As I have been summoned to take the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, I have thought that I better advance my periodic article on the blog. In case any of those incidents that they call “suspected adverse event to the use of the COVID vaccine” occur to me, I will have already advanced the work. Anyway, don’t celebrate it just yet, I don’t think this is my posthumous article. In case you have any doubts, I am a firm believer in science and vaccines.
In our webinar of these last few days for our markets and potential customers in Latin America several questions and reflections arose and I thought it might be of interest to provide some advice on whether or not to use paving machines on wetpour rubber flooring for playgrounds and fitness areas.
The area of playgrounds varies in different countries, but they are very often located in urban or residential environments where the space available for these facilities is small. The average surface is usually less than 250 m2 and in the older centres of some cities the average can be even lower. Fitness areas are usually a bit bigger as they are located near natural spaces or on the outskirts of the cities, so more space is usually available and there are also usually less coloured designs.
If we combine the small dimensions with the presence of poles of play or fitness structures, springs or ropes of play equipment, feet of street furniture and complex designs using many colours and graphics, all this makes the efficient use of paving machines a bit difficult, so hand made is a must or as indicated in a previous blog a heated roller may be helpful.
However, my partner in the webinar illustrated me about some models of smaller width pavers, that I did not know and that can be an efficient option, when there are large enough areas of the same colour.
In the attached photographs above and below you can see some examples of these narrower machines working at Playgrounds.
Of course, in spaces such as MUGA sites, running tracks or larger areas in general, using the same surfacing colour, the use of an automatic paver machine is absolutely necessary and the most efficient way of getting a high quality surfacing.
For paver use, you should choose specific binders with longer opening times to avoid too fast initial curing.
CONICA provides variants for pavers that are totally equivalent to those for manual use. Ask our regional sales or our cutomer service about them.
See you after my first shot of COVID vaccine, …. hopefully.
Have a nice Easter Holiday
Rubberman Blog 