In our 2022 holiday message, the Life Floor team expresses appreciation to our partners and clients for a successful year, and shares our continued commitment to safety, design, and innovation in aquatic environments.
NEW: 30 Unique Thematic Shapes for Aquatic Design
We’re excited to announce three new sets of Inlays that can be used to enhance the design, theming, and imaginative play opportunities on any splash pad or pool deck. These new additions complement our growing library of options that have helped to reimagine the potential of aquatic play through surfacing design. Check out our new additions below!
Outer Space
From cacti to desert creatures, this Inlay set can set the scene for a unique landscape! For extra design potential, try pairing it with our Montauk Theme.
SPORTS
Encourage an active mindset by combining aquatics and sports! This Inlay set is inspired by some of the most popular sports in the United States. Pair with any theme or create your own from our wide range of colors. Some customers have even created soccer and football field designs out of Life Floor!
If you’re interested in including some of these fun new Inlays in your upcoming project, please contact your regional sales manager. For projects outside of the U.S., please contact our international team.
Made in the USA: How USDA Grants Changed Life Floor History
In 2015, we were honored to receive grants from the USDA Rural Development's Intermediary Relending Program & Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program. These funds enabled our company to transition manufacturing from Vietnam to South Dakota, allowing us to proudly state that Life Floor is Made in the USA.
With our production line stateside, we've been able to drastically reduce our carbon footprint while engaging in groundbreaking research and development opportunities. We will continue to grow and innovate with our mission in mind to make aquatics facilities safer and more beautiful for people of all ages and abilities.
Thank you to the USDA for contributing to our company's history and empowering us to further improve the lives of people around the world.
The following content is an excerpt from the USDA Rural Development’s article about Life Floor titled, Making a Splash in Rural South Dakota.
Growing up, we all remember visiting the local pool or water park. Lifeguards blew a whistle warning us to slow down as we dashed to the refreshing water on dangerous slippery, molten-hot concrete.
But today’s pools, water parks and splash pads are much safer thanks to companies like Life Floor.
Life Floor first received $300,000 in 2014 through a partnership between Heartland Rural Electric Fund, Lake Area Improvement Corporation and East River Electric’s Rural Electric Economic Development, Inc. (REED) Fund was put together to assist the company. East River Electric’s REED Fund provided revolving loan funds received through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program and Lake Area Improvement Corporation provided loan funds received through USDA Rural Development’s Intermediary Relending Program. The equipment needed to get the manufacturing facility on its feet was made possible through funding provided by these entities all located within the state of South Dakota.
They opened in 2015 as a pilot program specializing in aquatic tiles that are both slip resistant and soft. A “Doing Business As” company of MNY Group, LLC in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Life Floor developed a solution for a safer surface while providing a pleasant aesthetic to welcome guests.
“We had to do a lot of engineering to make the flooring work, but we’re bringing back the knowledge of how it’s done,” said Vimal Thakkar, Process Engineer for Life Floor. “It’s very rewarding knowing we are making a safe place for families to gather and we’re proud to say this is made in the USA.”
The product was originally manufactured in Vietnam, but the company wanted to have more control on research and development and do it at a lower cost and lower carbon footprint. As Life Floor began manufacturing in Madison, the company focused on efficiency and creating a cost-competitive product with a focus on a surface that could stand the test of time against sunlight, water and heavy foot traffic.
In 2018, the company began a major expansion, quadrupling its footprint from 2,500 square feet to 10,000 square feet.
“Our growth continued even into 2020 during the pandemic,” said MNY Group CEO Jonathan Keller. “Because waterparks and pools were mostly closed during the pandemic, we continued to see growth as these businesses upgraded to a safer surface for their customers and newly constructed aquatic facilities completed construction.”
Throughout their first six years of manufacturing in South Dakota, Life Floor has seen a continued shift between international and domestic customers and from new construction to retrofitting existing locations. Now in 2022, Keller says the company is performing well in both markets and sees a balance between new construction and retrofit projects.
Thakkar also highlighted the company’s focus on designing floors that match the branding of their customers and using technologies that streamline the process from raw material to a finished tile.
“Our customers expect a product that matches their brand, so we spend a lot of time ensuring we have matched their colors and that those colors resist fading from harsh elements,” said Thakkar. “We transitioned from die-cut tiles to precision cutting, which has decreased production time and increased our precision.”
While Life Floor works with customers globally, local businesses have benefited from the same material to keep customers safe.
“As we remodeled our pool area in early 2022, we recognized the need to make our floor safer,” said Gene Wockenfuss, director for the Madison Community Center. “Life Floor and Falcon Plastics were able to assist in some of the costs to upgrade the flooring.”
Wockenfuss joked they weren’t so sure about the bright colors when they first saw the design but were reassured the choices would provide a vibrant upgrade to the 20-year-old building.
“We are so happy with the floor and customers have praised the upgraded look and safety,” said Wockenfuss. “We’re already planning to add more safety features from Life Floor in the future.”
MNY Group expects to see an increase in demand and is exploring expansion and growth to meet the growing popularity in Life Floor tiles around the world.
More information about Rural Development’s Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) can be found at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/intermediary-relending-program.
MAKING WAVES WITH KA'ANA WAVE CO.
Ka’ana Wave Co. celebrated the launch of their CM7-Series wave machines with a pop-up surf park at Britannia Beach, British Columbia this past summer.
