THEMED COLLABORATION WITH WESTPORT POOLS AND MEXICO, MO

It's an exciting season for our team as we watch so many newly renovated facilities reopen across the country. One of our most recent installations at the Fairgrounds Aquatic Center in Mexico, MO features both a zero-depth entry and a separate splash pad.

The City of Mexico, MO had originally been working with Westport Pools, one of our Registered Aquatic Partners, on this project. When they mentioned their interest in a resilient safety surfacing solution, Life Floor was recommended, and our team was looped into the design process.

We worked collaboratively with the city on several flooring design options that would add aquatic theming to both their zero depth entry and splash pad. The intent was for the safety surfacing to complement their spray features and play structure on site. Ultimately, the designs they selected achieved their goals of mimicking a seashore for the zero depth entry and a body of water for the splash pad while also staying within budget.

The design of this particular zero depth entry is unique in that it combines a triangle gradient for the "sand" and "water" zones while also featuring a clean, curvy custom cut edge separating the two. Because Life Floor is manufactured as 2' x 2' tiles, cutting curves into any design results in increased overages as the squares are trimmed away. By selectively choosing to only use this effect for the shoreline, the city was able to achieve their design intent without the added expense of creating the entire gradient effect out of curves. Marine inlays were included to augment the theming. Fish and seahorses can be found in the "water" while crabs and starfish can be found on the "sand." 

The simple design of the splash pad uses our popular High Tide 301 Theme and Pattern. This tile arrangement is one of our most cost-effective options to create the effect of water and is often enhanced by thematic inlays like the fish shown here. 

Collaborating with Westport Pools and the City of Mexico, MO throughout this iterative process was extremely rewarding for our team. We're appreciative of their partnership and their shared commitment of creating safer and more beautiful aquatic spaces. 

To learn more about how you can work with our team to enhance your aquatic facility, contact us today! 

Methods to Reduce Surfacing-Related Drowning Risks

“All over the world, infants and toddlers drown more frequently than people at any other age. In this age group drowning is the leading cause of death, followed by accidents in and around the home and road traffic accidents. Inadequate supervision, an inability to swim, and lack of barriers separating toddlers from pools and other water are the main causes of drownings of small children… The vast majority of drownings occur in open water: the sea, lakes, ponds, rivers. However, drownings occur in all water including swimming pools and bathtubs. Small children have been known to drown in just a few inches of water - in buckets and ditches for example.”

— Santa Maria Law, Davie, FL

The most common causes of drowning include a lack of swimming ability, a lack of barriers, a lack of close supervision, failure to wear life jackets, alcohol use, and seizure disorders according to the CDC. Less common risks can still be prevented by paying closer attention to potential hazards at the surface level. Safety standards and recommended best practices should be followed wherever possible to further reduce potential for injury and drowning incidents at both pools and splash pads.

Pools

Swimming pools are generally associated with having a high risk of drowning due to significant standing water. In addition to standard safety measures like encouraging swim lessons, posting lifeguards, and having guests keep an eye on the members of their groups, there are some additional ways that facilities can reduce risk associated with injuries that may lead to drowning accidents.

Edge Pads and Lily Pad Walk Landings

Edge pads and lily pad walk landings are the aquatic counterparts to dry playground landings present at either end of zip lines, monkey bars, and other crossing-related activities. Having a cushioned surface at either end of a lily pad crossing or similar activity allows for a safer landing. These protected landings can help reduce injuries associated with missteps if the individual were to come into contact with the pool edge. If the pool edge is not cushioned in these applications, concussive injuries can result from missed footholds and lead to drowning accidents if unseen by facility staff or a member of the individual’s group.

Landing Pads

Water slide exits are an important part of a facility’s operation. Ensuring that there are landing pads at the bottom of slides enables people at the bottom of slide run-outs to enter the pool and exit more safely. Unsafe slide run-outs, especially ones that are submerged and lead into the rest of a pool, can result in trip-and-fall accidents or missed landings which propel guests into the pool. Exiting a slide at a higher than usual velocity can result in collisions with other guests, submersion, and impact-related injuries such as stubbed toes, scraped legs, and cut feet on pool bottoms. Using landing pads in these locations can help prevent many of these incidents.

Drains and Filters

Drains and filters often go unnoticed until they cause issues or injuries. Grating that is too wide can entrap fingers and toes and result in injuries in close proximity to the pool edge. To learn more about recommended best practices, reference this Whitepaper by Daldorado to help you mitigate risk at your facility related to drains. Filtration and drainage systems that do not have proper covers are also hazardous and can introduce risk into the environment by allowing access to guests that should not have access to per the ANSI/APSP-16-2009 and soon the ANSI/APSP-16 2017 performance standards. Making sure that these covers are code-compliant is essential in ensuring that guests are not at risk for entrapment injury or drowning. 

Edge Surfacing 

Many drownings are a result of unintended submersion in water, especially when paired with an inability to swim. For this reason, the treatment of surfaces along the edge of pools should be considered to ensure that guests don’t accidentally slip and fall into the water. Replacing slippery ceramic tile or stone with a textured surface that has enough traction to provide steady footing could help reduce this risk. Zero-depth-entries can similarly benefit from this treatment.  

Splash Pads

Many facilities have chosen to replace public pools with splash pads to provide aquatic recreation while drastically reducing drowning risks. While incidents are much lower with little to no pooling water, some potential still exists, especially with more limited supervision. Drowning awareness is common in places that have been historically associated with related risk such as pools or other large bodies of water. While large bodies of water are the most common places where drowning is likely to occur, “most drownings happen in environments and during activities unsupervised by lifeguards,” according to the International Life Saving Federation.

