A recent study in New York City found that there were more safety risks due to maintenance related hazards in playgrounds in low-income areas. It was found that there was more rust, litter and damage in these areas. There was a considerable lack of corner trim too. Subpar playground equipment at cheap prices usually means low quality and unsafe equipment. Are these the category of playgrounds you want your children play on? Wouldn’t you rather provide the safest playground possible for your children? The increased safety and quality benefits that you get with better playground equipment does make the extra money it costs worth it.
Commercial playground companies offer a service of updating products for safer and more durable products for the children to play on. It is worth paying the extra money for the safe and long-lasting play that their equipment provides. Some playgrounds still feature equipment with wooden supports and beams which can have splinters in them. Steel supports should be used as they are safer to the kids and will last longer than wood. Corner trim is something that is often installed by playground designers as it is another material that can protect the children and the equipment from damage as it will absorb impacts.
Some playgrounds still have concrete and asphalt surfacing, which is unsafe for many reasons. The lack of absorption qualities means that when children fall on this surface they hurt themselves. The best surfacing materials for playgrounds are rubber tiles, which are durable enough to withstand weather, sturdy enough to allow wheelchair access, and soft enough to cushion any possible falls.
Many of the bigger playground suppliers will customise the equipment you want to match your requirements. Your play area will be unique if you find a company who allow you to mix and match the equipment. The designs should be tailored to provide challenging but safe commercial playground equipment for specific age groups.
Tags: corner protection, corner trim, play equipment, playgrounds