Ka’ana’s CM7-Series wave machines utilize Daldorado’s DalLUX™ Life Floor Drainage System. Originally designed and manufactured for luxury pools, DalLUX support grates allow designers to maintain the aesthetics of a deck while also providing efficient and necessary drainage. For this unique application, Daldorado’s DalLUX™ Drains became an integral component for Ka’ana’s CM7-Series wave machine deck. The entire surface accommodated continuous drainage while providing surfers traction with Life Floor’s slip-resistant and cushioned surfaces.
Excerpt from Cision Article:
“Their ground-breaking technology represents a new class of artificial surf attraction, one that creates a variety of deep-water surf waves, in new and existing pools and lagoons. With this technology, the company aims to break down barriers to entry and make surfing more accessible for everyone. The pop-up surf park was an opportunity for Ka'ana to reveal the company's first wave shapes, develop CM7 safety protocols, and collect feedback about the surf experience from over 250 people including industry insiders, professional athletes, developers, city planners, architects, resort planners and aquatic designers. Shaping waves at 60 to 70 per cent of the machine's capacity, Ka'ana Wave Co. showcased the world's first stationary, bathymetry-agnostic, artificial surf waves at the event. These waves included a right break barrel, boat wake, and river jump.”
As part of this effort, the Ka’ana Wave Co. team collaborated with Life Floor to create custom flooring designs that included their logos on both the CM7-Series wave machine deck and shaping head. This application was the first of its kind across Daldorado’s DalLUX™ Drains and provided an opportunity to reinforce the branding of this innovative new wave technology.
Thank you to Ka’ana Wave Co. for creatively partnering with us and surfacing the CM7-Series wave machine with Life Floor. We also appreciate Daldorado Drains for their continued partnership in delivering high quality, innovative drainage systems. To learn more about how you can get Daldorado’s DalLUX™ Life Floor Drainage System on your next project, please contact our team.
Waterslide Tower Restoration and Refresh in Spencer, Iowa
In January of 2022, the City of Spencer, Iowa contacted Fischer Brothers about replacing the failed fiberglass steps on their waterslide tower at the Spencer City Aquatic Center. An inspection in February revealed that the tower’s fiberglass steps and landings had deteriorated to the point where there was an immediate need for repair. The once-white surfaces were stained after years of use, most of the previous surfacing product was worn smooth, and cracks had developed in the fiberglass.
The stairs and decks were originally made with a fiberglass exterior and a balsa wood coring interior. Cracks in the fiberglass had allowed water to rot the balsa wood coring from many harsh Midwestern seasons. The saturated coring would freeze each winter and thaw every spring, incrementally delaminating the fiberglass from its internal coring.
Before: Cracks in the Fiberglass
This project provided a great opportunity for Fischer Brothers and Life Floor to partner in solving this city’s slide tower issues. In August, Fischer Brothers sent a crew to tackle the project. They began by identifying all the structural problem areas and started work. Large portions of fiberglass were completely rebuilt using synthetic coring instead of balsa wood and more than 20 gallons of resin were used to repair the landings and stairs. Every square inch of the fiberglass was either rebuilt or sanded down to remove the old surface texture and create a smooth and stable surface for the installation of Life Floor safety surfacing.
Rotted Balsa Wood Core
New Fiberglass Restoration
Life Floor Safety Surfacing
Life Floor was the preferred choice for this WhiteWater and Fischer Brothers project in the City of Spencer, Iowa since the safety surfacing not only provides increased slip-resistance and cushioning, but also refreshes the visual appeal of the whole tower. The city chose to use Iceberg and River Rock colors in Life Floor’s Ripple 2.0 texture for this project. The pale blue Iceberg tiles were used on all the landings and stair treads and the grey River Rock tiles were installed on the step nosings and risers to provide contrasting colors and added safety. The surfacing on the slide tower is now more comfortable for bare feet, and it looks great!
About Fischer Brothers, LLC.
Fischer Brothers, LLC got their start in 2007 restoring waterslides, and eventually moved on to other parts of the waterpark. From waterslide towers, aquatic play structures, spray features and more, Fischer Brothers has led the charge in pioneering innovative solutions for the aquatics restoration industry. Fischer Brothers is currently undergoing the process to become a Certified Life Floor Installer.
Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest 2021 Winner: Wells Park, Albuquerque, NM
In 2021, we co-hosted our second annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest with Inside Edge Safety Surfaces to award a municipality or non-profit organization in the United States with an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. Our intent in initiating this contest was to be able to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful splash pad surfacing designs that add increased safety for residents.
One of the applications we received stood out.
“The Wells Park Splash Pad is located in front of the Johnny Tapia Community Center. This community center serves a large population of low-income households and provides a full day child development program in the heart of downtown Albuquerque. The Wells Park Splash pad has a relatively small footprint but serves as an oasis for families trying to beat the heat and cool off during those hot summer months. The community center heavily utilizes the splash pad to give children an unforgettable experience when those experiences are very rare for these children.
With a new Life Floor, we will be able to elevate the experience of all those who utilize the facility. We currently have a brushed concrete surface around the interactive play features. This surface can become somewhat slick over the years of heavy traffic and repeated cleaning throughout the seasons...Staff will arrive early in the morning and disinfect the splash pad surface to provide a sanitary environment for our users. With the Life Floor material, we can breathe a bit easier when we are cleaning each morning. Life Floor will also significantly reduce the amount of slip and fall injuries we see on a regular basis. Lastly, with the many diverse designs of the Life Floor, we will be able to provide a very unique feature to an underserved population.
Thank you for your consideration.”