Splash pads in the U.S. do not typically have lifeguards present due to water not surpassing a few inches in depth at most. It should be noted that drowning risk is still a factor wherever water is present, especially for young children. 

Proper Supervision 

Imagine a warm summer day at a splash pad with several families with young children playing in the water features. Parents and caretakers may be socializing, relaxing nearby, and checking in with their children periodically. In an instant, two children could collide or a child could slip on slippery concrete, stone, or tile and knock themselves out on that same hard surface. If that unconscious child was too close to a water feature or pooling puddle, they would be at increased drowning risk if their guardian was not paying attention. 

In order to help prevent situations like this from occurring, there are some ways to be more vigilant about safety. Caretakers should consistently watch their children and avoid distractions. Facility operators can take steps toward mitigating risk at splash pads by ensuring drains are working properly and by investing in safety surfacing that reduces risk of slip and fall injuries by having slip-resistant and cushioned properties.

Safety Surfacing 

Safety surfacing is a good feature to include on a splash pad, pool deck, or any other aquatic facility to mitigate facility risk, especially when choosing a safety surface tested and certified by an independent third party organization. Slip-resistance helps prevent slip and fall accidents, cushioning helps protect falls if they occur, and having an impermeable and cleanable surface means that microbial growth is not supported and the surface is easier to maintain and keep hygienic. Cushioned safety surfacing also helps protect children when collisions happen during play and can help prevent risks associated with becoming unconscious or falling into a nearby body of water.

Conclusion

It’s important to be aware of drowning risks in aquatics and to ensure that your facility is taking steps to mitigate risk wherever possible. Choosing safer options at the surface level and re-evaluating more traditional materials like concrete and tile can help to reduce risk of injuries.

In order to help mitigate risks associated with drowning and near-drowning accidents, we recommend that your staff evaluates your facility from a guest’s perspective. Slide down slides, cross lily pad landings, and engage with the facility as they would. Take notice of what is uncomfortable, pay attention to areas that commonly experience incident reports, and take steps to remediate those issues.

“According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database, in 2014 alone, estimated 20,000 injuries occurred on pool decks, splash pads or water parks, resulting in emergency room visits. The common denominator in all these splash pad injuries is the surfacing. From personal research that I conducted after visiting this particular splash pad, the most common splash pad surface is concrete, often treated with an abrasive coating. With the leading cause of admission to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt being unintentional pediatric falls, this type of flooring is concerning.”

— Emily Riley, a former injury prevention program manager for Be in the Zone at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital

ARE WE BUBBLE WRAPPING KIDS WITH SAFETY SURFACING IN AQUATICS?

Many adults today remember childhoods full of hot metal slides baking in the sun, sky-high monkey bars with rough concrete beneath them, and swings that soared above a seemingly endless expanse of worn grass. Today, you look around at playgrounds and see brightly colored plastic slides surrounded by sand, complex multi-level play structures with spongy surfaces waiting below, and zip lines with impact absorbing platforms on either side.

Photo Credit: Click Americana, Vintage and Retro Memories | 1900’s

Photo Credit: Landscape Structures | 2017

Seeing all of these cushioned corners and safety rails, the question lurks at the back of our minds, “Are we bubble wrapping kids?”

Now contrast that playful imagery of modern playgrounds with abrasive, injury-prone concrete surfaces that coat many splash pads and pool decks still today.

Consider the playground example: for decades playgrounds had no safety surfacing and as a result kids were injured often. Then wood chips, rubberized surfaces, sand, and other cushioned materials were introduced in an effort to promote play while mitigating injuries. The result was an environment that promotes play, reduces liability, and limits the number of serious play-related injuries.

Splash pads are essentially playgrounds with water, so why wouldn’t we treat them the same way?

When water is combined with concrete surfacing on splash pads, hydroplaning occurs and results in slip and fall accidents. These accidents typically involve concussions, road rash, and other major play-halting injuries due to the unsafe risks associated with concrete surfacing.

TYPES OF RISK

You may ask, “But isn’t it good for kids to learn how to handle risk and learn how to fall properly?”

We completely agree that learning how to fall is important, but injuries that halt play because of a concussion or broken limb are not acceptable. These injuries are avoidable, costly, and can have lasting negative implications. Simply put, there’s bad risk and there’s good risk. 

Bad risk is also known as a hazard and involves things that can cause harm to an individual such as sharp edges, hot surfaces, and hard impacts (1). This kind of risk does not allow for children to grow and learn positively - it often causes aversion to the source and triggers fear responses. Young toddlers are inherently clumsy and do not yet have full motor control of their limbs. When this clumsiness is paired with their inability to reason and determine dangerous situations, injuries can feel more terrifying and out-of-control. Often, when a child is injured they tend to associate the injury with their surroundings instead of the specific thing that hurt them which causes aversion to an environment (2).

Good risk is often associated with what we call ‘risky play.’ Risky play can appear in many different forms based on age, motor skills, and ability. Some types of risky play include (3): 

• Play with High Speed

• Rough and Tumble Play

• Play Near Dangerous Elements (Water)

Splash pads that feature concrete surfacing inhibit children from engaging in some of these types of risky play. When a surface is slip-resistant and cushioned instead, the opportunities for engaging a greater range of activities and types of risky play are more available. Children are able to run, hop, crawl, cartwheel, tumble, and move freely around a zone of water play in more ways than if safety surfacing wasn’t included on the splash pad. 

Like we said, kids are inherently clumsy and they will trip over their own feet and fall. However, when they do fall, our mission at Life Floor is to ensure they get right back up and continue imagining, learning, and creating their own world of risky play instead of getting injured and ending their day of family fun. 

NSF International agrees that splash pads need safety surfacing. In 2019 they passed NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50:26 outlining criteria for safety surfacing products which include slip-resistance and cushioning. They recognize that similar safety parameters are needed in comparison to dry playgrounds.

