Testing & Compliance

About Our Tests

FlexGround’s poured-in-place rubber playground surfacing—EPDM/TPV wear layers over SBR cushion—undergoes third-party testing for PFAS (EPA 1633), PAHs (ASTM F3496), and Heavy Metals (EN 71-3). Our systems are engineered to be PFAS-free at lab reporting limits, PAH-compliant, and within toy-grade heavy metal migration limits—delivering safe, durable, low-maintenance play surfaces for schools, parks, and municipalities.

EPA 1633 (PFAS)

  • What it checks: Looks for a large list of “forever chemicals” (PFAS) in the materials.
  • Why it matters: Confirms the surface doesn’t contain PFAS above very low lab detection levels—supporting safer play areas and buyer peace of mind.

ASTM F3496 (PAHs / “PAH8”)

  • What it checks: Screens for eight priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—byproducts linked to incomplete combustion.
  • Why it matters: Verifies PAH levels are at or below accepted limits, helping ensure responsible material selection for children’s environments.

EN 71-3 (Heavy Metals Migration)

  • What it checks: “Toy standard” style test that measures how much heavy metal content (like lead or cadmium) could migrate out of the surface layer.
  • Why it matters: Confirms extremely low potential for metals to leach from the play surface—aligning with stringent safety expectations for children’s products.
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Testing & compliance

TPV/EPDM Poured Rubber Systems 

Samples, including the SBR cushion layer, were screened for the big three—PFAS, PAHs, and heavy metals. Results show no PFAS or PAH detected in either layer and heavy metals within toy-grade migration limits. 

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What that Means

PFAS (EPA 1633):

  • TPV/EPDM wear layer/binder: 40 PFAS compounds analyzed; all non-detect (ND) at very low reporting limits (parts-per-billion in solids).
  • SBR cushion: Same EPA 1633 method; all ND across the PFAS list.

Heavy metals (EN 71-3, Category III “scraped-off”):

  • TPV/EPDM wear layer/binder: Meets the stringent toy-style migration limits for elements like lead, cadmium, chromium, etc. (PASS).
  • SBR cushion: Also evaluated to EN 71-3; overall PASS.

PAHs (ASTM F3496 “PAH8”):

  • TPV/EPDM wear layer/binder: Both TPV and EPDM color wear layers considered safe PAH levels per passing test criteria of  ≤20 mg/kg.

  • SBR cushion: Tested to the same standard that uses a ≤20 mg/kg total PAH8 limit; overall PASS.

Why these Tests Matter

  • PFAS checks look for “forever chemicals.” ND means the lab didn’t find them above very low detection levels in either layer.
  • EN 71-3 is a toy-safety style leaching test; PASS indicates very low potential for metals to migrate from the top surface.
  • PAH8 screening confirms materials meet the commonly used turf system products limit for these combustion-by-products.

Bottom line:

The TPV or EPDM-over-SBR playground surface by FlexGround was lab-screened and showed no PFAS detected in either layer, heavy metals within strict toy-grade limits, and tested to the PAH8 standard that uses a ≤20 mg/kg cap. In plain terms: this is a modern, compliance-minded system built for everyday play.

Disclaimer: Independent lab screens show our poured-in-place rubber systems are PFAS not detected, PAH-compliant, and within EN 71-3 toy-grade limits—built for everyday play with safety and durability in mind.

For complete test results, please contact us for full documentation.

 

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