Does Your Playground Measure Up?

We offer Playground Inspection Services by a Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certified by the National Playground Safety Institute. Please fill out the form linked below and return via fax or email (listed on form) to request an inspection. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at 972-347-2994.

Playground Inspection request Form

FACT:

Each year, more than 200,000 children visit the emergency room with injuries associated with playground equipment. Most injuries occur when a child falls from the equipment to the ground. Many backyard playsets are placed on dirt or grass — surfaces that do not adequately protect children when they fall.

The following information has been provided in order to help you provide your children the safest, most enjoyable playground experience they could have.

Playground Safety Checklist

• Areas surrounding equipment should have at least 12 inches of safety surface material.
• Safety surface should extend at least 6 feet in every direction from play equipment. For swings, material should extend in front and behind twice the height of the suspending bar.
• Play structures more than 30 inches high should be spaced at least 9 feet apart.
• Check for dangerous hardware, like open “S” hooks or protruding bolt ends.
• Spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guard rails or between ladder rungs,should measure less than 3.5 inches or morethan 9 inches.
• Check for sharp points or edges in equipment.
• Check for tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footings, tree stumps, and rocks.
• Elevated surfaces, like platforms and ramps,should have guardrails to prevent falls.
• Check equipment and safety surface to see ifthey are in good condition.
• Supervise children on playgrounds to makesure they’re safe.
• Adapted from information provided by theU.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Suggested Maintenance

Daily

• Inspect playground for displacement of material in high-impact and hightraffic areas, such as the ends of slides or under swings. Surrounding material can be raked into these areas.
• Inspect for and remove any foreign material that may have been brought into the play area.
• Inspect for proper drainage.

Monthly

• Inspect for adequate material coverage in fall zones to ensure that the playground meets ASTM and CPSC guidelines for safety surfacing.
• Assess whether additional material needs to be ordered or if the existing material needs to be fluffed.

Annually or Semi-Annually

• Based on usage, fresh material should be added annually or semi-annually in order to maintain an adequate safety surface.
• A thorough inspection of equipment,safety surface material, borders, and drainage should be conducted in order to ensure the safety and longevity of the play area.