We don’t want kids to feel averse to aquatic facilities especially as they're first introduced to aquatics and water; we want to enable them to positively play, explore, and learn through these new experiences. 

SO TO ANSWER THE BURNING QUESTION:

No, we aren’t bubble wrapping kids with safety surfacing. We’re enabling risky play and we’re helping them avoid unnecessary hazards until they’re old enough to understand them. 

Let’s let them explore, run, jump, and play freely instead of telling them to walk slow and mind the slippery concrete in an effort to try and stay safe.

If you would like to continue the conversation, please email us at solutions@lifefloor.com to share your ideas.

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Related Articles:

The Benefits of Diversifying Play Features in Aquatic Environments

Including Play Elements in Splash Pad Surface Design

The Importance of Free Play in Aquatic Environments

Pairing Safety Surfacing with Risky Play at Costa Bavaro Resort

Putting Humane Design Into Perspective

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Sources:

1. Ken Kutska | Executive Director of the International Playground Safety Institute | Past president of NRPA | Chair of the ASTM F15.29 Subcommittee for performance requirements for public play equipment.

2. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/think-act-be/201609/21-common-reactions-trauma

3. Source: Sandsetter, Ellen Beate Hansen (2009): "Characteristics of Risky Play". Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning. 9:1, 3-21.

SETTING A SAFER PRECEDENT FOR CANADA: YMCA OF GREATER MONCTON

Recently, NSF International expanded Standard 50 to extend across Canada, which includes recommendations for surfacing in aquatic play areas under NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 (formerly NSF/ANSI 50:26).

With its recent Life Floor installation, the YMCA of Greater Moncton, NB is one of the first aquatic facilities in Canada to recognize the importance of having NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 certified safety surfacing. The facility is a combination of an indoor splash pad with a zero-depth entry and a playground. Because of this unique configuration, the staff sought out a product that was able to transition seamlessly from wet to dry applications while maintaining their commitment to safety. To accomplish this, they selected Life Floor to be installed.

“Having seen Life Floor at a major trade show, we knew it was the product we wanted to install in our new facility.”

— Scott Munro, Vice President of Facilities

A custom beach-inspired design was chosen to complement the existing tropical theming. Life Floor’s foam-rubber tiles were able to create the perfect transition the YMCA needed between the wet and dry play areas, especially since splash pads are essentially wet playgrounds. The cushioned and impact-absorbing surfacing allows children to run, jump, and play without limits - never needing to stop and put on shoes or change the way they play from one area to the next. As a result, the fully immersive experience enhances imaginative play. 

The YMCA of Greater Moncton is skipping ahead of their competition by creating a facility full of imagination, play, and fun. They have created a holistic experience to provide their members with the perfect beach day right in their community’s backyard.

We thank the YMCA of Greater Moncton for their commitment to safety and for being one of the first in Canada to adopt NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 safety surfacing standards for the benefit of their members. We look forward to the future as more Canadian facilities follow their example and recognize the importance of this safety standard as an integral part of their business.

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To learn more about the official code in your region or state, check out this free resource.

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If you’d like to specify or install NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 surfacing for an aquatic play area in Canada, please contact our Canadian Partner, Paul-Émile Beaudry at pebeaudry@polyvalens.ca to assist you in both English and French.

For U.S. clients and all other inquiries, please contact us directly via our online contact form or send us an email at solutions@lifefloor.com. 

French Translation

Le YMCA du Grand Moncton, NB crée un précédent sécuritaire en milieu aquatique au Canada.

Récemment, NSF International a étendu la norme Standard 50 partout au Canada, incluant des recommandations pour les surfaces de jeu aquatiques sous l’appellation NSF/ANSI/CAN 50,26 (précédemment nommée NSF/ANSI 50:26).

Avec ses récentes installations de Life Floor, le YMCA du Grand Moncton, NB est l’un des premiers centres d’installation aquatique à reconnaître l’importance d’avoir une surface sécuritaire certifiée NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26. En effet, l’établissement se compose d’un mix de  deux (2) aires de jeux, l’une étant une surface mouillée (indoor splash pad) plane et l’autre étant une aire de jeux sèche. À cause de cette configuration spéciale, les employés ont recherché un produit qui permettrait la transition en toute transparence, de la surface mouillée à la surface sèche pour leurs activités tout en gardant un engagement de sécurité irréprochable. Un seul choix leur permettait de tout rallier : Life Floor.

Après avoir vu Life Floor lors d'un grand salon, nous avons sû que c’était le produit que nous voulions pour nos installations !  —Scott Munro, Vice Président du YMCA du Grand Moncton, NB

Au niveau du design,  le thème tropical dans l’aire de jeu d’eau et le thème plage dans l’aire de jeu sèche sont en parfaite harmonie pour s’adapter au thème pré-existant. Et maintenant, les enfants peuvent donc courir, sauter, culbuter et jouer sans limites sur une surface conforme aux nouveaux standards. Les surfaces coussinées  et absorbant tout impact permettent aux enfants de jouer sans s’arrêter pour mettre leurs chaussures ou changer leur façon de jouer d’un endroit à l’autre. Comme résultat, l’expérience devient totalement immersive et renforce leur jeu imaginatif.

Le YMCA du Grand Moncton devient donc un chef de file en adoptant des installations pleines d’imagination, de jeu et de plaisir ! Ils ont créé une expérience holistique en offrant à leurs membres une journée de plage parfaite en plein dans leur cour !

Nous remercions le YMCA du Grand Moncton de leur engagement pour la sécurité de leurs membres et d’être les premiers au Canada à appliquer la norme NSF/ANSI/CAN 50.26. Nous espérons que plusieurs autres organismes, centres aquatiques  et municipalités suivront l’exemple du YMCA et reconnaîtront l’importance de l’application de cette recommandation comme faisant partie de leur politique d’opération .

