Public Playgrounds: Safe Spaces for Fun and Games
Author: Markus Strehlitz
Playground safety is a top priority. Current regulations also address the latest playground trends. Playground experts are taking a careful look to ensure safe playing areas for children.
If you have children, you know what a great draw playgrounds have. Parents often spend many hours with their little ones there, allowing them plenty of time to let off steam. However, climbing frames, swings and other equipment can also pose a potential danger if not installed properly and not regularly maintained.
The good news is that there are clear regulations to prevent hazards. Playground equipment is subject to the Product Safety Act. Specific requirements for safe use can be found in the DIN EN 1176 standard, which stipulates, among other things, an inspection after installation of the equipment and an annual main inspection by an independent and competent person. In Germany, this can be carried out by so-called qualified playground inspectors in accordance with DIN 79161.
In addition, there is DIN 18034, which relates to the playground itself, open play areas and boundaries to other areas, as well as DIN EN 1177, which applies to playground surfaces. The requirements are standardized throughout Europe. After all, DIN EN 1176 and 1177 are European standards.
DEKRA experts make sure that regulations are met
Experts like the qualified DEKRA inspectors ensure that the regulations are met: They take a close look at the playground during the required annual inspection, for example. And this work is extensive. Among other things, the experts check where body parts are at risk of getting snagged, where hard and angular parts in the fall area pose a risk of injury or whether the space in front of and behind the swing is adequate. This also includes checking whether wooden posts are rotten or decaying. Ultimately, wood is the material of choice for playgrounds.
The condition of the ground is also inspected - for instance to see whether it still offers sufficient fall protection. In addition, the surroundings of the playground are also checked - for example for phototoxic plants. This is the name given to plants that can cause severe skin inflammation when they come into contact with sunlight.
Playgrounds themselves ensure that the inspectors have plenty to do. They are constantly changing over the course of time. For one, new equipment is constantly being added that needs to be examined - such as jumping equipment. Fitness equipment is also often installed in green spaces and parks. This tends to be sports equipment and is subject to different regulations, as Romuald Barysch, safety expert at DEKRA, explains. However, if this fitness equipment is installed alongside playground equipment, it also has to comply with playground standards.
Playground architecture can vary
Romuald Barysch explains that playground testing can be a complex matter. Manufacturers are largely given free reign in the design of their playground equipment, as long as the safety standards are met. The architecture of playground equipment can therefore always vary. “The spectrum ranges from a simple sandpit to a huge play castle with numerous entrances and exits. And do-it-yourself constructions are also possible,” says Barysch.
However, this complexity can also be easily controlled with the applicable standards. “Ultimately, it's about keeping the protection objective of the standard in mind,” says Romuald Barysch. “It's important that even DIY buildings have to meet these requirements.” Another topic that has found its way onto the playground is inclusivity. Accessibility, for example, is regulated in DIN 18034. Generally speaking, playgrounds are much more inclusive these days, according to the expert.
The overall safety level of German playgrounds is good, according to Romuald Barysch. The corresponding awareness of playground operators has grown. “A lot has changed,” he says. “Operators are fulfilling their obligations and are paying more attention to carrying out the relevant inspections and maintenance.”
Nevertheless, the inspection expert advises parents to take a close look at a playground. This includes looking out for obvious sources of danger such as broken glass, missing or obviously damaged equipment parts. Each playground needs to have signs with contact details. If any serious defects are found, the operator can be contacted.
According to Romuald Barysch, however, not every playground operator is aware that there are relevant obligations. “I have seen playgrounds that I can't imagine are being inspected,” reports the DEKRA expert. Nevertheless, the variety of playgrounds to which the standards apply is extensive. This includes not only playgrounds that are operated by cities or municipalities and can be found in parks. The standards also apply to playgrounds in daycare centers, schools, outdoor swimming pools, DIY stores, shopping malls and catering establishments. “All of these areas are open to the public,” Romuald Barysch adds. “And in this respect, the same legal requirements also apply to them.” According to Barysch, this also includes residential areas that have a shared playground also open to the public.
Requirements for playground operators
Anyone setting up such a publicly accessible playground should therefore think carefully about safe operation in advance or seek advice if necessary. After all, the requirements to be met are not trivial. For each individual playground, arrangements need to be made as to when, how and by whom it needs to be inspected and maintained. In addition to the initial inspection and the annual main inspection, further checks are required, which are usually carried out by the operator themselves.
Despite existing requirements, Romuald Barysch points out that there can be no such thing as one-hundred percent safety. “There always has to be a certain 'level of risk' for a piece of equipment to still have play value. Otherwise children get bored and will not use the playground.” After all, it is also important for a child's development to overcome certain challenges in a protected environment.
Playground equipment is usually designed in a way that allows children to fall in certain places, explains Romuald Barysch. But then of course the space must be designed so that the child falls into the sand or onto a cushioning floor. It is therefore important to find the right balance between safety and level of risk so that a playground retains its attractive effect on children.