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Playground Equipment Playground Planning

The Playground Installation Process: A Play-by-Play Examination (With Real Examples!)

Completed Playground for Palencia Elementary School

Proper playground installation is an involved process that ensures the safety of your playground. BYO Recreation and National Playground Construction (NPC) worked together to install a complete playground project for a new elementary school in St. Augustine, FL.

Playground Installation Step-by-Step

Palencia Elementary School took advantage of BYO Recreation’s playground savings! They purchased a Desert Oasis playground structure and a fitness structure. Because of the substantial savings they had left over due to our annual Quick Ship Sale, they were able to purchase poured-in-place safety surfacing with their school logo.

Moreover, professional playground installation ensures that the playground equipment is properly installed and meets safety requirements. BYO Recreation’s installers are certified in playground safety standards, so there’s no guess work.

The installation at Palencia Elementary took two weeks. One week was spent on the construction of the two playground structures. The second week was for the installation of the Poured-in-Place Safety Surfacing. Both jobs involved a lot of demanding and rigorous manual labor.

Playground Shipping

Unloading Palencia Elementary School’s playground equipment.

First, the playground equipment is shipped freight in crates and on pallets. A project manager will organize shipment times and sign-off for optimized efficiency. When the truck arrives at the playground site, the installers unload the equipment with a forklift or by hand. After unloading the equipment, the installers check that all parts are present and in perfect condition.

Arranging Equipment

Laying out equipment and drilling holes for playground posts.

Secondly, the installers lay out the equipment in the use zone, an essential step in the installation process. This is how the installers know where the holes are going to go and make sure the distances are correct in relation to the other equipment. They start with the core of the structure first and work outwards.

Afterwards, the installers use an auger to dig the holes in the asphalt. This will enable them to install the posts in the ground with concrete. The concrete set overnight, then the installers began to lay the decks and other play components.

Playground Surfacing Installation

Installing a poured-in-place surfacing pirate ship logo.
Placing poured-in-place surfacing down for the Palencia Elementary School logo.

Once the playground is fully constructed, the Poured-in-Place installers begin the process of marking out the area. First, they start with mixing the rubber with glue and laying it out.

Next, they lay a thick base coat. For the space at Palencia, this took about two days including dry time. Lastly, they lay out the top coat, allow it to dry and then they will incorporate the pirate ship design. Poured-in-place surfacing mix must be temperature controlled, so this was a great project for Florida weather. Poured-in-place will not cure properly in colder temperatures.

Learn More About Playground Installation

Finally, to see photos of other completed playgrounds visit the BYO Recreation’s Gallery page. To learn more about BYO Recreation, NPC and professional playground installation call 1-800-853-5316 or visit www.byoplayground.com. Or, to learn more about playground installation, visit our services page.

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Uncategorized

Best Outdoor Fitness Equipment for Adults

Example of adult outdoor fitness equipment in front of a playground
A variety of outdoor fitness equipment in front of a playground.

Outdoor fitness has been a universal activity since cavemen roamed the earth. People are compelled to stay fit or get fit for many different reasons, some being the following:

  • Lower risk of heart attack or other life-threatening health issues.
  • Increase ability to protect one’s self against predators.
  • Perform better in labor-intensive jobs or careers.

There are infinite reasons why people are driven to be fit. However, not all people have the time or the money to attend a gym. Here’s how you can make fitness more accessible for people on the go.

Providing Exercise Opportunities

First, what better way to give these busy adults the exercise time they desire, so they can stay in-shape without having to go to, or spend money at, a gym?

Three words: Outdoor fitness equipment!

This type of fitness equipment is great for parks or areas with a playground area. Adults can workout for free while their kids play versus sitting on a park bench. This saves visitors money and time because the outdoor fitness equipment is conveniently placed near a children’s playground. Adults can easily supervise their children while getting or staying fit!

“Emerging science suggests that exercising outdoors increases the overall enjoyment of working out, as well as increasing the frequency and length of time spent exercising,” says Stephanie Devine, vice president of sales and marketing for PlayCore Recreation.

Types of Outdoor Fitness Equipment

Example of an outdoor fitness center
An outdoor fitness center can consist of most of the equipment a standard gym offers.