Si vous désirez de plus amples informations sur les tuiles Life Floor, communiquez avec Polyvalens Inc, notre distributeur au Canada.

Creating Custom Shapes, Logos, and Designs with Life Floor Tiles

Splashaway Bay at CocoCay. Photo credit: Royal Caribbean

Did you know that despite being manufactured primarily as geometric tiles, Life Floor can be custom cut into any shape imaginable? From curvy designs to themed imagery and from games to giant logos, we’ve done it! Read more to learn about some of these popular design options that stray from our standard offerings to offer a more customized experience. 

For theming opportunities, we’ve cut anything from life-sized surfboards to giant paw prints and sandy islands into our floors. 

Captain Jill’s Galleon at CocoCay.
Photo credit: Royal Caribbean

Beach Haven, Australia

Curvy or circular designs are a popular choice for customers looking for a more organic look. 

For added play value at the surface level, we’ve created games to add to the guest experience for our customers as well. 

One of our most popular requests is to add elements of branding to surfaces - from giant logos to inlays that represent the facilities where they’re installed. 

As you can see, the opportunities and options are truly endless!

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So how do we do it? 

The process varies by project. In some cases, like in the instance of giant circles, organic shapes can be hand cut on site by a skilled installation team. Large swooping curves can often be achieved this way as well.

In other cases, projects come factory cut with labeled parts and diagrams to streamline the install process on site and to ensure design accuracy. 

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Why don’t all customers take this approach? 

These designs are all amazing and we love that we’re able to create them! Unfortunately, some of these examples are out of budget for some customers. When dealing with curvy or custom designs, more material is needed to account for the amount of scrap created when trimming our square tiles to create these shapes. Installation costs are a bit higher as well due to the attention to detail needed to get the designs installed properly. 

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Is there a more budget-friendly way to custom cut designs? 

Of course! In some cases, customers have opted for a repeatable inlay that can be cut from a single tile to help brand or theme their space. A great example of this is the maple leaf inlay we created for the Maple Grove Community Center. 

In other cases, a custom design only covers a small portion of a project while the rest of the design sticks with some of our more budget-friendly design options like our preferred colors or standard tile shapes. At the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim, a few custom inlays and activities were interspersed throughout our simple pattern of square tiles in our High Tide theme. 

Another great way to incorporate a curved design is to limit the amount of tiles that need to be trimmed into a custom shape. At the splash pad at the Australia Zoo, only the perimeter of the “pond” needed to be cut while all other tiles could be installed as full square pieces.

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While these projects all take a little extra effort during the design, manufacturing, and installation processes, we always love the results! Have an idea in mind that you’d like to explore with our team? Reach out to us and we’ll do our best to make it a reality!

Our Top 5 Life Floor Design Tips

While our Studio Team is happy to create design renderings for our clients, many customers and partnering designers have expressed interest in creating their own flooring designs. For anyone looking to get started with their own Life Floor projects, we’ve put together five of our top design tips to help guide the process! 

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Include Three or More Colors in Designs 

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We’ve found that designs containing three or more colors look best after installation. As an added benefit, they minimize visibility of debris or regular wear over time. This concept is similar to how complex carpet designs are applied in high traffic areas like casinos. An intricate or varied pattern will hide most imperfections. In contrast, any debris or marking on a solid field of color will be very apparent. We know it’s impossible to keep pool decks and splash pads absolutely spotless all day so this technique helps aquatic facilities continue to look their best. Multi-color designs also enhance spaces where they’re installed by creating vibrant and interesting patterns at the surface level. These designs are vast improvements to drab fields of grey concrete! They lend themselves to great theming opportunities as well.

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Design within Project Budgets

While the sky's the limit for some customers, most are looking to stick within a specific budget. With a wide range of design and pricing needs in mind, we’ve created a variety of shape and color options to accommodate an array of project types.  

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Our tiles are available in four shapes - squares, triangles, rectangles, and hexagons. Our square tiles are the most cost-effective option both in terms of material and installation costs. Triangles and rectangles have very similar material costs (since they’re just half squares). It’s important to note that they are slightly more expensive to install since more pieces are involved and the designs are typically a bit more complex. Of all of our shapes, hexagons are the most expensive.

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Beyond these standard tile shapes, we can also custom cut our tiles into just about anything - curves, logos, games, images, you name it! These unique designs look great but use more material, require more factory preparation, and take more time to install so they’re generally the most expensive. 

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Choosing an area as an accent piece can also enhance facilities within budget. This focal point can add visual interest to an entire project while also keeping the overall cost lower by using a simpler design throughout.

There are many ways to mix and match our tile shapes and colors to achieve a great project look. Hopefully these basics help inform some of the best opportunities to create some stellar designs that are also affordable at any price point!

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Use a Staggered Grid for Tile Layouts

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Staggered Grid

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Standard (Checkerboard) Grid

While most people generally assume that our square tiles are best arranged in a standard (or checkerboard) grid, we actually recommend designing with our tiles on a staggered grid. We’ve found that this layout is ideal for ease of installation and maximum durability over time. Layouts that use standard grids are still a beautiful option; however, we generally recommend designing with them only for smaller applications or for designs that really rely on the checkerboard tile layout for a distinct pattern or look. 

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Accent Designs with Theming and Play Options 

Are you looking to add some sea creatures to your splash pad design? No problem! We have several pre-designed thematic inlays, like fish and crabs, that fit within single square tiles. We can also cut larger creatures, whales or dolphins for instance, across several tiles. 

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Want to add a game into the surface? We can custom cut nearly anything into Life Floor. Some popular choices have included hopscotch and checkerboards.