BEFORE: Wells Park Splash Pad, concrete surfacing
AFTER: Wells Park Splash Pad, Life Floor
This entry resonated with members of the Life Floor and Inside Edge Safety Surfaces teams who reviewed entries and collaboratively chose this facility as the winner.
Our 2021 Grant Contest entrants chose from 6 unique pre-designed themes that would be custom fit to their project scope. The City of Albuquerque chose a vibrant 4-color banded pattern created from our square shaped tile featuring our Turquoise, Seafoam, Goldfish, and Sunshine colors. We included a custom-designed logo for the city as well.
The Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest’s co-host as well as Life Floor’s North American Preferred Installation Partner, Inside Edge Safety Surfaces, completed installation of the new surface in July of 2022. The crew worked with a high degree of professionalism and expertise to create a beautiful final result. Once they were finished, the splash pad was officially ready for the grand reopening celebration to commemorate the new surface.
We're excited to showcase a stunningly bright and cheerful Life Floor surface to uplift and transform the Wells Park Splash Pad in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albuquerque takes great pride in the city's logo calling out the One Albuquerque motto and we are thrilled to be able to showcase that logo custom cut into the Life Floor surface. We can't wait to hear the stories of how this installation will continue to benefit the community for years to come!
We’re thankful for the opportunity to give this deserving community a new Life Floor splash pad surface and hope that it’s enjoyed for many seasons to come. Thank you to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for co-hosting this contest with us and for installation.
Enter our Third Annual Make a SPLASH! Contest for 2022 by clicking the button below or visit our contest page for more information.
How Long Will Life Floor Last?
With over 2,000 installations worldwide, Life Floor is trusted by leading brands and is the recommended surface for WhiteWater, Waterplay, and Rain Drop Products. Our tiles are made from a closed cell foam-rubber and we find that partners and customers are often curious about the general lifespan of our surfacing. While we offer a 5-year material warranty on our 3/8” thick tiles, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to durability. The following are a few factors to consider when assessing Life Floor for different environments.
TRAFFIC
Generally, after 10 million steps, our tiles will start to experience texture fading, reduced cushioning, and can potentially show small micro cracks from pool chemicals and UV exposure.
UV EXPOSURE
UV exposure is the greatest factor affecting durability. We’ve engineered our tiles to last in extreme UV climates like Miami for at least 5 years. If you fall into a climate zone with less UV exposure than climates closest to the equator, you can expect outdoor Life Floor installations to last between 7-10 years.
AVERAGE EXPECTATIONS
Indoor waterpark installations typically last 10-15 years. Outdoor splash pad installations typically last 7-10 years. Geographic location and volume of traffic often play a role in extending or shortening these expectations.
WHAT ABOUT COLD CLIMATES?
Life Floor is engineered to flex with the freeze and thaw cycles of seasons.
The top of Life Floor tiles may expand and contract with high and low temperatures. In winter months, contraction creates wider joints. In summer months, expansion creates tighter joints. Rapid temperature changes and/or wide swings have negligible impact on tile performance after installation. Approved contact cement adhesives keep the base of the tile secured to the underlayment or substrate.
Pictured above is one of our oldest outdoor splash pad installations at Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells. This splash pad has experienced TEN freeze-thaw cycles and is still performing great!
WHAT ABOUT COLOR LOSS?
We love design and we want every surface to look bold and bright for as long as possible. Colors generally fade in sunlight, but we’ve spent over a decade engineering our tiles to increase color longevity.
With our latest product innovations tailer to UV resistance, colors will stay vibrant through the warranty period when facilities follow proper water chemistry protocols and tile maintenance.
Want to learn about how our tiles are third-party tested for durability?
Read about how we meet the criteria for the NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 standard here.
GET STARTED ON YOUR PROJECT TODAY
With complementary design services and a dedicated team ready to answer any questions, we can’t wait to identify a solution for your surfacing needs. Contact us to get the ball rolling!
Is Concrete Surfacing the Right Choice for Splash Pads?
Using concrete as the surface for an aquatic play area is like building a house, putting down plywood and calling it a home. Sure, it functions, but it’s not going to be comfortable or add any design value. And that’s the reality of concrete. It functions fine as a foundation, but is that all we want out of surfacing?
Life Floor Activates the Entire Splash Pad
At Life Floor, we believe safety surfacing dramatically improves the user experience. It completes the immersive experience you’ve planned and budgeted for, combining safety, playfulness, and utility all in one. In fact, because of the way Life Floor performs with water, it’s actually an additional play feature that activates the entire splash pad.
The Surface is a Canvas for Play
Life Floor is a feature because it encourages different kinds of play. The entire splash zone is energized when Life Floor is the surface. Kids cartwheel, jump, somersault, crawl, and tumble their way through spray features. In other words, users play in more ways with Life Floor. By equipping the surface for play, designers can engage 90% more of the aquatic facility.
Investing in Safety and Play Value
The added safety and play benefits of Life Floor are a worthwhile investment. Explore some of the ways we’ve transformed facilities and see what our customers have to say about Life Floor.
Historically, aquatic surfacing has been disastrous. Everything has failed. But with Life Floor, that’s all changed. You can now specify durable surfacing that doubles as a feature. Life Floor's performance and durability have been third-party tested through NSF, which is why we can confidently say we are the only aquatic safety surface that does exactly what it should do.
Want to learn about how our tiles are third-party tested for durability?
Read about how we met the criteria for NSF Standard 50:26 here.
HAVE A PROJECT THAT NEEDS LIFE FLOOR?
