Is your commercial playground equipment looking a little worse for wear and lacking the thrill and excitement it once had? It may be time for a playground equipment upgrade!
It is important you update your ageing play equipment, not only to keep your outdoor play area looking its best, but most importantly, to ensure children are safe whilst enjoying themselves. Within this blog, we will outline some of the more obvious signs that your commercial playground equipment needs a revamp, so you can know for sure.
After plenty of usage, your commercial playground equipment will undoubtedly undergo wear and tear during its lifetime, but how do you know when it’s time to upgrade just the components, or the whole set? Here are some of the common signs to look out for, that suggest your commercial playground equipment needs refreshing:
As your commercial playground equipment ages, it will start to deteriorate. For this reason, it is important to book a professional inspection and maintenance check with a trusted installer, such as Rhino Play, at least every five years.
Any loose or broken parts, on your commercial playground equipment, could pose a higher risk to children, so it is crucial the playground equipment is checked for any issues, such as:
If you notice any defects, the equipment should be cordoned off until they are fixed or replaced.
If you’re consistently finding issues that need to be repaired throughout your commercial playground equipment, it is a sign it is in need of an upgrade.
If parts of your playground equipment are excessively wobbling (not including the clatter bridge), this could be indicative of deeper structural damage. Again, this can lead to injury if not rectified as quickly as possible.
If you have uneven ground around your playground structures, especially equipment which children are running and jumping on and off of, like our trim trails, adventure climbers and traverse and climbing walls then we highly recommend installing an additional safety surface around your playground.
Playground safety surfacing is an essential part of a safe play area that is too often overlooked. Whilst our surfacing is highly-durable, after years of use it could become worn in certain areas, which can create a trip hazard for children. For this reason, it is important that all playground surfacing is replaced when it starts to wear.
Nowadays, there really is no excuse for not having an inclusive playground, one that will accommodate children of all ages and abilities.
Have a look around your playground, does it offer equal opportunities for all to enjoy a fun, interactive and safe environment? If not, it’s probably time to give your playground a little redesign. Rhino Play offers a wide variety of exciting SEN playground equipment, that will ensure your playground is accessible and fun for all.
When looking for trip hazards, check all parts of your playground equipment for any loose bolts, screws, as well as raised edges, holes or cracks, as these can also pose a risk to children. It is also important to check the surroundings of the play equipment for anything that could cause a child to fall, such as tree roots, rocks and other toys.
Some factors that might deem your play equipment outdated include, lack of accessibility, limited play options or tall and narrow surfaces that might be a safety risk. Upgrading your play equipment for newer, more modern designs will ultimately make the playground a lot more inviting and enjoyable for children.
Play is a fundamental part of childhood development that allows children to build on their physical, social and cognitive skills. Schools and nurseries in particular, if your current playground equipment lacks opportunities for outdoor learning, then it might be time for an update.
Finally, an obvious sign your commercial playground equipment needs changing is complaints from children, parents or other caregivers about its state. These concerns should be taken seriously, otherwise it could reflect poorly on your school, business or local authority.
We recognise that knowing when to upgrade your commercial playground can be tricky, so we recommend that you keep an eye out for some of these signs, as these are good indicators of worn out and potentially unsafe equipment.
So now you know some of the main reasons to update your commercial playground equipment, you may be wondering when is the best time to do so?
This will largely depend on the location of your playground. For schools, one of the best times to upgrade play equipment is during the summer, when the children are on their summer holidays. This way, you will avoid disrupting classes, playtime and will minimise the risk of any children getting too close and hurting themselves.
For businesses, such as hotels and leisure parks, a good time to upgrade your playground would be during quieter seasons, when there will be less people around, for example in the colder months when there are fewer holidaymakers. Similarly, for local authorities and parks, a good time to upgrade your commercial play equipment would be after September, when children are back in school and there are less tourists in your area.
Ultimately, a good design and planning process plays an integral role in a smooth transition and upgrade. Also, it is important you choose an experienced commercial playground equipment supplier and installer, like Rhino Play.
If you think it’s time to upgrade your tired-looking commercial playground equipment, then get in touch with our team today via email at info@rhinoplay.co.uk and we will work alongside you to come up with bespoke playground design, based on your specific requirements. At Rhino Play, we offer bespoke installation services all year round, so we can easily fit around you and your busy periods.
To view some of our previous commercial playground projects, visit our case studies section. We have also outlined the six best playground equipment products to transform your commercial playground in our recent blog, so make sure you have a read!
"Please note that we don't offer domestic / home garden play equipment generally."
