Softfall Testing

What Softfall Testing does

Softfall Testing is an Australian professional services firm founded in 2017 and headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia, that provides playground safety compliance and asset management services to local government councils, schools, childcare centers, healthcare facilities, and private operators across Australia. Its core service line centers on Level 3 comprehensive playground inspections and impact-attenuation testing of softfall surfaces using equipment certified to the AS4422:2016 Australian Standard, with adjacent offerings in post-install and operational inspections, playground maintenance, asset database establishment, replacement planning, design reviews, and tree safety audits. The company differentiates technically through its certified equipment, its branded 'I.M.E Process' (Identify, Manage, Eliminate) methodology, and integration with the Playground123 SaaS sister-company platform, which enables real-time digital inspection reporting and asset management workflows against Australian Standards.

The business operates on a project-based, quote-driven professional services model, with multi-year contracts structured around the inspection and testing scope required by each client. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, anchored by a website contact funnel, industry association memberships (SAPIA, Parks and Leisure Australia, Play Australia), and senior auditor involvement in standards-setting bodies (CS-005 Committee) and trade associations. Softfall Testing is family-owned (Fleming family) and operates with a small five-person team that includes senior leadership with deep credentials: a 20-year industry veteran, multiple CPSIA Level 1-3 certified inspectors, a CS-005 committee alumnus, and an auditor with over 1,000 personally audited playgrounds. Named customers include City of Onkaparinga (262-playground audit), City of Clarence (60+ playgrounds), City of Melbourne, multiple Northern Territory councils and schools, Anglicare NT, and Katherine Hospital. The company carries no external funding, has no disclosed M&A activity, and has organically expanded its service menu and geographic footprint across South Australia, the Northern Territory, Victoria, and Tasmania since founding.

Name

Softfall Testing

Legal name

Softfall Testing

Website

https://softfalltesting.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Softfall Testing is a family-owned Australian professional services firm, founded in 2017 and based in Adelaide, that provides AS4422:2016-certified playground safety inspections, impact-attenuation testing, and asset management to local government councils, schools, and businesses across Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Adelaide

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Playground Inspection Services: Professional inspection services including post-install, routine, operational and comprehensive playground inspections. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts with councils, schools, and businesses.
2. Impact Attenuation Testing: Certified impact testing of softfall materials using equipment meeting AS4422:2016 standards. Testing determines compliance of playground surfaces with Australian Standards.
3. Playground Maintenance and Asset Management: Repair and replacement of playground equipment, establishment of asset databases, data analytics, reporting, and long-term replacement planning services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Softfall Testing is a family-owned Australian business that conducts post-install, routine, operational, and comprehensive playground inspections, impact attenuation surface testing certified to AS4422:2016, and a range of playground management and maintenance services across the playground lifecycle. The company works with local councils, schools, childcare centers, and private businesses across Australia to validate playground compliance with Australian Standards, minimise injury risk, and support long-term asset replacement planning. It complements on-site services with the Playground123 SaaS platform for digital inspection reporting and asset management.