Contact us below and tell us about your project. Our Studio Team provides custom design concepts free of charge. We look forward to designing with you soon!
BEACHSIDE FUN AT MOREY’S PIERS
LIFE FLOOR NAMED 2022 DREAM DESIGN SUPPLIER
We're honored to be named as the Floor Covering Supplier by Aquatics International for two Dream Design Award-winning waterparks in 2022! At Baha Bay at Baha Mar and Atlantis Dubai Aquaventure, our brightly colored tiles activate these play areas and create immersive, fun environments for all guests. Congratulations to these waterparks and to all of our partners who collaborated to bring them to life!
2022 DREAM DESIGNS
Baha Bay at Baha Mar
Nassau, Bahamas
Life Floor is featured on Kid’s Island at Turtle Beach and Stingray Cove. In both areas, custom cut waves of our Aviator and Aqua tiles brighten up the surfacing at this waterpark. At Stingray Cove, Life Floor Landing Pads blend seamlessly with the surfacing design and offer enhanced cushioning at slide run-outs.
Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark
Dubai, UAE
Life Floor surfaces multiple areas of Splasher’s Island including the newest Splasher’s Cove. In the two kids areas, triangle gradients create vibrant beach and island effects. Life Floor sea creature Inlays add theming and play value to complement the overall design.
We celebrate these awards with all of the fellow teams who worked to make these projects a reality. A special congratulations to our partners WhiteWater and Waterplay for also being named 2022 Dream Design Suppliers!
Beyond the winners above, Life Floor contributed to the following projects awarded Dream Design designations by Aquatics International in previous years.
2021 DREAM DESIGNS
The St. James of Springfield, VA
Springfield, Virginia, USA
Life Floor’s blue surfacing creates a colorful backdrop in the play structure area of the facility.
2020 DREAM DESIGNS
Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay
Little Stirrup, Bahamas
Bold, custom graphics energize Splashaway Bay while a beach design completes the theming at Captain Jill’s Galleon.
Lopesan Costa Bavaro Resort
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Cushioned and slip-resistant tiles brighten up the splash pad at Splash Island Waterpark.
We love working with all of our customers around the world and partnering with other companies to create stunning aquatic facility designs. For more information about these projects or to learn how you can purchase our award-winning surfacing for your facility, contact us today.
New Inlay Themes to Celebrate Summer
We’re excited to announce three new sets of Inlays that can be used to enhance the design, theming, and imaginative play opportunities on any splash pad or pool deck. These new additions complement our growing library of options that have helped to reimagine the potential of aquatic play through surfacing design. Check out our new additions below!
SEA LIFE
As an expansion of our Marine collection of Inlays, we can’t wait to see these new Sea Life Inlays sprinkled across designs that emulate underwater landscapes. We expect these to join our other sea creatures as some of our most popular thematic additions.
OUTDOOR EXPLORATION
Inspired by summer camping, we’ve created this set of Outdoor Exploration Inlays to complement our Forest Inlays. These designs will help to create unique, woodland themed splash pads that inspire adventure!
GEOMETRIC
We’ve already seen the limitless design possibilities when it comes to our different tile shapes so we wanted to expand those options to our Inlays. These shapes are sure to inspire countless numbers of new patterns and graphic elements. The vibrant design below gives just a glimpse at their potential!
The addition of these new Inlays to our library is just the continuation of a year-long expansion of theming options we’re making available to customers and designers. If you’re interested in including one or more of these new Inlays in your upcoming project, please contact your regional sales manager. For projects outside of the U.S., please contact our international team.
AQUA NICK AT NICKELODEON™ RIVIERA MAYA
Families are sure to enjoy a fun-packed vacation at Aqua Nick at Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts, Riviera Maya. With water features covering two-thirds of the property’s location, there’s something for everyone!
Life Floor surfaces several activity zones at the resort including Bikini Bottom Beach and Paw Patrol Adventure Bay. Vibrant Bluebird, Aviator, and Iceberg colors are designed in a wave pattern throughout the park, which helps to create a consistent theme that compliments the features and provides added safety and comfort for guests of all ages.
In addition to the slides and structures, the characters themselves are designed and manufactured by WhiteWater. Spongebob Squarepants and Paw Patrol friends are prominently featured around the main activity zones and some other characters can be seen from other Nickelodeon™ shows such as Blue from Blue’s Clues.
“[Aqua Nick] is the largest theming project that WhiteWater has ever created, incorporating the intellectual property of Nickelodeon™ across 11 exhilarating water slides, a RainFortress 5, AquaPlay 200, Splash Pad, and Lazy River.”
To learn more about this installation and to view project specifications, click the button below:
Thank you to WhiteWater for collaborating with us on this project. To begin your own Life Floor x WhiteWater project that will create lasting memories for your guests for years to come, contact us today.
New Inlay Themes for Spring
We’re excited to announce the latest expansion of our Life Floor Inlay library. These three new sets of Inlays can be easily integrated into any design to add increased play value, theming, and visual interest. Keep an eye out for even more Inlay releases throughout the year!
AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND
Transport guests down under with these new wildlife Inlays! This Australia & New Zealand themed set is inspired by Life Floor Australia and New Zealand and the magnificent projects that have been installed there. A few of our favorites include Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast, the Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Center, and Australia Zoo.
TROPICAL
Design a vibrant jungle landscape with these colorful Tropical Inlays or complement the existing scenery with the Hibiscus and Monstera accents. This set pairs nicely with our Rainforest, Wildflower, or Oasis Themes.
