Climbing frame self-installation:
What are the post assembly safety checks to ensure a safe playground?
It is good practice to check the following before and after the installation. Certain points like the space available, that the ground is flat and level and that there are no hard objects in the play area, need to be done before starting the assembly process.
1- Safe play area
– Check that a zone of a minimum of 1500 cm beyond the play set on all sides, is available.
– The play area must always be free of all structures, hard objects and obstacles.
2- Safe distances between and under swing elements
– The distance between swinging accessories (for example a swing seat) and the ground should be at least 350 mm (14”).
– The distance between an accessory and the frame, should be at least 300 mm (12”).
– The distance between the Swing Hooks should be at least 450 mm (18″).
– The distance between swinging accessories should be at least 450 mm (18″).
3- Critical built-in distances and positioning of attachment slides
– The minimum clearance next to the retaining sides of an attachment slide at the start section of a platform should be at least 25 mm (1″).
– Positioning attachment slide on a level platform.
– Positioning attachment slide on a level ground surface.
4- No accessible openings between Ø130 and Ø230 mm, with the lower edge higher than 600 mm above the ground or above any other surface should occur.
5- The screw-in thread of the swing hooks must be screwed into the wood fully and tight against the cross beam.
6- It is important that you align the swing hooks in the proper position. An improperly installed or misaligned swing hook will break or -pull out and cause injury!
7- A climbing rope or a Rope ladder always has to be secured at both top and bottom, ropes should not be capable of looping back on themselves and could cause serious injury or death due to strangulation.
8- The play set must be securely anchored to prevent the play set from turning over or shoving. If soil conditions permit the anchors to be pulled out easily, concreting into the ground is required. Digging or driving anchors can be dangerous if you do not check first for underground wiring, cables, or gas lines. Be sure that the ground anchors do not stick out of the ground because children can trip over them.
9- Check the entire playset for bolts protruding like nuts and woodscrews. Use extra washers to eliminate this condition. Be sure to use a metal saw to cut off any protruding threaded ends of bolts and other fasteners. Remove any sharp edges with a metal file.
10- To prevent splinters, sand the wood with a piece of sandpaper. Also, smooth all corners with sandpaper or a metal file to a radius of 3 mm (1/8”).
How to install ground anchors for residential equipment: Watch our youtube video
https://youtu.be/xlMU0Pcrt_I