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For branding opportunities or to include a facility’s logo within a design, we can precision cut all of the parts in advance at our factory. They arrive ready to install to ensure brand accuracy and a smooth installation process on site. A great example of a large-scale logo we’ve created recently was one that we produced for the Fun Spot splash pad in Orlando, FL. The finished product and a diagram showing all of the precut parts are pictured above. 

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Take Advantage of Our Online Resources

Did you know that there are helpful resources on the Design Studio page of our website related to creating designs with Life Floor tiles?

For design inspiration, our Portfolio and past Lookbooks are great places to start!

One of the most popular resources we have posted is a chart that shows color equivalents for all of our tile colors. If you design in Adobe Illustrator (like we do), the Hex codes are very helpful to get the colors in your layouts as accurate as possible. 

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Our pre-established color palettes and tile patterns have been popular options for our customers. Head to the Themes and Patterns pages to explore these designs. We even have downloadable templates that can be used in Adobe Illustrator for anyone looking to cut and paste these options into their projects. Use one of these as designed or vary it slightly to cater it to your project!

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To get started with a scaled tile grid to represent Life Floor in AutoCAD, we have templates that include hatches for both Metric and Imperial designs. 

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Looking for technical details to better understand how our tiles integrate during installation? Those are available on our Specs + Resources page as well! 

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While the tips above cover our major suggestions, these are only some of the best practices we’ve established over the years! Want to learn more or have questions for our Studio Team? Feel free to email us at design@lifefloor.com. We love partnering with designers and take great joy in seeing what other great projects are dreamed up by other companies around the world!

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Interested in our upcoming Designing with Life Floor Guide?

Sign up below to receive access in advance of it going live! 

Designing with Life Floor's Tile Shapes

Did you know that Life Floor comes in four standard shapes? Our tiles were originally manufactured as 24” square tiles, but rectangles, triangles, and hexagons have been developed over the years. With these shapes, our Studio Team and partnering design firms have been able to imagine an endless range of possibilities for aquatic facilities around the world. Through countless different configurations and color combinations, our tiles enable opportunities to create beautiful environments with unparalleled safety benefits. Explore the design options available with our standard shape offerings below!

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Squares 

Our square tiles can be arranged in randomized multi-color fields to evoke environmental elements like sand and water. They can also be configured in colorful gradient patterns using a range of tones from our palette. For a more classic design, squares look beautiful when arranged in a checkerboard grid. For a more modern effect, square tiles of the same color can be installed consecutively to form long, rectangular configurations. Some facilities have even opted for a staggered zig-zag pattern. To add even more visual interest, customers often request thematic inlays that fit within a single tile. While the original shape of our tiles may be simple, it is filled with the potential to create both beautiful and cost-effective design solutions!

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Triangles 

Simply by cutting our square tiles diagonally to form right triangles, we’ve created an array of new design opportunities. These tiles have been the most popular choice when creating gradient effects, especially when mimicking coastlines. They’re also an excellent choice for adding accents of color around a facility. For a more geometric approach, mirrored triangles can be arranged to create an even larger pattern. Images like pine trees can even be created in a surface design by combining triangles with our rectangle and square tiles!

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Rectangles 

Our rectangular tiles present the opportunity to design with a popular 1’ x 2’ grid or to create long plank effects by aligning tiles of the same color in a row. They enable designers to create more modern, geometric patterns. Similar to our other shapes, rectangles can be arranged in gradients or they can be used to break up solid fields of color with bright accents. Due to their size, rectangles are a popular choice in smaller spaces like locker rooms. Try varying the rotation of these tiles to achieve a dynamic look. 

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Hexagons 

In 2019, we unveiled the newest addition to our shape collection: the hexagon. Our Studio Team loves how this playful, geometric shape transports visitors to colorful landscapes with intricate and delightful patterning. Our hexagon tiles add immediate visual complexity to any space, without the need for additional design work or custom cutting. They can be used in more natural designs to mimic the look of a sparkling body of water or a varied landscape of grass, dirt, and rocks. Hexagons also lend themselves to radial designs and are perfect for splash pads.

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While these shapes encompass our standard options, Life Floor tiles can also be cut into virtually anything! We commonly install curved designs, logos, custom shapes, and inlays. Is there a new standard shape you’d like to see us offer? Let us know in the comments section below!  

Flooring Design Themes for Aquatic Facilities

When designing with Life Floor, clients are often looking to create or enhance an existing theme at a facility. Since our tiles are specifically engineered for use in aquatic environments, these spaces are often themed around water; however, sometimes new themes are imagined as well! We love the creativity that goes into envisioning these spaces. Check out some of our favorites that have been installed as well as some ideas for themed splash pads that haven’t been built yet! 

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Under the Sea 

Our blue tones and sea creature inlays are most often featured in spaces that have an underwater theme. Some spaces are more whimsical with octopus tentacles and others are more abstract using a triangle gradient or randomized squares. Curvy waves are also a popular choice for clients looking to emulate an under the sea look. 

Splash Pad at Westfield Memorial Pool

Cootamundra Splash Pad

Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Splash Pad

Splash Pad at LEGOLAND California

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Into the Wild 

Several facilities with Life Floor installations have a woodsy or wilderness theme. These spaces typically feature earth tones of tans, browns, and greens as well as thematic paw print inlays. The designs that we’ve proposed for these spaces have used a combination of our available shapes including triangles, rectangles, and hexagons.