GARDEN
Create some fun outdoor theming with this Garden Inlay set. Count all the Ladybugs as an impromptu scavenger hunt or follow the Bees to their hive! This set pairs well with our Wilderness or Rainforest Themes. The Bee Inlay is sized to fit within one of our Hexagon Tile Shapes which makes it well-suited for a honeycomb-themed environment.
Design Tips
Use Rocks Inlays in a repeating pattern to mimic a stone pathway for added play value and theming.
Combine our new Bee Inlays with our hexagon tiles to create a buzzing hive!
The addition of these new Inlays to our library is just the continuation of a year-long expansion of theming options we’re making available to customers and designers. If you’re interested in including one or more of these new Inlays in your upcoming project, please contact your regional sales manager. For projects outside of the U.S., please contact our international team.
ALL ABOARD! CRUISES FILLED WITH AQUATIC FUN
Guest experience is essential aboard any cruise ship to ensure a fun and unique vacation for passengers. Among the numerous amenities available, water features have become increasingly popular attractions. Flowriders by WhiteWater Industries, waterslides, splash pads, and beautiful pools have become staples for many vessels. As a result, patrons have come to expect bigger and brighter aquatic experiences as new vessels are built.
LARGE AQUATIC PLAY STRUCTURES
Elevated structures such as multi-level interactive water play structures or waterslide towers create an immediate presence that cruisers are often amazed by. These types of amenities serve as a focal point for the ship as a whole and create lasting memories.
Surf machines such as Flowrider by WhiteWater Industries are compact attractions, but they have a large onboard impact. For many guests, exposure to surf machines like these might happen for the first time on a cruise. Some ships have chosen to reinforce branding alongside the surrounding walkways and reduce risk with Life Floor’s custom logos and safety surfacing benefits.
POOL DECKS
Pool decks are popular amenities on cruise ships. Having a comfortable pool deck where guests feel at ease improves guest experience at these amenity types. Because these features are central to recreation on the upper decks of ships, vibrant designs that match the ship’s theming have become increasingly popular.
Beyond the focus on great looking pool decks, it’s essential that these areas are designed with safety and cleanability in mind. Certain elements can provide visual signals to guests regarding critical elements such as a pool edge, step down, or depth of water. Slip resistance can help maintain guests’ footing in these wet areas especially when paired with motion at sea. Surfaces that resist the growth of harmful bacteria help to protect the health of guests, especially since ships are heavily occupied with little downtime between voyages.
By keeping these elements in mind, the upper decks of cruise ships provide the ultimate zones for aquatic relaxation and fun for their guests as they voyage across the seas.
SPLASH PADS
Splash pads have become a popular amenity onboard cruise ships for families with young children or guests looking for aquatic play outside a pool setting.
Splash pads provide a variety of play options from dump buckets to water spray features. Generally, free play is more widely available on splash pads due to play requiring a level of imagination and creativity. Encouraging free play by having a highly themed splash pad can help guests who may not know one another play with a similar theme in mind. For example, a pirate themed splash pad can lend a story arc option to guests and create memories that may not have otherwise happened.
Including all aspects of a splash pad’s construction in theming allows for greater customization and control of the greater cruise experience. From water jets to surfacing, utilizing all the aspects of splash pad design can curate experiences for guests.
Image Credit: eatsleepcruise.com
KIDS’ PLAY AREAS
Kids’ play areas are perfect for onboard daycares and family zones. Both indoor and outdoor dry play areas on cruise ships often feature various playground equipment that require a fall attenuating, cushioned surface to protect against accidental falls when equipment is elevated. An IMO-certified surface like Life Floor has been popular in these applications.
Fun, vibrant flooring designs can help brighten up a play area by incorporating colors and themes that complement the rest of the space. Inlaid designs can provide another layer of play engagement with surface games or scavenger hunts. Life Floor’s custom cutting capabilities can also reinforce branding with cruise line logos or iconography.
See our standard Inlay Library here.
PRIVATE ISLANDS
Beyond all of the fun on board, cruise lines that stop at their own private islands allow for all-inclusive theming in a secluded locale. Building an island environment is incredibly complex and requires a wide scope of considerations which centers around guest experience and enjoyment. Aquatic amenities are often the main features on private islands as guests seek to cool off and enjoy warm weather.
Life Floor is featured at two splash pads that can be enjoyed whenever passengers spend a Perfect Day® at CocoCay® courtesy of Royal Caribbean. Guests can cool off, run and play, or relax on the sidelines at both Splashaway Bay designed by Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering or at Captain Jill’s Galleon designed by the Life Floor Studio. These two projects at CocoCay are quintessential examples of Life Floor’s ability to match any aquatic feature’s theming and support risk reduction.
The graphic elements of these two installations extend the scope of theming to provide immersive engagement for guests. At Splashaway Bay, the designs on the slide tower panels were integrated into the surface design. Similarly, Captain Jill’s Galleon features a massive vessel with the surfacing surrounding it designed to mimic a body of water.
Guest experience at an island vista requires comprehensive planning and safety parameters to ensure a low-risk environment while providing ample options for adrenaline-pumping adventures mixed with relaxing opportunities. To minimize interruptions to play, reducing overall risk is critical. One way to reduce risk in aquatic features specifically is to invest in safety surfacing that has increased slip-resistance and cushioning to better protect guests.
Life Floor’s IMO Certified safety surfacing is both lightweight and durable for all types of wet or dry amenities.
