Aging Playground Structure?

A playground structure can be a thing of joy for the children who scale its walls and swing from its monkey bars.  But all too easily, an aging or neglected structure can fall into disrepair, becoming dangerous and unsafe.  Natural wear and tear combined with harsh weather conditions, can cause unplanned movement of the structure and severely affect the safety of surfaces and access routes if not carefully monitored.  

 

As a property or business owner with a playground structure, you are responsible for ensuring that it is properly maintained in order that it may be used in as safe and risk free a manner as possible.    A qualified play structure inspector from At Home & Play Inspections (http://www.goldbook.ca/cambridge-on/home-inspection-service/at-home-and-play-inspection-9614  ) in Cambridge, Ontario will assist you in making a thorough assessment of your play structure, helping you observe and address any hazards which will need removing or repairing.  Inspection of the structure will ensure that none of the components are experiencing undue wear, and that fasteners are secure.  Protective surfaces should be tested on a regular basis and upgrades when needed should be made a priority.  Once all potential safety issues have been addressed, and brought up to current safety standards, the inspector can then help you draw up a plan for regular inspections and maintenance.

Although well intentioned, maintenance by someone outside of the playground industry may be in breach of the CSA (Canadian Standards Association) standard. Serving Cambridge and South Western Ontario, At Home & Play Inspections (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/home.html ) are proud members of the Canadian Association of Playground Practitioners with a solid, technical understanding of the most current CSA standard for Children’s Play Spaces and Equipment.  Using various surface performance testing devices and instruments, as directed by the CSA Standard, an inspector from At Home& Play Inspections (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/services.html ) will help you ensure that your play structure is a safe place to play. 

For further information (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/home.html)  on how At Home & Play Inspections can help you, or to book (http://www.athomeandplayinspections.com/home_inspection/booking_inspections.html) your playground structure inspection today, call 519 239 9220 or email athomeandplay@gmail.com.   

Playground Inspections at Condo Sites

Do you have a playground structure that you are responsible for that has seen better times, is aging or has been neglected for quite some time?

If so then allow me to assist you by putting you on the correct path to confidence and responsible due diligence. Following are some of the crucial areas that may need attention

The protective surface needs to be tested on a regular basis to ensure that it meets the planned criteria to protect the children using the equipment as installed. It’s important that the limits of Head Injury Criteria (1000) and GMax (200) are not exceeded this can only be absolutely defined by surface testi ng to ASTM 1292 - 99. If designed for accessibility by users with disabilities requiring a wheelchair then surface testing with a Rotary Penetrometer should be performed. Inspection of the structure will ensure that none of the components are experiencing undue wear and that fasteners are secure and of the appropriate type maintenance by someone outside of the playground industry may be well intentioned but in contravention of the CSA standard. Frost heave can cause unplanned movement of the stairways and unsafe access ways.

Safety clearances between components must be adhered to without allowing obstacles to be introduced so initial installation is an issue and also construction activities since original installation.

To adhere to CSA Z614-07, also to show due diligence, then a documented inspection report identifying these and many other details should be compiled annually by a third party inspector. An option would be for a designated person, from within the organisation with adequate knowledge, to perform document and create a file of monthly inspections.  An insurance professional advises that many Condo Corps have a deductible of between $10k and $25K should a claim be registered, so surely having an annual expenditure of $400 for inspections can be very easily justified and possibly negate the likelihood of a tragic injury. The potential claim or even of having the insurance policy in jeopardy is a business concern also.

Did you know that something as simple as posting contact co-ordinates to allow reporting of issues requiring attention is one of the items most ignored by owner/operators?

Contact Doug White of At Home and Play Inspections for “Confidence In Your Future” at 519 239 9220 or athomeandplay@gmail.com for prompt professional service