Life Floor, a foam-rubber flooring system engineered specifically for aquatics, has earned certification to NSF/ANSI 50, the Interactive Water Play Venue Surfacing standard from global public health organisation NSF International. Life Floor is distributed by WhiteWater.
“Life Floor is proud to be certified to the NSF standard, because it gives operators confidence that our flooring solution is engineered to last and function in water play spaces,” said Life Floor CEO Jonathan Keller. “Our company is founded on a mission to make all aquatic areas beautiful and safe, which is why we set out four years ago to help develop a standard for aquatic safety surfacing. Just as playgrounds went through a safety revolution in the 1980’s and 1990’s, we believe splash pads and interactive water areas need an internationally recognised agency like NSF to establish standards and practices that keep users safer all over the world.”
NSF International led the development of the American National Standard NSF/ANSI 50: Equipment and Chemicals for Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs and Other Recreational Water Facilities in 1977, which is now heavily referenced in U.S. codes. Certification to NSF/ANSI 50 helps ensure that equipment, materials and chemicals meet minimum criteria for health effects, safety, design and construction, and performance and durability necessary to meet the code requirements set by most U.S. states and Canadian provinces/territories.
In 2019, the NSF/ANSI 50 standard was updated to include requirements for safety surfaces for interactive water venues. Certification NSF/ANSI 50 demonstrates these products have met a number of performance and safety criteria. Life Floor has flooring materials certified to NSF/ANSI 50 under the criteria for safety surfaces for interactive water venues.
Specifically, the NSF/ANSI 50 standard for safety surfacing for interactive water venues details the performance testing a surface must complete in order to be considered slip resistant, impact cushioned, impervious, and cleanable. A surface compliant with this standard would add slip resistance and impact cushioning even after prolonged exposure to UV and pool chemicals, will not absorb water and, when cleaned, removes harmful bacteria or microorganisms. These tests were selected and evaluated to most closely resemble real-world circumstances.
To earn NSF/ANSI 50 certification, Life Floor was subject to rigorous testing and evaluation to verify the product met six performance based requirements for use in interactive water play venues. NSF International also audited Life Floor’s manufacturing facility to verify compliance to the standard requirements.
Life Floor’s 3/8 Ripple and related marketing materials can now bear the NSF/ANSI 50 mark and are listed on NSF International’s website. NSF International works closely with state, local and national regulatory authorities to gain recognition and acceptance for the NSF mark
