Climbing Frame Playset Safety Boarders
When taking guidance from companies like Climbing Frames UK, Plum Products and Play Crazy or Rainbow play systems its very easy to miss read the information they are giving you. They very often give the system size, this is the total space that object is going to take up and not the overall space needed to actively play on that playset.
The climbing frame not only needs to sit in an area it needs the area around the outside to play, swing and climb.
We suggest that you do follow manufacturers guidelines to the specific play space and distances.
The safety distance needs to allow for your childs safe play however on many occasions you might get tied up and confused with the specific trade wording
Coverage = only to cover the area, this is not allowing for the critical fall height if your child was to fall from the playdeck of the climbing frame.
What is Critical fall height, A critical fall height (CFH) is the maximum height of fall from play equipment to the ground. It is important to note that safety surfaces do not prevent injury but aim to lessen the severity of any injury that may occur on falls from height.
It’s important that you ensure the surfacing below each item of equipment is correctly specified for the critical fall height properties for that peice. Different play equipment will all have different fall heights, and your equipment manufacturer will be able to advise you as to the CFH required for each item.
You also need to make sure the play pit is actually the correct size. If you do not leave the play system you can make it more dangerous allowing your children to slip or trip on the border around the safety flooring or even worse case scenario your child falls onto what is known as “play bark” we also ask why pay for this? Local animals when this is in place will want to mark it territory, its sharp, dries out in the sun and breaks down so you will need to keep adding to it year on year and if you do not add more each year then the bark will break down, compost and your children when then be almost falling onto the hard mud underneath.