Equip your space with all the standard fitness equipment you’d find at a gym. Find everything from fitness machines to manual equipment that’s ideal for fitness trails. Also, customize your equipment with different colors to match your space.

Machine Fitness

Machine fitness equipment is becoming more common in communities as the popularity of outdoor activities grow. Our machine fitness equipment is heavy-duty, rust-resistant, and has the familiarity of the equipment you’d find in your local gym. Choose from:

  • Cardio Walkers
  • Leg Press
  • Chest-Press Stations
  • Back Extension Station
  • And More!

Traditional Fitness

Secondly, Traditional fitness equipment is perfect for adding value to an existing jogging or bicycle path. Create fitness trails that offer even more exercise options in a relaxing and natural setting. Fitness trails enable participants to intermix their strength training with a brisk walk or jog. Choose from:

  • Balance Equipment
  • Push Up/Pull Up Bars
  • Sit Up Stations
  • Parallel Bars
  • And More!

Additionally, BYO Recreation fitness equipment is designed for ages 12+. All equipment is engineered to withstand repeated vigorous exercise and harsh weather. Also, most equipment for fitness centers require minimal maintenance. Each structure is built from high-quality materials and tested for durability. To verify the safety of any fitness equipment, you should ask the manufacturers for the safety reports.

Learn More About Outdoor Fitness Equipment

Finally, BYO Recreation offers a variety of outdoor fitness equipment that is perfect for working out every muscle in the body. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 1-800-853-5316. One of our consultants will be more than happy to help you choose the best equipment for your outdoor fitness center.

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Playground Safety Playground Safety Surfacing

Playground Safety Measures to Implement at Your Organization

boy-being-helped-by-an-adult-on-a-playground-spinner

Playground Safety is one of the most important components of safety in a play space, so it’s important to know what you should be inspecting in order to keep children safe at play.

Playground Safety Statistics

According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission:

About 200,000 children are treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for playground equipment-related injuries. An estimated 148,000 of these injuries involve public playground equipment and an estimated 51,000 involve home playground equipment.

Also, about 15 children die each year as a result of playground equipment-related incidents. Most of the injuries are the result of falls. These are primarily falls to the ground below the equipment, but falls from one piece of equipment to another are also reported. Most deaths are due to strangulations, though some are due to falls.

Playground Safety Measures

Let’s educate you from the ground up on playground structure safety. Children at play may fall off the structure injuring their heads, arms and legs. Placing cement or asphalt under a play structure is forbidden because the surface does not have any kind of effective shock absorption. If a child falls and hits his or her head on these surfaces he or she may obtain a fractured skull or neck, a concussion or even swelling of the brain. Falling on these surfaces may also result in death.

Safe Playground Surfaces

An example of safe wood mulch playground surfacing.

Wooden and rubber mulch, fine sand and fine gravel are great surfaces for a play space. These surfaces have fantastic shock absorbency, preventing injuries upon falling. You still must maintain these surfaces, making sure the depth is well-kept and there are no exposed roots, rocks or hard ground.  All BYO Recreation surfaces are ADA, ASTM and CPSC certified. In other words, you can be sure that your children will have a lesser chance of injury if they fall.

Playground Structures

An example of playground bars exceeding the recommended 9" standard.
These playground overhead bars exceed 9″, and therefor do not present an entrapment hazard.

Moving up the ladder to the play structures, we can find more ways to implement playground safety. Let’s start with prevention of head entrapment.

Children love to climb through safety bars on the playground. However, if they attempt to go through feet first they will reduce their ability to climb out of danger’s way causing their head to get stuck between bars. If unattended, children can strangle to death as a result.

In general, openings that are closed on all sides should be less than 3 1/2″ or greater than 9″, according to the U.S. CPSC. Openings that are between 3′ 1/2″ and 9″ present a head entrapment hazard. These openings are large enough to permit a child’s body to go through, but are too small for a child’s head.

Installation & Maintenance

BYO Recreation offers professional installment of all playground equipment through our National Playground Construction Company (NPC). NPC is a licensed Certified General Contractor (CGC) and all NPC installers are certified by the National Playground Safety Institute as playground professionals (NPSI). Hiring us will ensure you that your playground is assembled properly and meets all the safety codes and regulations put in place by government organizations such as the U.S. CPSC.

