HICHIC Testing Request a test
EN 1177 · Critical fall height testing

Independent HIC testing for safer playground surfaces.

We measure how well your surfacing protects a child's head in a fall, and determine its critical fall height to BS EN 1177 — on site or in the laboratory. Carried out by a UKAS-accredited testing laboratory.

Request a test How HIC works
Playground equipment on impact-attenuating surfacing, with the free height of fall annotated against the surface's critical fall height
HIC ≤ 1000
Head injury criterion limit
gmax ≤ 200
Peak deceleration limit
up to 3.00 m
Critical fall height rated
What we do

The number that decides whether a surface is fit for the equipment above it.

Under EN 1176-1, any play equipment with a free height of fall above 600 mm must sit on impact-attenuating surfacing. EN 1177 is the test that proves how much protection that surfacing actually gives — expressed as a critical fall height. We carry out that test and issue the report you need for compliance, procurement or post-installation sign-off.

01

On-site testing

We bring the instrumented drop apparatus to your playground and test the surface in place, across the impact area, exactly as installed.

02

Laboratory testing

Surfacing samples tested under controlled conditions (23 °C ± 5 °C) to establish a product's critical fall height for specification and certification.

03

Post-installation checks

Method 2 verification that an installed surface still attenuates impact as required — at handover or as part of an ongoing inspection regime.

Cross-section of impact-attenuating playground surfacing showing the EPDM wear course, SBR shockpad base, sub-base and formation, with the headform impact point
A typical surfacing build-up — the layers that together give a surface its critical fall height.
Why it matters

Falls onto surfacing are the leading cause of serious playground injury.

  • Demonstrate a clear duty-of-care position for your school, nursery, park or estate.
  • Confirm new surfacing matches the fall height of the equipment installed above it.
  • Settle disputes over whether a worn or ageing surface still performs.
  • Support procurement, warranty and insurance with independent evidence.
A simple rule of thumb. The critical fall height of the surface should be at least as high as the highest accessible point of the equipment. A surface that passes at 1.5 m is not adequate under a 2.4 m climbing frame, however new it looks.
Why Surface Performance

A UKAS-accredited testing laboratory, not a surfacing supplier.

We don't sell or install surfacing, so our results carry no commercial bias. EN 1177 expects suitability to be evidenced by a report from a laboratory working to ISO/IEC 17025 — which is the basis of our UKAS accreditation (Lab No. 7933). We also hold RoSPA accreditation and test across the full range of sports and play surfaces.

Request testing

Get a critical fall height test booked.

Send us the surface type, equipment height and location. We'll confirm the method and quote.