We have so much fun working on these projects and serving the unique needs of our cruise partners such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines, MSC, and Norwegian Cruise Lines among others. To specify Life Floor for your cruise ship, please contact Lindsay Fetzer here.
Unique Aquatic Designs at Vacation Destinations Worldwide
Some of our favorite projects include installations at sunny vacation destinations around the world. These locations chose Life Floor surfacing to add theming and design to their aquatic facilities and play areas with the added benefits of cushioning and slip-resistance that comes with our flooring.
To give a sampling of some of the top projects on our travel bucket lists, we've compiled a list below. Many of these featured splash pads and pool decks are customized to look like seascapes, while others feature vibrant graphic elements. We've loved partnering with each of these resorts and travel destinations as we continue to provide a fun aquatic design solution to customers worldwide.
DUBAI
Jungle Bay Waterpark
“Inspired by the islands of Greece, the waterpark was designed intentionally with a clean, minimalist style. The park features rides and attractions for all ages… all surfaced with Life Floor for the whole family.” - WhiteWater Industries
Jungle Bay Waterpark is accessible through both The Westin Dubai and Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort in Dubai, UAE.
Atlantis The Palm Dubai
As one of the world’s leading resorts, Atlantis The Palm Dubai boasts a complete resort experience. The submerged splash pad at Aquaventure Waterpark, which features a beach theme, was created for maximum entertainment and superior guest experience complete with Life Floor safety surfacing.
The Beach Jumeirah
Located between the panoramic backdrop of the Dubai skyline and the turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf, The Beach splash pad delights families residing in the luxurious Jumeriah residential area.
CARIBBEAN
Perfect Day at CocoCay
Cruisers of Royal Caribbean can truly have a Perfect Day at CocoCay. There’s something for everyone with numerous water play features to choose from and enjoy. From the Tallest Waterslide in North America to the largest freshwater pool in the Bahamas, this experience is a fun-filled getaway for the whole family. Life Floor is featured at two splash pads on the island with colorful surfacing that brightens up both Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill's Galleon.
Lopesan’s Costa Bavaro Resort
Splash Island Waterpark is a picturesque family vacation destination in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic located at Lopesan’s Costa Bavaro Resort. This 27-acre themed resort pairs luxury with fun and has zoned areas for even the youngest guests.
Jungala Aqua Experience
Jungala Aqua Experience is internationally known as a leader in guest experience. By placing capacity limits on accommodations, this luxury resort is able to provide guests with an experience that truly feels unique. This location features a RainFortress 5 structure by WhiteWater Industries paired with vibrant Life Floor surfacing to create an action-packed aquatic play environment.
AUSTRALIA
Australia Zoo
Australia Zoo created a beautiful splash pad at the center of their Laughing Lolly Shop and Water Park - a place where kids can play and cool off in the blazing Queensland sun while exploring beautiful sculptures of Australian animals, designed by the Zoo’s artist team. True to their environmental mission, they use water recycling components to reduce waste and give back to the wild.
Sugarworld Adventure Park
As a central place for the community to connect and for local kids to cool off in the Queensland heat, the park features a 7,000 square foot play pool, complete with a play structure. Located near the site of an old sugar mill, this council-owned waterpark is the centerpiece of the community of Edmonton outside Cairns, Australia.
ULTIQA Beach Haven Resort
“ULTIQA Beach Haven on Broadbeach is the perfect Gold Coast getaway. Views of the Pacific Ocean, Gold Coast Coastline and Hinterland views combine with relaxed apartments, creating a family friendly coastal destination.”
- ULTIQA Beach Haven on Broadbeach
The unique wave patterning on this resort's pool deck can be seen from rooms above and adds comfortable surfacing for all guests who use this amenity.
United States
LEGOLAND Surfer’s Cove
Surfer’s Cove is inspired by the beaches of Southern California and features its own surrounding artificial beach. It is a unique, enclosed area of LEGOLAND California, perfect for parents to relax within sight of their children playing on the splash pad.
Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance
Excited travelers looking to experience the best of Southern California look to the Anaheim Courtyard by Marriott. This hotel is located near Disneyland and other popular attractions. In addition to spacious accommodations, the hotel is proud to offer guests access to the 20,000 sq ft Surfside Waterpark. Many rooms overlook this central attraction that features theming that carries through from the WhiteWater AquaPlay structure to the Life Floor surfacing.
Dolphin Bay Resort
Framed by the Pacific Ocean and tropical palm trees, Dolphin Bay Resort is ideal for a California beach getaway. Guests are welcome to lounge in the sun on the resort's pool deck while listening to the waves crash against the shoreline a short walk away from the resort.
Fun Spot America, Orlando
Fun Spot Orlando is a vibrant family-owned theme park with a beautiful splash pad located in the heart of Orlando, FL. Fun Spot decided to expand on their mission of “Safe-Clean-Fun” and showcase their logo on a larger-than-life scale on the park’s splash pad where guests can cool off after a full day of fun.
While this list features just some of our favorite vacation destinations around the world, there are countless others. To view more of our projects, head to our Portfolio page.
If you'd like to see how Life Floor surfacing could enhance a resort or attraction you have in mind, contact us to start the design process!
CREATING UNIQUE AQUATIC EXPERIENCES AT CAMPGROUNDS AND RV PARKS
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, North Java, NY
Campgrounds and RV parks that provide access to aquatic amenities such as splash pads, waterparks, or lake shores are popular with campers. These amenities provide a simple, yet fun way for families to relax and enjoy the excitement of camping, while also cooling off in the warm summer heat.