Wilderness Resort Splash Pad

Concept for a Forest-Themed Splash Pad

Concept for a Hexagon River Design

Lilypad Landing Pad at Great Wolf Lodge

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Sunny Beachscapes

Adding a beach element to a water-themed splash pad increases visual interest and the opportunity to feature different inlays across the sand and sea. One of our largest beach designs, pictured below at Atlantis the Palm Dubai, features a triangle gradient and a clear progression from land to water and back to land. Other projects with this theme feature a body of water surrounded by sand or, the opposite, an island surrounded by water. Some customers have even opted to add pirate treasure hunt themes to their tropical islands! 

Splash Pad at Atlantis the Palm Dubai

Pirate-Themed Splash Pad at Wyndham Bonnet Creek

Sunshine Leisure Centre Pool

The Beach Splash Pad in Dubai

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Winter Wonderland 

While these wintery concepts have yet to be installed on a project, we love the idea of a unique frosty theme, especially on a hot summer day! 

Concept for a Winter-Themed Splash Pad

Concept for a Snowflake Splash Pad

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Lily Pads 

Some customers have opted for lily pad inspired ideas. These curvy features add visual interest to the splash pads where they’re featured. At a smaller scale, they can inspire children to hop across individual lily pads in a game of leapfrog. 

Florida Aquarium Splash Pad

Lake George RV Park Splash Pad. Image Credit: Martin Aquatic

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Bright & Tropical 

Several aquatic facilities have requested vibrant, tropics-inspired themes. Bright pops of color on a surface can dramatically enliven a space and complement surrounding designs and imagery! 

Vidanta Riviera Maya Splash Pad. Photo Credit: WhiteWater West

Concept for a Bright, Triangle Pattern on a Splash Pad

Splashaway Bay at CocoCay. Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean

Moon Palace Jamaica Splash Pad

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Our in-house Studio Team and our design partners loved dreaming up ideas for these designs and themes featured in locations around the world. We welcome all the concepts and ideas our customers want - unique and familiar alike.

What new themes would you like to see featured at aquatic facilities that are surfaced with Life Floor? Let us know in the comments section below! 

5 Reasons Why Aquatic Facilities Choose Life Floor’s Predefined Themes and Patterns

While Life Floor can be used to create virtually any pattern or design on a flooring surface, we’ve created a catalog of Themes and Patterns as a starting point for customers looking for design inspiration. These options can match or complement a facility’s overall look while also providing the standard benefits that come with any Life Floor installation. Pairing the safety, comfort, and durability of our tiles with these aesthetically interesting designs has added play value and theming to aquatic facilities across the country and around the world. Here are some of the top reasons why customers have chosen to explore our Themes or Patterns for their projects!    

Multi-Color Designs

All of our Themes, or color palettes, are designed with three or more colors to optimize how Life Floor installations look over time. Our reason for favoring a multi-colored design approach is that monochromatic surfaces, much like single-color carpets, show regular wear or debris much more quickly. Since many of our projects are located outdoors where it’s not uncommon for occasional leaves, twigs, dirt, or grass to make their way onto splash pads, we’ve found that breaking up the field of color makes these surfaces look best for an extended period of time. As an added benefit, installations that use Life Floor Themes often enliven and complement surrounding parks and aquatic spaces with a visually interesting palette and design.

High Tide Theme and 301 Pattern at Synderville Basin Rec Center - Park City, UT

Considerable Cost Savings 

Our Themes showcase combinations of some of our most popular colors. Customers looking to add safety and design often opt to use these color families as starting points for their designs. 

High Tide: Ocean, Bluebird, Aviator [Note: Updated in 2021. See Update Here]

Montauk: Mojave, Gobi, Sandstone

Boulder: Boulevard, River Rock, Foghorn

Since Life Floor is manufactured as standard 24”x24” tiles, our Square Patterns (301, 401, 501) offer the greatest cost savings by maximizing the full use of the material. Installation time is lowest for these options as well. Our Triangle (302, 402, 502) and Rectangle (305, 405, 505) Patterns offer a combination of full and half tiles, providing an efficient use of material that minimizes waste. Installation time is slightly longer since these Patterns are a bit more complex; however, many of our budget-conscious customers still opt for these designs given the added visual interest they provide. 

Square Pattern (401)

Triangle Pattern (302)

Rectangle Pattern (505)

Overall, we’ve found that when municipalities are interested in adding a safety solution to their aquatic facilities or want to upgrade to meet the NSF/ANSI 50 standard for aquatic surfacing, they most commonly opt for the Theme and Pattern options described above. These designs provide all of the benefits of Life Floor at the best prices. 

Reduced Time to Receive a Quote 

Because our Themes and Patterns are pre-established, creating a rendering that fits within the boundaries of a specific project area is a fairly quick process. When compared to the time required to create fully custom designs, this approach fast-tracks the quoting process for customers looking to receive budgetary numbers in a shorter amount of time.

301 Pattern in tan tones (similar to Montauk Theme) at Shoreview Community Center - Shoreview, MN

Design Options that Eliminate the Guesswork 

For customers looking for a basic surfacing solution or who don’t have a specific design in mind, our pre-set Themes and Patterns have been created based on established best practices and provide a variety of looks to accommodate a range of facilities. These designs feature sets of colors that are proven to work well together and layouts that have been historically favored by our customers over time. Having the ability to pick and choose from this catalog of options eliminates most guesswork for many of our customers, especially those that are primarily focused on providing a safety solution at their facilities. 

Boulder Theme in rectangles at Pleasant Glade Pool & Locker Rooms - Grapevine, TX

An Affordable Starting Point for Custom Options

Many of our customers have asked for designs that begin with a Theme and/or Pattern, but are modified in some way to better suit their specific facility’s needs. For instance, some might swap out a color or two from a Theme to shift the color palette in a slightly different direction. Others might choose a preset Pattern, but pair it with a completely custom color palette. Some customers have opted to add inlays, like the ones shown below, to contribute to the play value and theming of their facilities. We’ve also found that some people go with an affordable Theme and Pattern to better balance the cost of a project that requires the addition of a specialty logo or play feature in the surface design. Anything can be customized as needed and our Themes and Patterns serve as a perfect starting point for the conversation! 