We also recommend that you inspect all hooks to make sure they are tightly closed with no protrusions. This prevents children’s clothing from getting caught which, can cause strangulation. Ropes and cords are yet another way that children can be strangled. They can get tangled in or fall on to the rope or cord that has been tied around a part of the play structure. It is important to make sure ropes and cords hang normally and are not tied or tangled in dangerous ways.

Learn More About Playground Safety

These are only a couple ways to incorporate playground safety and reduce the amount of injuries or deaths on your play area. Help save children’s lives by inspecting your playground on a regular basis.

Additionally, to learn more about playground safety, please review the Public Playground Safety Handbook. To obtain a playground safety checklist please refer to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Public Playground Safety Checklist.

If you would like to request a professional to examine your playground equipment, please give us a call at 1-800-853-5316. One of our consultants will be more than happy to assist you and answer all of your playground safety questions.

Categories
Playground Planning Playground Safety

Here’s How Much Playground Shade Can Make a Difference

playground-shade-example

Playground shade seems pretty unimportant when it comes to playground safety. After all, making sure play structures are built properly and swing set parts are not worn out seem to be at the top of the safety checklist. However, shade is important too, if not the most important safety feature on a playground. So if shade is the most important safety feature, why is it overlooked so often?

Answer: People don’t realize how HOT playground equipment and surfaces can get!

Unbelievable Playground Temperatures

Let’s find out just how hot a play area can get on an average sunny summer day.

In Cathedral City, California, the CBS Local 2 News staff took a laser temperature gun to measure a play space lacking playground shade. The place was Panorama Park, CA, and it was 115F degrees outside. The playground equipment and flooring measured 161F to 180F degrees! According to AntiScald Inc., a person can receive third degree burns by touching a structure at 140F degrees for 5 seconds. That’s 20-40 degrees cooler than the recorded temperature of playgrounds not protected with shade.

Burns are not the only thing to worry about.  “Children’s skin is especially sensitive to direct sunlight because they don’t have as many pigment cells as adults do. Children burn faster and cumulative skin damage starts with the first exposure,” according to the American Academy of Dermatology. “One bad sunburn in childhood could cause skin cancer 30 years later.” Improper shade over your playground area can cause children to over heat and adults can have heat strokes resulting in a trip to the hospital.

So you can see why shade is a very important component to outdoor safety. It prevents heat exhaustion, heat strokes, second and third degree burns, skin cancer and so much more!

Playground Shade for All Outdoor Spaces

BYO Recreation offers a variety of shade structures for playgrounds, sandboxes, benches, tables, sidewalks and virtually anywhere you desire. Pretty cool!

Example of playground shade for a large preschool.
Playground shade comes in several shapes, sizes, and styles to accommodate any space.

Additionally, to learn more about playground safety, please review the Public Playground Safety Handbook. To obtain a playground safety checklist please refer to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Public Playground Safety Checklist.

Finally, learn how playground shade can save your visitors from harsh injuries or illnesses by calling 1-800-853-5316. One of our consultants will be happy to answer your inquires and concerns. Also, visit our website and take a look at our state-of-the-art playground shade structures and place an order to save children’s health.

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Playground Equipment

How Accessible Playground Equipment Can Make Your Space More Inclusive

In 1990, there was a big win for accessible playground equipment initiatives. The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed! This act is designed to give civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, it “guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations” and other locations.

Accessible Playground Equipment Types

Here at BYO Recreation, we believe in every child having the opportunity to enjoy the thrill and excitement of adventure on the playground. Whether your playground is at a daycare, in a park, at a school or at your place of business, you should make sure that your playground equipment is ADA approved. These standards give every child the ability and access to fair play.

Wheelchair Ramps

Example of a wheelchair ramp for accessible playground equipment
An integrated playground ramp for wheelchair use.

First, one way to equip your space with accessible playground equipment is to install wheelchair ramps. These help kids enter and exit the play space with ease, especially playgrounds that are bordered. BYO Recreation offers a variety of playground surfaces for wheelchair accessibility. All are ADA certified, but some are a little easier to move around on than others. For example, our mulch is ADA certified, but installing a Poured-In-Place surface is smoother and easier for wheelchairs to move around on.

