NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 Standard

A new Standard for Aquatic Safety Surfacing

In the world of flooring, pedestrian safety has always been an element of product design and application as well as aesthetics, comfort, and durability. Specifying the right product for the specific application and then ensuring expert installation has been fundamental to providing a hazard-free flooring solution. Inside Edge has built a reputation for providing safe and durable flooring solutions and that is why we are excited to partner with Life Floor in the aquatics play arena.

Aquatic play areas create several challenges for safe surfaces. The water based environment dictates the use of non-permeable hard materials and surfaces to hold or disperse water. Secondly, water on the surface of hard materials creates a dynamic separation of contact between the surface and the contact force. With aquatic surfaces, this dynamic water layer between barefoot and surface creates the potential for hydroplaning and slippage. In combination, these hard surfaces create a hazard for slipping and then for serious injury from impact on the hard surface.
We are excited about the Life Floor tile surfacing product because it addresses both of these fundamental challenges of slip resistance and impact attenuation. But aquatic venues also have other challenges for products to be successful in what are very harsh environments. They must be impervious to harsh chemicals and water absorption, allow for effective sanitization, and maintain all of these properties in an outdoor environment which includes exposure to UV.

In order to ensure that all of these requirements can be met, NSF created a new standard NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 (Interactive Water Play Venue Surfacing Systems), which outlines the six performance-based requirements listed above to meet the standard. Life Floor is the only surfacing product that currently meets this new standard and we are excited to partner with them to help communities make their aquatic play areas safer.

Even better yet, the Life Floor surface makes these areas more inclusive and playable as children can now run and tumble and parents/grandparents can sit with babies and toddlers on a soft and cooler surface. It’s a huge advancement in safe aquatic surfaces and will enhance guest stays and satisfaction and also reduce injuries and liabilities. A better mousetrap!