High Tide Theme and 302 Pattern with fish inlays at Cootamundra Splash Park - Cootamundra, Australia

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Interested in specifying Life Floor on your next project? Check out our standard Themes and Patterns and reach out to us if you’d like to explore a custom design or to get started on your project. Our design services are complementary right now, so we’re happy to help meet the needs of your facility however we can. Thank you for considering Life Floor!

The Benefits of Diversifying Play Features in Aquatic Environments

Everyone experiences play in different ways. It’s the reason why there isn’t just one type of spray feature or just one type of pool. Aquatic environments are always changing and adapting to new trends and regulations in the industry. Likewise, aquatics facility directors and operators are constantly evaluating updates that will deliver increased value to their guests and members. In order to provide features that appeal to a wide variety of individuals, facility staff needs to choose what combination of elements will allow for limitless play for their intended audiences.

Providing options for guests to engage with a facility in different ways is a crucial component of play value. At Life Floor, we talk about this concept often because it’s a central tenet of why we design safety surfacing to be interactive and engaging. Play value directly influences guest perception of a facility and can be a determining factor of whether or not guests will return. For example, if a child has a better experience at a park farther away, parents may be more inclined to return to that park even if it is more inconvenient. 

One way to increase play value is to provide experiences for different age groups. Any type of water play for infants and toddlers can be seen as risky from their perspective. For instance, interacting with a simple spray feature on a splash pad is often a new and exciting experience. For older children, riding down high-speed water slides, scaling lofty towers, or getting drenched under tipping buckets can be seen as more exhilarating ways to interact with aquatic environments. These different features help shape children’s development at different stages.

Awareness of how specific age groups prefer to interact with water features can be meaningful when determining how to zone a facility properly. Lopesan’s Costa Bavaro Resort is a good example of zoning for different development stages in a child’s life. At this facility, large landscaped “islands” separate the larger risky play area, equipped with slides and high platforms, from the adjacent splash pad, where smaller children may feel more comfortable. While these zones are located on opposite sides, they are also connected across one large aquatic play area. This integration allows children the freedom to move from one area to the next, encouraging them to balance safety and adventure. When an aquatic play area offers this range of features, guests can gradually choose to engage with riskier play elements, which ultimately helps to boost both decision-making skills and self-esteem. Accommodating a variety of preferences also increases play value and enables families of all ages to enjoy these spaces for longer periods of time. 

Social interaction is another crucial part of play learning. Just as it may be difficult for a child to play house alone, it is important for them to be able to collaborate with other children in aquatic environments as part of their experience. Spray features, water tables, and interactive activities that contribute to this social play can elevate learning in both creativity and problem solving. Children are able to boost their communication and social skills as they practice working together and learning to share or compromise as they explore these environments together. 

Diversity of play is encouraged by maximizing the creative options available; however, these options don’t have to be limited to the spray features, slides, and towers on site. The design of a facility’s floor can also enhance play value by giving children the opportunity to creatively invent games based on the patterns and images below their feet. When an aquatic surface is also cushioned and slip-resistant, children can more confidently run, jump, and explore to fully enjoy all that a facility has to offer. 

By engaging with visitors more holistically across all features of an aquatic design to accommodate different age groups and comfort levels, facility supervisors, operators, and decision makers can create more encompassing parks filled with limitless possibilities for play. The experiences they offer can encourage important developmental milestones for children while also creating long-lasting family memories along the way. 

10 Ways to Give Your Aquatic Facility a Competitive Advantage

How do you ensure that guests are choosing your aquatic facility over others? And when they do visit, what is encouraging them to extend their stay? The simple answer to this question is to provide elements they aren’t able to receive elsewhere - it’s a key principle of competitive advantage. On a very basic level, visitors need to feel comfortable and excited about amenities. While location weighs into the convenience factor of which facility a visitor may choose, other factors such as superior safety, cleaner surfaces, level of shade, and play features can all sway decisions. 

Ultimately, guests are looking for the best possible experiences they can give their families. Parents want to ensure their kids have fun over summer vacation and want to fill their childhoods with positive memories of fun. They’re going to choose to visit environments that support these good experiences and they’re going to choose locations based on perceived value. 

Curious about how you can increase your facility’s perceived value? Keep reading for our top 10 tips:

1. Cleanliness of Facilities

Maintaining a clean facility is more important now than ever during the midst of COVID-19. As facilities begin to reopen, parents want to ensure their children are avoiding coming into contact with viruses and bacteria. One or two bad reviews online can be enough to sway parents into choosing another facility, so consistent cleaning practices are important.

2. Superior Safety Features

Safety is at the forefront of many parents' minds. For those with toddlers, child-proofing their homes is a familiar task. However, ensuring their children’s safety at splash pads and pools is full of uncertainties. Is the surface cushioned? Is there a lifeguard on duty? Are water shoes needed to give children better traction or to protect against abrasive or hot surfaces? Many questions play into decision making. 

One way to ensure the safety of your facility is to walk through your features like a child would or ask visitors how they feel about your facility. It may sound unusual, but get down on your hands and knees or walk around it barefoot. Is the surface abrasive and uncomfortable? Does it feel too hot? Is it slippery? Consider all aspects of play in your analysis to find areas that could be improved. 

3. Appropriate Shade Levels and Seating Options

Consider all of your guests and know their demographics. Are grandparents bringing their grandchildren to your splash pad? Is there a shady area that allows them to sit and watch without being uncomfortable? Are there picnic tables so that families can eat lunch together and then resume play or do they have to leave the park for food with the chance of not being able to return? Making sure your guests stay cool, comfortable, and well-accommodated will encourage them to stay longer. By knowing the demographics of your visitors or creating ideal demographics of who you wish would visit your facility, you make the space more welcoming to more people.

