Playground Safety in Playground Equipment
When it comes to designing its playground equipment, Elephant®Play considers every critical measure of playground safety. Elephant®Play’s research and development team is committed to ensuring that its innovative play structures first and foremost adhere to the ASTM & CSA requirements for playground safety. At the same time, Elephant®Play is striving to develop higher playground safety standards to ensure children are protected against injuries. Whether spinning friends around on Rotating Structures, enjoying a ride on a group Elephant Swing set, or bouncing together on a Bouncing Play structure, children are always in good hands with Elephant®Play.
Elephant®Play refuses to compromise on playground safety. See for yourself some of the unparalleled playground safety features of Elephant®Play playground equipment:
Enhanced Swing Set Safety
 |
The impact of a traditional playground equipment swing set seat against a child’s head can cause serious injury. Such injuries are common in the uncontrolled movements of tire swings, but the risk can be minimized using design strategies that lower the mass of the seat and use impact-absorbing materials. Elephant Swing sets are crafted with light rubber bumpers in a suspended dish shape. The curved shape avoids the dangerous pointed corners of traditional swing sets and acts to lower the swing’s center of gravity, while a malleable rubber bumper component allows for full compression around the suspended element. Elephant Swing sets are also calibrated to operate within a specific, controlled trajectory so that surrounding children can easily predict where swings will move, greatly decreasing the likelihood of an unexpected impact. In addition, the angle of the suspension creates a substantially reduced arc of motion (see “Elephant®Play Multi-User Swing Movement”), thus directing kinetic energy upward and reducing the severity of a potential impact of a play structure and a child.
Superior Swing Set Stability
Rather than hanging from two chains, Elephant Swing play structures are suspended with four steel reinforced nylon ropes. The swing set ropes are mounted to the suspended element in strategic locations to avoid tipping the swing. By keeping the right opening angle between the ropes, the pendulum motion of the suspended element is completely neutralized, and the lateral movement of the suspended element ends up being extremely limited. Thus, pushing against the movement of the swing merely results in a gentle rocking motion around point A, keeping playground safety high (as shown in “Elephant®Play Stable Swing Set Design”).
Three-Point Clinging Enforced
Elephant®Play play structures allow children to maintain bodily stability. Children gain this stability on its rope climbing equipment by having to move with only one free limb off the playground equipment. At all times the child must employ either two hands and one foot, or one hand and two feet. Thus, Elephant®Play playground equipment ensures that children always feel safe and stable as they play.
Protective Surfacing for Rotating Structures
The protective surfacing zone for Rotating Structures, and extends at least 70.87 in (1.8 m) from the perimeter of the play structure, and
an additional no-encroachment zone* of at least 70.87in (1.8 m) from the perimeter of the protective surfacing is provided for play structures that rotate around a vertical axis (see “Protective Surfacing and No-Encroachment Zone”). The wide range of protection offered by Elephant®Play allows kids to play safely and securely not only inside the play structure, but outside it as well. These playground safety measures ensure that Rotating Structures can safely compliment other playground equipment on the park.
Deck Rotates with the Central Post
Playground equipment that rotates around a vertical axis holds the potential of catching a child’s clothing and resulting in injury. With Elephant®Play's Rotating Structures, such clothing entrapment is not possible, as the movement of the central post coordinates with the movement of the deck to ensure that children are never caught on the mast. Children can thus safely enjoy the dynamic movement of Rotating Structures, with no added risk to overall playground safety.
Contact Elephant®Play playground equipment company to learn more about its commitment to playground safety, or see how its low-maintenance play structure design makes sure its playground safety standards are maintained.
*Not applicable in U.S.; required by CSA (Canadian Safety Standards) only.