At some camp resort locations such as Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Parks, theming is an important aspect for each location. It allows for branded merchandise, lovable characters, and a complete experience that makes guests feel more welcome and connected.
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, Natural Bridge, VA
Theming can be accomplished in a variety of ways including literature, signage, merchandise, and the physical appearance of buildings or amenities. Log cabins, tents, and picnic baskets are strong camping associations for many people, so including interactive elements that foster memorable play can improve overall engagement.
One way that themes can be incorporated into a park design is through aquatic surfacing design. Varying design iterations on the same surface can signal different play zones while also carrying a theme throughout the park and creating a unique experience.
Safety surfacing on splash pads and around pool decks can also add to the amount of fun that families have at these facilities by providing cushioning and slip-resistance for greater comfort and more active play.
Cascade Cove, Lake George RV Park, Lake George, NY
As travel picks up again, there has also been an increasing trend for RV travel and guest stays at campgrounds that allow RVs. This type of travel allows for greater flexibility, more options, outdoor family adventures, and tends to be generally less expensive than other methods of vacationing. Aquatic amenities add to this experience and are a welcome benefit wherever they’re featured.
To get Life Floor quoted for your campground or RV park, please complete our contact form here. We’d be happy to provide you with budget numbers and some complimentary design options.
Life Floor is Now the Recommended Surface of Waterplay
Minneapolis, Minn., March 2, 2022
Life Floor, an innovative aquatic safety surfacing manufacturer, and Waterplay, the industry’s leading aquatic play manufacturer, today announce a strategic partnership to bring aquatic surfacing to the global splash pad market. Together, the companies are committed to making aquatic recreation completely immersive and connecting the world through play and social experiences.
“We’re thrilled to bring Life Floor to our customers. It just makes sense for our companies to team up and create a playful experience together. Life Floor is really stunning in the aquatic space and a perfect complement to our products and, of course, for customers looking for strong theming. It’s also very fun in that kids play differently on a Life Floor aquatic surface, they’re able to crawl and roll without restriction, or make a game of jumping from tile to tile. With NSF certification, our partners and customers can trust they are investing in a surface that is both durable and safe.””
Waterplay’s commitment to bringing play and social experience to communities around the planet is evident in their inclusive designs, range of splash features, and global reach. The company is passionate about making play accessible for every ability with thousands of installations and a 35-year track record of happy customers.
“We really couldn’t be happier to partner with Waterplay. They’re a leading manufacturer in splash pad design with a team who is incredibly passionate about play. Offering our products together brings the best of both worlds together for aquatic users—unique, imaginative play solutions paired with beautiful, safe surfacing.” ”
The Waterplay and Life Floor partnership includes the global splash pad market. Exclusivity will be given to Waterplay for all projects specified solely with Waterplay equipment and Life Floor products. Life Floor is committed to providing the best aquatic surfacing for all spray park end customers and will continue working directly with customers who choose alternative equipment providers. Life Floor will also continue working directly with spray feature manufacturers and their Registered Aquatic Partners where Waterplay and Life Floor are not exclusively specified.
Life Floor manufactures Life Floor tiles, a foam-rubber flooring system designed for use in wet areas with barefoot traffic. Created as an alternative to concrete and other conventional materials, Life Floor is the only safety surface specifically designed and engineered to perform in aquatic environments. Life Floor combines award-winning safety with unparalleled design capabilities, delivered by an expert team committed to a world-class experience for everyone who interacts with our products. To learn more, visit lifefloor.com.
Gwen Ruehle | Vice President, Business Development
+1.612.269.7919 | gwen.ruehle@lifefloor.com
lifefloor.com
Waterplay designs and manufactures play solutions for indoor and outdoor aquatic play spaces. Freestanding play features, playable fountains, elevated structures and water management solutions—we specialize in inclusive, high value, quality products that last. With aquatic play, water management, seating, shade, surfacing and toilet facility solutions, there’s no aquatic play project we can’t handle. Contact us today to start working with our experienced support teams positioned to help you every step of the way. building a splash pad is easy with Waterplay. Visit waterplay.com to learn more.
Shanley Hutchinson | Group Marketing Manager
+1.250.712.3393 | marketing@waterplay.com
waterplay.com
3 EASY AQUATIC IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE FOR SUMMER
As aquatic facilities plan to reopen for summer, they may look to make improvements for even more fun experiences at their pools and splash pads. Some may seek to address safety concerns like slip-and-falls. Others may look to enhance design and play value. Many of the solutions offered by Life Floor can help achieve these goals. Learn more about some easy ways our surfacing can address these needs in time for summer.
1. IMPROVE FACILITY SAFETY
Some of the most common pain points we hear involve slippery, abrasive surfaces that are difficult to maintain. These problems often lead to unfortunate injuries or increased risk at facilities.
We're also often contacted by customers that have tried other safety surfacing solutions that have failed in an aquatic environment. Many other rubberized or aggregate materials have been designed for dry playgrounds. As a result, they aren't engineered to withstand the unique combination of UV, aquatic, and chemical impacts that face splash pads or pool decks.
Other customers have struggled with growth on the surfacing at their facilities. Unlike more porous options, Life Floor features a closed-cell technology, which doesn’t foster growth of bacteria, mold, and algae. Our tiles have been third-party tested for cleanability and offer a great solution for anyone who has experienced this issue.