Accessible Swings & Spring Riders

Example of an accessible playground swing
An accessible playground swing for children of all abilities. Comes with or without a safety harness.

Another way for kids with special needs to enjoy accessible playground equipment are the swings and spring riders. BYO Recreation offers swings that are designed specifically for kids with special needs. They are engineered with a safety bar that lowers down and buckles in place to ensure the child’s safety.  

Additionally, spring riders are great because they are low to the ground and a whole bunch of fun! The height makes it easy for kids to move from their wheelchair onto the spring rider and back. Each rider has feet and hand pegs, so kids can hold on and spring away!

Learn More About Accessible Playground Equipment

There are plenty of ways to include accessible playground equipment at your space. We’ve highlighted only a couple ways that will allow children with disabilities to feel included on your playground.

To learn about more ways to make your playground ADA accessible and keep kids safe at play please visit BYO Recreation’s website or give us a call at 1-800-853-5316. One of our consultants will be more than happy to answer all of your questions and concerns. We’re ready to help you choose the best accessible playground equipment for your play space.

Also, to learn about playground safety, please review the Public Playground Safety Handbook. To obtain a playground safety checklist please refer to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Public Playground Safety Checklist.

Finally, subscribe to our blog for more useful information on accessible playground equipment and more!

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Playground Equipment Playground Safety

Commercial Swing Set Maintenance Best Practices

example-of-a-commercial-arch-swing-set

A commercial swing set is the most common playground equipment component found in any play space. It’s also the most used structure by kids of all ages. The heavy amount of use makes it even more critical to inspect your playground swings every six months to a year.

Standard Commercial Swing Set Inspection

A commercial swing set is composed of several parts such as swivels, seats, frame connectors, hangers and chains. Over time every day wear and tear from use and Mother Nature take a toll on these parts causing equipment to become brittle, or weak. When inspecting your commercial swing set, examine the chains and hangers first, because these are the most replaced parts of a swing set.

Swing Chains

Some chains come coated in a protective material to prevent children from pinching themselves. Over time, this coating can come off and expose the chain metal. The chain is coated in anti-ruse, galvanized steel, but the coating gives extra protection and a nice visual appeal to your swing set.

Swing Hangers

Hangers are what attaches the swing to the top beam and slows for swinging motion. After years of swinging back and forth, these hangers wear down and become weak. The swinging motion rubs the chain against the hanger, which causes the link to become thin over a period of years. These should be replaced when worn out to ensure children will be safe while swinging.

Learn More About Commercial Swing Set Care

Every aspect of your swing set should be inspected to ensure your play structure is up-to-code and safe for child play. If you are unsure of how to inspect your playground space, please call BYO Recreation at 1-800-853-5316. Our certified playground representatives can help you make a checklist of all the major parts to examine.

Additionally, to learn more about playground safety, please review the Public Playground Safety Handbook. To obtain a playground safety checklist please refer to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Public Playground Safety Checklist.

Finally, for more tips on how to inspect your playground for safety, subscribe to our blog! And remember to inspect your commercial swing set annually!

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Playground Safety Playground Safety Surfacing

Safety Surfacing Maintenance Best Practices for Playgrounds

example-of-poured-in-place-surfacing

Using proper safety surfacing to help avoid child injuries is the number one priority for BYO Recreation. Therefor, for Playground Safety Week, we want to provide you with a checklist of things to examine on your playground surface, so you can ensure your children are safe while playing.

Safety Surfacing Types

Loose Fill

Example of loose fill wooden mulch safety surfacing
Loose fill wooden mulch safety surfacing.

If you have a rubber or wooden mulch safety surfacing, you want to check its levels regularly. Over time, your mulch will become compact from children running and playing, children will pick the mulch up and toss it about, kids will even digs holes in the ground, which buries your mulch under dirt. Making sure that your mulch level is good keeps children safer because it keeps your ground level, it protects kids from tripping on any underground objects and it keeps kids from major injuries or infections that improper safety surfacing, like a hard dirt ground, can cause.

Unitary

Example of unitary poured-in-place safety surfacing
Unitary poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing.

