SAFETY FIRST.

In New Jersey, children will be able to play more safely thanks to the actions of the New Jersey Legislature and products such as TimberTurf[TM] from South Jersey agricultural products firm, SJAP NaturaLink.

As acting governor of New Jersey during Christine Todd Whitman's absence, the Honorable Donald DiFrancesco signed a landmark playground safety bill into law on March 23, 1999, which requires that New Jersey public school playgrounds and other public facilities meet the safety guidelines set forth from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). New playgrounds must comply as they are built, and existing facilities have a compliance period of five years. Many surface materials now in use will no longer qualify under the new law.

Ahead of their time, agricultural specialists at SJAP NaturaLink developed and tested a playground surfacing material that absorbs impact more effectively than any earlier material. Made only of 100 percent natural virgin wood, TimberTurf[TM], used at a recommended depth of 12 inches, meets or exceeds all U.S. CPSC and American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) shock-absorption standards for playground surface materials. In tests conducted by Biomechanics Laboratory at Penn State University, TimberTurf[TM] was shown to absorb impacts of falls of 11 feet (and at some temperatures, 12 feet) and still meet the ASTM Head Injury Criteria standard. In addition, the all-natural material meets any wheelchair accessibility requirement and other Americans with Disabilities Act provisions that apply to playground surfaces.

Note: The ability of TimberTurf[TM] to limit injuries is dependent on many factors beyond the manufacturer's control, including the thickness of a given layer of product, drainage, maintenance, and the height of play equipment above the surface material. Users should consult a qualified engineer for proper product installation and maintenance procedures.