PROJECT
When planning the construction of a playground, the specificity of the area should be taken into account: its shape, location, existing greenery, and the age of users. According to the regulations in force, the playground should be located 10 meters from roads, trash bins and window lines of residential buildings, and 20 meters from railway tracks and parking lots.
When designing the space of the future playground, you should think about separating the fun and rest zone as well as communication routes. In addition to play sets, swings and carousels, the square should be equipped with benches and tables, garbage cans and bicycle stands, which will allow caregivers and children to rest and help keep order. One should also remember about safety requirements (safe surface, fencing of the yard) and proper arrangement of devices. When planning their location, safety zones should be taken into account. The devices should be placed at such a distance from each other as to enable children to play safely. Users of individual devices should not pose a threat to the others.
CHOICE OF DEVICES
When choosing devices, the age of users should be taken into account. If younger children are going to play on the square, there should be sandboxes, sets with easily accessible entrances and low platforms, low swings and slides, as well as trampolines. Older children like to play on taller sets, fitness devices, high slides or merry-go-rounds. If children of different ages are going to play in the square, there should be separate zones for young and old. It is important to choose only certified, safe devices.
SAFETY
Safety in the playground is extremely important. Already at the design stage, it is necessary to select the appropriate devices. When studying the offers, you should make sure that the manufacturer whose offer you want to use has the necessary certificates confirming the compliance of the products with the PN –EN 1176 standard. If the devices we choose are certified, it guarantees users not only safety, but also appropriate quality. You should also take care of the appropriate surface. For devices where the maximum fall height is 1 meter, the safe surface may be turf, for higher devices it will be sand, gravel or synthetic surface, respectively (more information on safe surfaces can be found in this article). The playground should be fenced, which prevents children from leaving the playground on their own and hinders the access of animals. The site should contain regulations with the location of the square, administrator's data and a telephone number in which the rules of use and behavior on the playground should be described.
REALIZATION
Once we have selected the devices and planned a safe surface, the design should be prepared and the devices ordered. The project must be submitted to the appropriate office. Once we receive the consent, we can start preparing the site. The area of the future playground should be carefully prepared for the installation of devices. The course of underground installations (water, central heating, gas) and air installations - power lines should be verified. The area should be cleared of bushes, trees, old trunks, curbs, concrete, and then, if the surface is other than grass, the top layer of soil should be removed to a thickness depending on the surface chosen by us and the maximum fall height. Devices can be installed in such prepared area.
CHECKS
In order for the playground to fulfill its function, it is necessary to remember about regular inspections. The manager or administrator should regularly (preferably at least once a week) check the condition of the yard and remove rubbish from it, secure damaged devices and make necessary repairs. In addition, a functional inspection should be performed at least once a quarter, i.e. check whether the devices are working properly. It is also required to perform basic inspection every year, during which the condition of equipment and surfaces is carefully checked. The inspection may only be carried out by a person with appropriate knowledge and experience, and the result should be presented to the facility administrator in the form of a protocol and recorded in the facility book.