Rubber tiled or poured-in-place safety surfacing is much more durable and lasting than mulch surfaces, but even these should be checked from time to time. Tiled surfaces can be pulled up by determined children or have dangerous objects wedged between the cracks. Over time, the tiles may even shift slightly making gaps that kids can trip on. Poured-in-place surfaces are a little more durable than tiled surfaces, but still have some risks. After years of wear and tear, your surface can become thin. This can cause kids to fall on harder ground or trip from an uneven surface. If you inspect your surfaces once a year for these issues, you can keep your kids safe during playtime.

Safety Surfacing Borders

example-of-playground-borders-for-loose-fill-surfacing
Playground borders for loose-fill surfacing.

It’s also a good idea to border your play space with BYO Recreation safety surfacing playground borders. Bordering your playground will designate where the children can play and where they may be out of sight from supervisors. This is also a great way to contain your playground mulch.

For more tips on how to inspect your playground for safety, check back here throughout the month of May 2013 and remember to inspect your playground during Playground Safety Week (April 21-27)! If you would like more information about your surface safety, or would like assistance fixing your playground problems, give us a call at 1-800-853-5316 and one of our associates, will be happy to help you determine your playground issue and select the best product to fix your problem.

To learn more about playground safety, please review the Public Playground Safety Handbook, and to obtain a playground safety checklist please refer to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Public Playground Safety Checklist.

Categories
Playground Equipment Playground Safety

What You Should Know About Playground Maintenance & Safety

Playground maintenance is a huge part protecting your investment and prolonging the life of your playground equipment. Whether you are in charge of maintaining a playground for a school, church or community, you should familiarize yourself with basic playground maintenance requirements to assure you maintain a safe play environment. We have covered the different playground components in previous blog posts, and encourage you to treat each part of your playground with equal care.

Playground Maintenance Checklist

Structures & Independent Items

Playground structures combine many of the maintenance concerns of independent play equipment along with their own special care. The complexity of your playground maintenance routine is determined by your structure size and what types of components it incorporates. Even the largest structures should not require more than a few hours of playground maintenance per year.

Hidden Problems to Note

The most dangerous accidents on playgrounds result in entanglement or entrapment. Entanglement most frequently happens when clothing, rope or fabric becomes tied or tangled on equipment. Hooded sweatshirts and other loose clothing is the biggest factor in entanglement. However, you can minimize risks by ensuring that there are no bolts or screws protruding. Additionally, any rope, string, or ribbon that children may have tied onto the structure should be removed immediately.

Entrapment occurs when a body part is not easily be removable from or pass through equipment. Older equipment has gaps built into the design that are no longer safe. Inspect any equipment over 10 years old with the services of a certified playground safety inspector. The inspector will use a set of templates to test the openings on your equipment. This determines if they are neither too small nor too wide for safe use.

Independent Playground Equipment Maintenance

There are a number of other hazards that can occur as your playground is exposed to time. Each year, your playground maintenance routine should consist of examining the underside of your structure. Safely remove any insect or wasp nests before they can become a danger. Remember that if a child can get in or under something, they will. The safest course of action is to treat your entire play area and always remove anything that doesn’t belong.

Like anything else, your playground will benefit tremendously from a regular maintenance routine. Cover any scratches or chips with a fresh coat of touch up paint to prevent rusting. Also, clean off any built up dirt or grime and clean moving parts so that they move smoothly. Furthermore, check that any loose joints, close bolt or pins, and remove any damaged equipment. Check your surfacing to ensure that loose fill has not become swept away and replenish it as needed.

All together, you’ll probably spend less time maintaining your playground than sweeping up leaves or removing trash each year. However, taking the time to create a proper maintenance plan will greatly extend your equipment life.

Learn more about playground maintenance and safety for independent play equipment, swing sets ,and surfacing!

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Uncategorized

Playground Maintenance Guide – A Complete List

common-playground-maintenance-issues

The National Recreation & Park Association (NRPA) and Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Curriculum state that 1-in-3 playground injuries are a result of a lack of or improper playground maintenance. However, a playground should be a safe haven for children of all ages. Avoid unnecessary accidents with these 10 playground maintenance best practices.

Continue reading “Playground Maintenance Guide – A Complete List”