Nature Changes. Performance Doesn’t.

How Corkeen surfaces retain Critical Fall Height safety across years of use Articles

As seasons change and playgrounds age, one thing remains constant: the need for safety. At Corkeen by Amorim, long-term performance is a fundamental requirement. Playground surfaces are expected to protect children not only at installation, but throughout years of exposure to use, weather, and time.

To better understand how the Corkeen system performs over time, we analyzed a key indicator of playground surface safety, Critical Fall Height (CFH), and evaluated its behavior in real-life installations that have been in use for several years.

  • What is CFH, and why does it matter?

    Defined under EN 1177, CFH represents the maximum height from which a child can fall without suffering a critical head injury. It’s a vital performance criterion for any safety surface, and one we have tested before and after installation.

     

    But how does that performance hold up with time? With usage, climate, and weather extremes? With natural surface evolution?

    IMG 9887 Edit

Real playgrounds. Real years. Real results.

From all the playgrounds audited, we selected three representative Corkeen installations, each with different installation timelines and exposure to diverse climates and usage conditions. And the results? Every project tested remained fully compliant with CFH standards.

  • Kirkebukten Park | Norway

    Installed: 2020 | CFH Goal: 1.60 m

     

    Audited: 2022 and 2025 → Compliant

     

    A seaside public park, exposed to humid continental winters and mild summers. After 5 years, surface integrity and safety remained consistent.

    Kirkebukten September 2025 7
  • Lake Highlands Family YMCA | USA

    Installed: 2024 | CFH Goal: 6 ft (1.83 m)

     

    Audited: 2025 → Compliant

     

    Built in a region with a humid subtropical climate, UV exposure and storm risk, Corkeen maintained its shock-absorbing properties after one full year of use.

    YMCA 1 Year (2)
  • Amalie Skramsvei | Norway

    Installed: 2022 | CFH Goal: 1.60 m

     

    Audited: 2022 and 2025 → Compliant

     

    Located in a residential neighborhood, this smaller park showed great durability, even in abrasion-prone swing zones.

    Amalie Skram April 2025

Time passes. Safety stays.

Color changes, surface texture evolves, but what matters most, the impact absorption and protection, remains intact. These results reinforce the natural resilience of cork, and the engineered consistency of Corkeen's system. For operators, municipalities, and private institutions, this means long-term confidence in playground safety, even after years of use.

At Corkeen, we don’t just talk about performance. We test it, measure it, and prove it. Because sustainability isn’t just about what lasts in the environment, it’s about what endures in function, too.

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