# Additional Criteria for Playground Impact Attenuating Sand
## 5 Assessment of 15 Different Sands  
Fifteen different sands were evaluated in this study. The samples have been identified so as to anonymise the names, locations and contact details of the various playgrounds and sand suppliers. Sands 01 to 06 and 12 were all assessed as passing AS 4422 [6] with a 2.5 m or greater critical fall height when installed at a depth of 300 mm or greater. They were all marketed and sold as IAS sands. The remaining five sands were not marketed or sold as IAS sands. Sands 07 and 08 were beach sands while Sands 09 to 11 were engineering sands (concreting, bricklaying and paving). Each sand sample was subjected to accelerated degradation using the Los Angeles Abrasion Test. The test is defined under the Australian Standard AS 1141.25.3--2003 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates: Degradation factor--Fine aggregate [40]. The detailed specifications of these sands regarding the coefficient of uniformity, fineness modulus, % fines, and degradation after 0 and 1500 impacts are listed in Table 3. Note that most of the sands can be classified as poorly graded sand (coefficient of uniformity >5) except Sands 11 and 12A. Among those poorly graded sands, Sands 06 to 08 are preferable with a coefficient of uniformity close to 2. The results of Sands 06 and 07 stand out as their % fines value is close to zero.  
Figures 12-19 show the grading curves and the 10\(\times\) magnification of the sand before impact loading from selected sands. For each sand, four grading curves after 0, 500, 1000, and 1500 impacts are given. Grading curve shifting left after impact loading indicates particle degradation occurs during impact [41]. It is worth noting that Sand-06 (high sphericity and rounded) shows negligible degradation after 1500 impacts, Sand-10 and Sand-11 present significant degradation (>7) after 1500 impacts, others show relatively medium degradation (2.3 to 3.6). Therefore, combining all the above information, Sand 06 is the most ideal IAS among all the sand samples reviewed.  
Figure 14: Sand 03A: (**Left**) Similar grading curves for 500, 1000 and 1500 impacts, indicating very little degradation. (**Right**) 10\(\times\) magnification at 0 impacts depicting high sphericity and rounded.  
Figure 12: Sand 01: (**Left**) Similar grading curves for 500, 1000 and 1500 impacts, indicating little degradation. (**Right**) 10\(\times\) magnification at 0 impacts depicting medium sphericity and rounded.  
Figure 13: Sand 02: (**Left**) Similar grading curves for 500, 1000 and 1500 impacts, indicating very little degradation. (**Right**) 10\(\times\) magnification at 0 impacts depicting high sphericity and rounded.  
Figure 15: Sand 04: (**Left**) Similar grading curves for 500 and 1000 impacts, indicating very little degradation. (**Right**) 10\(\times\) magnification at 0 impacts depicting high sphericity and well rounded. Critical fall height is greater than 3.5 m when tested in accordance with AS 4422:2016 (see Figure 5).  
Figure 16: Sand 05: (**Left**) An example of a sand where the sand particles were larger than sands traditionally used within playgrounds. This type of sand is more commonly used for potting as it provides excellent drainage. Similar grading curves for 500 and 1000 impacts, indicating very little degradation. (**Right**) 10\(\times\) magnification at 0 impacts depicting high sphericity and well rounded.  
Figure 17: Sand 06: (**Left**) Similar grading curves for 500, 1000 and 1500 impacts, indicating very little degradation. (**Right**) 10\(\times\) magnification at 0 impacts depicting high sphericity and well rounded.  
Figure 18: Sand 10: A typical bricklayer’s sand not suitable as an IAS for children’s playgrounds. (**Left**) Slight separation in the grading curves for 500, 1000 and 1500 impacts, indicating little degradation. (**Right**) 10\(\times\) magnification at 0 impacts depicting medium sphericity angular.