What Makes Playground Equipment Safe?

When you’re a kid running around on the playground, the safety of the equipment is not exactly what’s determining your next move. It is the adrenalin and imagination that give you the power to swing, slide, and jump from one area to the next. That being said, someone else has to be in charge of worrying about the safety of the playground equipment. Anyone in charge of planning a play area has to take on the responsibility of ensuring the playground is safe. But don’t worry! Zoom Recreation, supplying commercial playground equipment to the Sacramento and West Coast areas, will take the burden of worrying away from you.

Assuring Safe Playground Equipment

 So, what really makes playground equipment safe? There is an assortment of measures including the design, build, and installation that determine the safety of a playground.

• Design

Designing a playground is where the fun vision is mapped out. When creating the design, the most important safety factor is making sure it meets the code. There are standards set in place by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to ensure playgrounds are designed with safety in mind.

• Protective surfacing needs to extend at least 6 feet in all directions from the equipment.
• A structure more than 30 inches high should be spaced at least 9 feet apart.
• Spaces that could trap children should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.

More information on these design guidelines can be found on the CPSC website.

• Build

Having high-quality materials is what is going to make the build of your playground safe. Zoom Recreation, serving Sacramento and the West Coast, offers both steel and recycled plastic commercial playground equipment provided by the nation’s top manufacturers for long-lasting results.

Steel playground equipment is built to last with galvanized steel parts that have been through the Triple Flo-Coat process to ensure resistance to corrosion. Recycled equipment possesses great strength with added fiberglass elements for rotting resistance.

• Installation

Having certified professional installation is key to ensuring your equipment is actually safe to be played on. Working with a qualified company will make sure that none of the important details are skipped over. Zoom Recreation has a team of certified installers that comply with ASTM standards when installing commercial playground equipment.

ADA-Accessible Equipment

Safe playgrounds should be available to anyone and everyone, which is why ADA-accessible equipment is important to consider when determining overall safety. Having approved mobility equipment will allow your safe playground to be enjoyed by all. Below are some things to consider to make your playground both safe and accessible.

• Clear paths to access the playground from the parking lot
• A path throughout the playground so that there is access to all of the equipment

Playgrounds can be safe and fun for everyone with the right, trusted commercial playground equipment. For more information on ADA-accessible requirements, click here.

Wipe Your Worries and Go Play

Whether kids or adults, no one should have to worry about the safety of the equipment they are playing on. Zoom Recreation is a team of professionals who can take care of every step of the playground planning process. Serving the West Coast, including Sacramento, Zoom Recreation is a turnkey commercial playground equipment provider, assisting with your project from concept to creation. Our team will recommend the best products with consideration for your needs, budget, space, and other factors. To get started, give us a call at 866-234-3392 or get in touch with us by filling out our contact form.

Don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook and Instagram to see some of our products and previous work to get some inspiration!

CONTACT ZOOM RECREATION

“We love the playground. The installers [were] very professional and pleasant people. The entire process was super easy. They answered all my questions. Great people to work with!”

— Braitnie P.