Pour-in-place rubber surfacing one of the most widely specified safety surfaces in the parks & recreation industry, and for good reason. Here are the six questions we hear most often, answered.
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Pour-in-place (PIP) rubber surfacing is a permanent, seamless safety surface mixed, poured, and finished directly on-site. It is a two-layer system: a shock-absorbing rubber base layer on the bottom and a durable wearing surface on top, made from EPDM rubber granules bound with resin.
Unlike rubber tiles or loose-fill materials like wood chips or pea gravel, PIP surfacing is continuous. There are no gaps, edges, or displaced material to manage. Once installed, it conforms to the shape of the space and stays put.
Zoom Recreation's PIP system, ZoomIMPACT, is available in a standard formulation and a premium option, ZoomIMPACT Pro, which uses HP rubber granules with advanced UV blockers and a UV-stable aliphatic resin for longer-lasting color and structural performance. Explore Zoom Recreations rubber surfacing.
PIP surfacing is mixed and applied by a trained crew directly at the project site. The process involves preparing the sub-base, pouring and compacting the rubber base layer, then applying and troweling the EPDM wearing surface on top.
ZoomIMPACT can be installed over Type 2 road base, concrete, or asphalt, which makes it compatible with both new builds and existing surfaces being upgraded.
One installation detail that is worth asking any installer about: whether the topcoat is completed in a single pour. Many contractors split the wearing surface across multiple days, which leaves a visible seam in the finished surface. That seam creates a weak point where moisture, wear, and ground movement can cause separation over time.
Zoom Recreation staffs a full crew for every topcoat pour so the entire wearing surface is completed in one continuous session, with no seam. This applies to all single areas under 3,000 square feet. Learn more about Zoom Concrete, Zoom Recreation's construction subdivision.
This is one of the most practical questions for facilities upgrading an existing space. PIP rubber is not limited to new construction. ZoomIMPACT's porous design allows installation over Type 2 road base, concrete, or asphalt, which means it can go down over a properly prepared existing surface without full demolition.
ADA retrofit projects specifically, this is a significant advantage. Many older playgrounds lack accessible surfacing connecting the entry point to play structures. ZoomIMPACT can be poured over existing hardscape to create compliant pathways and play zones, bringing the site up to standard without starting from scratch.
The sub-base does need to be in adequate condition before installation. Our project managers assess the site before any work begins to confirm compatibility and flag any drainage or structural issues that need to be addressed first.
Yes. Zoom Recreation has an in-house CAD designer who can create a custom surfacing layout tailored to your specific space, whether that means incorporating your city's colors, a themed design that matches the playground equipment, activity graphics, or something unique to your community.
From there, you choose your colors and finishes. ZoomIMPACT offers a range of standard EPDM colors including blue, red, beige, dark green, mid gray, and mid brown. ZoomIMPACT Pro expands the palette significantly, with options like Cobalt Blue, Inferno Red, Shamrock Green, Raspberry Pink, Teal, Aquamarine, Lime Green, Charcoal Gray, and more.
Color selection should account for sun exposure. Some brighter colors perform best indoors or when paired with an aliphatic resin to maximize UV stability. Explore custom rubber surfacing designs.
Yes, when properly specified and installed. PIP rubber surfacing meets ASTM International standards for playground safety surfacing, including critical fall height ratings, and satisfies ADA accessibility requirements for firm, stable, and slip-resistant ground surfaces.
ZoomIMPACT is commonly used to bring existing playgrounds into ADA compliance by creating accessible pathways and surfaced areas that connect to play structures, without requiring a full site rebuild.
The shock-absorbing rubber base layer is engineered to cushion falls at certified critical fall heights, providing a measurable safety standard that loose-fill materials cannot reliably maintain over time.
Durability comes down to materials and installation quality. ZoomIMPACT uses premium recycled rubber granules sourced from industrial manufacturers and made from high-performance polymers, including EPDM and SBR hoses. The granules are free from contaminants such as wire, fiber, plastic, and wood, which distinguishes them from lower-grade recycled rubber.
ZoomIMPACT is backed by a prorated 5-year warranty covering wear, cracking, and UV damage. With routine maintenance, including a resin roll coat every two to three years, the surface can perform well beyond the warranty period.
ZoomIMPACT Pro offers extended performance through HP granules formulated with advanced UV blockers and rich pigments designed to resist cracking, splitting, and color fade over time.
Zoom Recreation strives to create efficient recreational spaces and provide exceptional customer service. Superior awarded us their highest President's Award and Gold Club Awards two years in a row.
Contact usAs the exclusive representative of Superior Recreational Products in your local area, Zoom is committed to recommending, providing and installing only the top products for all our customers.
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