Regulations, Technical Information & Guarantees

Regulations
All play equipment and Safer Surfaces are regulated by BSEN 1176.  The European standards covering general and specific safety requirements and test methods for playground equipment including swings, slides, runways, carousels, rocking equipment and guidance on installation, inspection, maintenance and operation.  Our play equipment is designed to meet BSEN 1176 standards the surfaces to BSEN 1177.

All equipment manufactured for use in public parks, schools, commercial facilities, pubs, restaurants, community areas and shopping centres should be designed using these regulations.  Equipment that complies will carry a plate showing the relevant BSEN standard.  In the case of safer surfaces these will be certified to show the fall heights to which each thickness type has been tested.

FHOF - Free Height of Fall is the greatest vertical distance from the clearly intended body support to the impact area below.  This determines the type, distance and thickness of safer surfacing needed.

Timber
Our timber comes from managed sustainable forests and as such we purchase from companies that hold FSC certificates.  All of our equipment is manufactured using heavy-duty, pressure treated and planed 'heartwood' free C24 Structural Grade Laminated timber.

Laminated timber: the layers are bound with impregnable glues making them much more resilient to the elements and much less likely to crack, warp or deform as single piece timbers.  This not only increases strength but also it is pleasing to the eye and impacts far less on its surroundings that brightly coloured steel equipment especially in rural surroundings and can be just as strong and far cheaper to change damaged and vanadalised parts.  It doesn't rust when close to the sea and the colours of the natural timber won't fade or need repainting as they can do on steel equipment.  Because it is a natural product every piece of timber is unique.  Every piece will exhibit different growth patterns and characteristics which, we feel, adds to its attraction allowing children to have active and imaginative play while developing motor skills and dexterity.

All timer is subject to splitting.  This is not a defect but is due to shrinkage as the timber dries in drier, hotter weather.  In damp weather you will see that these shrinkage splits (knows as 'shakes') will often disappear.  These splits are mainly superficial and do not affect the structural integrity of the product.

Components
All the components used in the manufacture of our products are of the highest quality and are fully guaranteed.  Galvanised steel or zinc plating is always used where possible.  We reserve the right to alter components, colours, designs and configurations to allow for progression of manufacturing, installation and appearance.

Instruction manuals for use will be supplied along details regarding maintenance

Guarantees
Our equipment is guaranteed for one year as standard at our discretion (parts only).  This applies to structural defects but excludes vandalism, storm damage, malicious damage, subsidence and underground movement, floods, acts of god, terrorism, repairs or movement by others, vehicle / accidental / animal damage / timber splits or improper and unintended use.  The expected life span of the timber is of approximately 15-20 years but this does depend on a lot of factors, most of those mentioned above.

You'll be glad to hear that there is very little that you'll need to do to maintain our equipment.  The timber is pressure treated, the plastics "look after themselves", the steel is normally galvanised and on most equipment there is no need for adjustment of parts.  You can from time to time woodstain the equipment to make it appear newer or to provide a different colour scheme if you wish and maybe give the plastics a rejuvenating "child friendly" plastic restorer.  The great thing about our equipment is that normally and on rare occasions, if a part needs replacing this can be done relatively easily and cheaply by contacting South West Play.

Our Safer Surfaces are guaranteed for three years as standard.