Much appreciation goes out to your dedicated and well trained staff that has given us 100% support and guidance from the beginning until the end of our project. Playground owners can use the CSA as another resource when designing and installing a safe playground. All great playground surfaces are safe, tested to current standards and visually appealing. One of the most thrilling parts of a playground is the climber equipment. New playground equipment developed today must adhere to current safety standards, which is crucial for keeping children safe, especially since more than 200,000 children visit the emergency room each year due to playground-related injuries. The current version is F 1487-07ae1, published in 2007. Climbers are all manner of equipment that encourages kids to use their developing muscles to scale to the top of the structure. Children should be able to play, laugh and enjoy playground equipment in the sun and fresh air without worrying about falling on hard materials. We’ll explore other safe playground surface materials below so you can find the ideal choice for your circumstances. Climbing equipment comes in many shapes and sizes — including rock climbing walls, arches, and vertical and horizontal ladders. This type of surface is affordable and easy to install, but it does need regular maintenance to preserve accessibility in high-use areas such as slide exits and beneath swings. Access Board (The United States Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board) has completed Accessibility Guidelines for Play Facilities as set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The number one safety measure playgrounds need—but the majority lack—is a shock-absorbing surface under the equipment. These standards are voluntary and are not required by law, but they are designed to help keep children safer on play areas. Our EWF surfacing is third-party certified to ASTM standards and also meets ADA, CPSC and CSA standards. EWF is by far the safest and absorbs an impact of up to 12 feet when properly maintained at a 12-inch thickness. Unitary materials are typically more expensive than loose-fill and are often more difficult to install. IPEMA Of these, 27 (68%) died from strangulation and six (15%) died from falls to the playground … Anyone who operates a playground should consider safety standards, not just to protect the children in a community, but also to protect themselves and their business. Domino's Pizza Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, Family Entertainment Center Designs (FEC), http://www.access-board.gov/news/playguide.htm. No matter how well you supervise your child and how well the equipment is designed with safety in mind, occasional falls are inevitable. Sometimes children simply lose their balance on a piece of equipment. Children’s play patterns can affect playground use. Playground owners are responsible for creating playgrounds all children can use. Maintenance frequency depends on use and type of surfacing material. To view the next video in this series click: http://www.monkeysee.com/play/21015 You can’t go wrong with EWF, especially if it’s from Zeager. Tiles require professional installation firm sub-base underneath. Anyone purchasing playground surface materials should request ASTM F1292 test information. Strangulation Hazard with Playground Cargo Nets. For months now, those of us that cherish the involvement and fellowship of our local bodies of believers have had to do so virtually or with forced, sparsely populated worship services. On any school playground, especially, safety must come first to reduce safety hazards for your students and to minimize liability. Engineered Wood Fiber is ground more finely than ordinary landscape mulch, is from … Playground surfacing should extend at least 6 feet in all directions from playground equipment. 8300 Colesville Road, Suite 250 This information is available for free online and includes everything playground owners need to know to keep kids safe as much as possible. The classic many people remember from childhood is the geodesic climber, a dome shape made by dozens of interconnected metal triangles. Appropriate surfacing includes any material tested to meet ASTM F1292 standards, such as EWF. Our Services. Washington, DC 20004-1111, Guidance Available on Play Area Guidelines: Looking for the best material for your playground surface? Playground Equipment for Pre Schoolers (2-5 Years) Two-year-olds (in some states, 2-1/2- or 3-year-olds) represent the lower age limit of the preschool group. We deal with the best brands only to deliver the best quality and safest equipment. We are happy that we made the decision to include this structure in our Childcare Center. Contact Us. A study which looked at the effect of rubber tiles in nursing homes found that half-inch thick tiles reduced the force of an impact by 65 to 85 percent when compared to concrete floors. Apart from being fun, of course! Safe playground equipment and environments. As a leading indoor playground equipment company, Soft Play offers commercial indoor play structures which are: High Quality. Synthetic turf is a unitary material which means it is formed into a solid or semi-solid surface unlike loose materials such as EWF. We are committed to selling only top brands of outdoor play equipment that will be excellent for your community, whether you plan to install new commercial playground equipment … 2; Deaths. To keep children safe and avoid injury at playgrounds, it’s a good idea to check the safety of the playground equipment and environment: Buckle your child into swings if buckles are available. Engineered wood fiber is an affordable and durable option for playground covers. Ground surfaces must comply with ASTM F1951-99 which tests the accessibility of a surface by measuring the force an individual must use to move a wheelchair or mobility device across the surface. EWF is the most cost-effective loose-fill material for playground surfacing and has superior abilities for cushioning falls or impacts. Playground safety is a national problem in the United States. Good drainage is vital in maintaining any safety surface, and playground owners need to make sure water does not pool anywhere on the playground. It prohibits discrimination and promises that Americans with disabilities receive equal opportunities. For example, some playground surfaces are easier to maintain for ADA compliance than EWF. EWF is a popular surfacing material because it offers numerous benefits such as: Although EWF is the safest playground surface material, it’s important to note a few drawbacks so you know exactly what to expect. Work with a manufacturer like Landscape Structures who is known for its quality materials and innovative features.