How to Create a Safe Playground

Playgrounds offer kids fresh air, friends and fun. However, unsafe equipment and surfaces can result in injuries.

Most playground injuries are caused by falls. Surfaces like asphalt, blacktop and dirt don’t adequately cushion a fall. Choose a loose-fill surface such as wood chips or mulch, sand, pea gravel or engineered wood fiber that meets standards and is maintained at 12 inches deep. 안전놀이터

Safety Surfaces

The right surfacing in a playground can reduce head injuries caused by falls from equipment. It should be thick enough to meet ASTM standards and provide cushioning at the critical fall height of the play equipment.

There are many safety surface options to consider, depending on your budget and design requirements. Loose-fill wood fiber and rubber mulch are popular low-budget options that are easy to maintain at a desired depth. They also offer vibrant color options.

For a higher up-front cost, unitary surfaces like poured-in-place or bond-in-place rubber and interlocking resilient tiles are available to add a smooth, solid surface that is slip-resistant and visually appealing. These materials have the added benefit of meeting ADA accessibility and ease-of-use requirements for visitors using mobility devices or wheelchairs. They are also designed to withstand heavy use for longevity. However, they may need more frequent replacement than loose-fill surfacing options. In addition, they can shift and curl over time or suffer from erosion in high-traffic areas.

Safety Railings

Children need to be supervised at all times when they’re on playground equipment. This can be difficult for adults to keep up with, but guard rails and barriers help prevent accidents. It’s also important to make sure that there is proper spacing between all of the equipment so children can’t hit each other or run into each other.

Check for unsafe hardware, like open “S” hooks on equipment, openings that could trap a child, such as between ladder rungs or guardrails, and tripping hazards, such as exposed concrete footings and rocks. Also look for sharp points, corners or edges on the equipment that may cut or puncture a child.

IAE offers a metal fencing system called Playspec Bow Top that complies with the current BS EN 1176 standard for playground equipment. It can be customised to your specific requirements with different heights and powder coating finishes. You can find out more about this and request a quote by clicking the button at the top of this page.

Safety Seats

Playgrounds are a great place for kids to get active and have fun with their friends. But they can also be dangerous. Each year, more than 200,000 children under age 14 are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to playgrounds. Some of these are fractures, scrapes and cuts, but a lot of them are traumatic brain injuries, which can be life-threatening.

Many of these injuries happen because kids fall from equipment or a structure and then hit the ground. Make sure the surface beneath playground equipment is made of a soft material like wood chips, mulch or shredded rubber rather than concrete or asphalt.

Also look out for any spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guardrails and between ladder rungs, and check to see that there are no protrusions or catch points on equipment where kids might be caught. Dress kids in clothing without drawstrings or cords that could get caught on equipment. And be sure to keep leashes and pet toys away from playground equipment.

Shade Structures

Shade structures protect playground equipment from overheating during the hottest parts of the day. This keeps children safe and reduces maintenance costs by preventing damage to plastic and metal. They also prevent premature fading and deterioration.

Shaded areas are typically cooler, which is beneficial for people of all ages. Kids will enjoy spending more time on the playground if they can play comfortably. And supervising adults will appreciate having a place to sit out of the sun.

Shade structures can also block some precipitation from falling on the ground. This is helpful for visitors who want to stay and play even if it starts to rain or snow. Choose from a wide range of fabric qualities to allow some light through but keep the precipitation away. This will help improve customer satisfaction by making your playground an appealing place to spend time even on inclement days.