With the overarching focus to ensure fall height safety compliance is met, Burgess Matting has developed a 50mm rubber wetpour system that has been well utilised throughout New Zealand for over 30 years. The Burgess system involves an onsite crew installing a 40mm rubber base which is then wetpour top coated with a finer rubber shred. The rubber base is a larger shred that improves impact and sound absorption. The top coat is applied in a similar fashion to concrete, reducing/removing any joins and in turn providing a self-draining, non-slip and durable system for many years.

While Burgess Matting is undertaking safety installs on a regular basis, a recent job at a new Educare centre in Paraparaumu utilised the Burgess wetpour rubber system to its full potential. A total of 312 square metres were installed at 50mm, applying approximately 30kg of safety product per square metre — totalling almost 10 tonnes worth of product.

Under the direction of the owner and the local landscaping company, Burgess was able to ensure the 'natural' theme was followed, with different colours imitating a number of surfaces, from grass green, to bark brown, and the inclusion of 100m² of grey rubber pathways transforming what appeared a building site into a very functional and visually stunning childcare centre.

Beside the obvious benefits of recycling and minimising a growing issue throughout NZ, the properties of rubber offer endless benefits. Functionally, the rubber is a very durable, UV stable, long-lasting solution that requires very little ongoing maintenance. Visually, the wetpour system allows clients to create a child-friendly environment that is unique to their own imagination. The inclusion of shapes, hop-scotch, clocks, and symbols of all sorts can transform an outdoor play area into a very positive learning environment.

With capabilities continually expanding, Burgess are innovating through the use of their wetpour rubber. Within the education sector alone, Burgess now manufactures other solutions such as doorway threshold ramps, non-slip matting for decks and steps, commercial grade entrance matting, gym tiles, cricket wicket landings and have the potential to offer much more.