In 2019, NSF International passed NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50:26 outlining criteria for safety surfacing products for interactive water play, which include slip-resistance and cushioning among others. They recognize that similar safety parameters are needed in aquatic play areas, following the precedent set by dry playgrounds. Life Floor is the first and currently only product to be certified to this standard.
Our tiles can be easily installed over existing substrates to address safety concerns or to replace other surfacing solutions that have failed. If you have an existing facility where Life Floor might be a good fit, contact us to learn more.
2. BRIGHTEN UP SURFACING DESIGN
Many aquatic facilities contact Life Floor in need of a bright, new refresh. Adding our colorful tiles can transform any area with a blank, monochromatic surface to create an engaging, immersive experience for guests of all ages.
Our thematic Inlays can be easily integrated into any design to increase play value, theming, and visual interest. Games and graphics can also be included as part of a Life Floor installation. For budget-conscious or simpler designs, our preset Themes and Patterns can achieve beautiful results without the added costs of custom work.
3. CUSHION WATER SLIDE LANDINGS
We often hear from customers in search of new or improved cushioning at water slide landings. In many ways, prior solutions they've tried have fallen short. For instance, traditional slide landing pads are made with an impervious shell that has a consistent flaw in design; the cushioning and the waterproofing are viewed as separate elements. After repeated impact as guests exit a slide, the protective shell often fails leaving the padding exposed to water. From there, traditional landing pads can grow mold, the sharp edges of the failed protective shell can cause injuries, and pieces of foam can leak into the pool during peak busy season. These traditional landing pads are also typically bolted down to the pool bottom, which can result in tripping hazards or injuries during slide exits.
With Life Floor, our product’s inherent non-absorbent and impact cushioning qualities are built into our landing pads: no coatings, protective shells, or bolts required. Instead of bolts, Life Floor Landing Pads are adhered to the pool bottom with construction-grade, solvent-based contact cement, which can be found at a local hardware or flooring supply store.
Each Life Floor Landing Pad has a 4 ft (121.92 cm) critical fall height, 5-year material warranty, and non-abrasive slip-resistance for a safer exit every time. Our landing pads are created out of modular 2 ft (60.96 cm) square tiles so they can be customized to fit anywhere operators need to install them. In the event that any damage ever occurs, our modular design allows for only the compromised tiles to be replaced, which helps save on overall cost.
Life Floor Landing Pads are a great way to test out our products at your facility for a relatively low price point. To order one of our Landing Pads today, visit our online storefront here.
RETROFITTING LIFE FLOOR
One of the most common questions we get asked is, “Can Life Floor be installed over an existing surface?” The answer is yes! This type of installation, also known as a retrofit installation, is extremely common. Life Floor can be installed over virtually any solid substrate such as concrete or ceramic tile. When our installers are working with an existing surface, they will often prepare the surface beforehand by patching any cracks and grinding the surface down to ensure a smooth surface before laying Life Floor tiles.
If any spray features are present at the installation site or if there is a concrete apron surrounding the aquatic zone, our installers will use transition strips to provide a cohesive experience and ensure tripping hazards are eliminated. Our installation teams work to perfectly surround any spray features without removing them to reduce maintenance downtime and ensure a snug fit.
Transition strips help simplify the process by creating a seamless transition from the surrounding area onto the aquatics feature zone. Life Floor transition strips are ADA Compliant and provide a smooth ramp onto the installation that prevents stubbed toes and accessibility concerns.
With proper preparation and the right team of installers, Life Floor can easily surface over existing substrates to transform facilities with improved safety and design. Our team always enjoys hearing from customers who have seen the impact that our tiles have made.
If you’re interested in retrofitting your splash pad or pool deck with Life Floor, we'd love to support your needs in time for your summer reopening. Be sure to request a quote and see what a difference beautifully designed safety surfacing can make.
NEW INLAY THEMES FOR 2022
We’re excited to announce an expansion of our Life Floor Inlay library. These three new sets of shapes can be easily integrated into any design to add increased play value, theming, and visual interest. Keep an eye out for even more Inlay releases throughout the year!
FOREST
Squirrel
Paw Prints
Bear
Oak Leaf
Fox
Maple Leaf
Bird
Bear Print
Acorn
Tree Stump
Walk your guests through the woods as they follow paw prints and spot forest animals such as birds, squirrels, and foxes with our Forest Inlays. These Inlays pair perfectly with our Wilderness and Rainforest Themes.
TREASURE HUNT
Pirate Ship
Horizontal Dash
Anchor
X
Ship’s Wheel
Spyglass
Treasure Chest
Diagonal Dash
Hook
Jolly Roger Flag
X Marks the Spot! Take your youngest guests on a pirate adventure. These Treasure Hunt Inlays pair with our Seashore Theme to create an immersive adventure experience. Whether guests are following the dotted line to the treasure chest or imagining hopping from ship to ship across the high seas, this Inlay set will enhance play value at aquatic or beach themed facilities.
POND
Butterfly
Duck
Grass Tuft
Duckling
Lizard
Frog
Lily Pad
Dragonfly
Turtle
Waterlily
Bug hunters and frog catchers will love these Pond-inspired shapes. Hop across lily pads and imagine you’ve shrunk to the size of one of our turtle Inlays as your guests explore! These Pond themed Inlays pair well with our green, blue, and tan colors.
The addition of these new shapes to our library is just the start of a year-long expansion of theming options we’re making available to customers and designers. If you’re interested in including one or more of these new Inlays in your upcoming project, please contact your regional sales manager. For projects outside of the U.S., please contact our international team.
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.