Product overview

Softfall Testing offers a suite of professional playground inspection and testing services, including post-install inspections, routine/operational/comprehensive audits, impact attenuation testing (certified to AS4422:2016), playground maintenance, asset management, replacement planning, design reviews, and tree safety audits. The company operates as a family-owned business since 2017 and has partnered with Playground123 (a SaaS asset management platform) to deliver streamlined reporting to clients. The portfolio is service-based rather than a software product offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Post-Install, Routine, Operational and Comprehensive Playground Inspections Professional inspection services delivering individual playground inspection results, digital photos, and summary reports containing condition assessment, non-compliance results, and maintenance recommendations. Targeted at councils, schools, childcare centres, and businesses needing Australian Standards compliance.
• Impact Testing Impact attenuation testing performed on softfall materials using equipment certified to AS4422:2016 to validate surface compliance with Australian Standards. Delivered for councils, schools, childcare centres, hospitals, and community organisations.
• Playground Maintenance Repair and replacement services for old or damaged playground equipment, supported by relationships with manufacturers including Playrope, Proludic, and Will Play for parts access. Targeted at councils, schools, and businesses managing existing playground assets.
• Playground Asset Management Services to establish or improve playground asset databases, including data analytics and reporting to provide oversight on assets. Delivered with the Playground123 SaaS platform for digital inspection data collection and asset management.
• Playground Replacement Plans Future planning assistance for organisations to develop long-term plans to replace playgrounds and allocate capital expenditure. Targeted at councils and organisations managing portfolio-wide playground replacement cycles.
• Design Reviews Review services for playground design to ensure compliance with Australian Standards. Targeted at councils, schools, and developers designing new playground installations.
• Tree Safety Audit Tree safety inspection services where arborists inspect trees in and near playgrounds for hazards. Targeted at councils, schools, and organisations responsible for trees in playspaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 playgrounds audited by senior team members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Playground123coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2021Playground123 is Softfall Testing's sister company and SaaS platform partner. The platform enables real-time inspection data collection, storage, and report generation based on Australian Standards. It allows auditors to send and receive smart reports to contractors, reducing admin time and operational expenses. Softfall Testing uses this platform to enhance their inspection services and provide clients with efficient asset management tools.
• PlayropeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlayrope is a playground equipment manufacturer with whom Softfall Testing maintains a close relationship. This partnership enables Softfall Testing to access parts for maintenance and get items manufactured if required for discontinued lines or brands.
• ProludicminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProludic is a playground equipment manufacturer. Softfall Testing has a strong relationship with Proludic enabling access to maintenance support and discontinued parts when needed.
• Will PlayminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWill Play is a playground equipment manufacturer. Softfall Testing's close relationship with Will Play enhances their ability to conduct maintenance and source parts for various brands.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Lappset Group: Finnish-origin global playground equipment manufacturer with dedicated safety and compliance services. Comparable to Softfall in combining playground equipment with safety/compliance work, though operates at significantly larger scale and global footprint.
• Proludic: French-headquartered playground equipment manufacturer with an Australian presence and a channel-partner relationship with Softfall Testing. Comparable as a playground-lifecycle counterpart rather than a direct inspection competitor.
• Kompan: Global playground equipment manufacturer that increasingly offers design review, installation and after-sales services adjacent to compliance inspection. Comparable to Softfall's playground lifecycle services, with overlap through equipment-supply partnerships.
• Moduplay: Australian playground equipment manufacturer and installer offering design, supply and after-sales services. Comparable as an Australian playground-lifecycle counterpart adjacent to Softfall's inspection and maintenance work.

Direct peers

• Playground123: Australian SaaS platform for playground asset management and digital inspection reporting, described as a sister company to Softfall Testing. Highly comparable in product scope and customer base (councils, schools), but operates in software rather than field-services delivery.
• SafetyCulture: Australian-headquartered workplace safety inspection platform (iAuditor) widely used by councils, schools and facility operators for playground and asset safety inspections. Directly comparable to Softfall's inspection-and-reporting workflow, though SafetyCulture operates as a horizontal software platform rather than a specialist playground testing service.

Broad incumbents

• SGS: Global TIC leader offering construction, infrastructure and materials testing services that can include playground and recreational facility compliance work. Provides overlapping testing and certification capability but across a much broader portfolio.
• TÜV SÜD: Global testing and certification body with built-environment, materials and product safety services. Comparable to Softfall's compliance testing function at a much larger scale and broader scope.
• Intertek: International testing and inspection group with construction and built-environment compliance services. Comparable to Softfall's material/compliance testing work but not specialised in playground safety.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection and certification (TIC) major with building, infrastructure and public-asset inspection services that overlap with Softfall's compliance testing work. Operates broadly across industries and geographies rather than specialising in playground safety.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/softfall-testing-nt-p-l

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Softfall Testing