4. Exciting and Interesting Play Features

Play features add to the overall play value of a facility. Play features include water jets, sprayers, climbable features, and unique flooring patterns like hopscotch or theming. Having a good balance of engaging features per square foot is important to provide guests with more options of play. Using a safety surface like Life Floor in conjunction with spray features allows your facility to maximize this utilization while providing superior safety. With a surface like Life Floor, you can create engaging designs that work with your existing play features and give parents another draw for visiting your facility. Ultimately, safer play features result in more positive experiences and memories.

5. Keep Accessibility in Mind

Accessibility is often overlooked when designing facilities. Even one concrete step could mean someone’s experience could be prevented entirely. To analyze all aspects of making your facility accessible, we recommend fully immersing yourself in the task - ride a wheelchair from the moment you enter the parking lot all the way to the final destination and utilize different features such as drinking fountains, bathrooms, and play features along the way. It helps you realize firsthand the shortcomings and/or benefits of your facility design. 

6. Drinking Fountains

Having one or more drinking fountains on location is important because a lack of potable water means visits can get disrupted and end if guests are thirsty and either forgot to bring water or assumed it would be present at the facility. It is equally important to ensure these fountains are consistently clean and free of contaminants such as gum or other foreign objects that may contain bacteria or viruses. 

7. Accessible and Clean Bathroom Options

For smaller facilities, bathrooms are a luxury; however, offering a bathroom or suggesting one nearby can prolong visits and ensure the cleanliness of facilities. In some cases, learning that they have to leave and go home to use a bathroom may result in children having otherwise avoidable “accidents” in or around the facility. This can cause issues for facility operators that then need to shock the system and eliminate traces of the contaminant. If bathrooms are present, it is also important to ensure that they are clean and maintained since a dirty bathroom can have the same impact as not having one at all.

8. On-site Parking or Free Street Parking

Offering a free parking option can encourage guests to visit your facility that may not have otherwise due to location convenience. By offering parking, you are signaling to your visitors that you value their time and are offering them an amenity to encourage their patronage. Keep in mind that parking should still be accessible to all people and include ramps or valleys in curbs so that people riding wheelchairs can enjoy the facilities as well.

9. Cost

Cost can be a barrier to entry for some guests. Often, having a paid facility can help support other costs such as on-site food, bathrooms, lifeguards, and other luxuries. However, free facilities can encourage guests to visit more often and develop location loyalty. It’s ultimately up to your brand model to decide which option you want to offer and which features are most important for you to provide your guests.

10. Have Fun with It!

Get excited about your facility! Your guests can tell how much effort was put into it, so have some fun with it. Whether it’s getting creative with your signage or introducing a mascot for your city or even installing a unique and engaging floor - your guests will thank you and become champions for your city if they fall in love with your special park. Be proud of the work you’ve accomplished and never stop having fun!

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If you’d like to learn more about how to incorporate fun surfacing designs into your facility, send us an email at solutions@lifefloor.com or give us a call at 612-567-2813. We’d love to help you increase your facility’s competitive advantage!

Including Play Elements in Splash Pad Surface Design

Splash pads have become a welcome addition to many communities, water parks, cruise ships, and resorts since they provide water play for guests of all ages. Typically, the main attractions of these areas have been spray features. Some splash pads also incorporate slides and multi-level play structures - essentially playgrounds with water added to them. While these elements offer many different ways to play on splash pads, these facilities become even more exciting when they offer an engaging flooring design. By adding a design or pattern to the surface of a splash pad, not only does the feature look better overall, but it also provides children with the opportunity to play and engage in more diverse ways. 

A simple way of designing the surface of a splash pad is to make it thematic. This allows the floor to match the look and feel of the features on site and become part of the attraction. For instance, a splash pad with aquatic or sea creature spray features could be designed with colors that mimic the ocean or the beach. To expand on this idea, sea creature shapes embedded throughout the floor can further enhance theming. Facilities can even use these sea creatures for search and find activities. They could invite guests to find all of the seahorses or count the number of starfish, for instance. 

Splash pads can also enhance guest experience by including games in the surface design. Hopscotch boards, four square configurations, and Twister-like layouts can all be used to add extra activities to the aquatic play area. Giant mazes could also engage guests in new ways. These flooring features can add play value to a surface that may have otherwise been left blank. 

Other designs can encourage guests to follow certain paths or hop across certain features. For instance, small lily pad inlays could encourage children to leapfrog across a “pond.” Likewise, winding paths could lead guests through and around spray features. A treasure hunt design could also provide a guided imaginative adventure. 

Splash pad flooring designs also have the potential to engage children with life-sized objects portrayed on the surface. True-to-life inlays of whales or dolphins can be designed into the splash pad as a fun, educational element. Flat shapes of surfboards or boats can encourage children to pretend that they’re exploring the sea. 

Beyond all of these ideas for thematic elements and games, splash pads can encourage creative free play with simple geometric designs. For a splash pad using a variety of colors, children can invent games out of stepping on tiles of certain colors. A similar idea can be applied to a splash pad that features different tile shapes. Concentric circles or bands of color also inspire engagement in new ways.

All of the designs shown above have been created using Life Floor tiles, which can be customized to any shape or size. Pairing an engaging surface design with our slip-resistant and cushioned tiles has the potential to enhance a simple splash pad with both safety and elements of fun — increasing play value and overall appeal. 

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Have a unique idea you’d like to discuss with our team? Contact us at solutions@lifefloor.com. We’d love to help make it a reality!