• Two new European Standards for childrens playground equipment and impact absorbing surfacing have been published by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and are effective from 1999 :-
  • EN 1176 Childrens Playground Equipment.

    This Standard is divided into seven parts :-

    • Part 1 - General safety requirements and test methods.
    • Part 2 - Additional specific safety requirements and test methods for swings.
    • Part 3 - Additional specific safety requirements and test methods for slides.
    • Part 4 - Additional specific safety requirements and test methods for runways.
    • Part 5 - Additional specific safety requirements and test methods for carousels.
    • Part 6 - Additional specific safety requirements and test methods for rocking equipment.
    • Part 7 - Guidance on installation, inspection, maintenance and operation.

  • EN 1177 Impact absorbing playground surfacing : Safety requirements and test methods.

    Key sections of the above Standard include:-

    • Scope
    • Normative references
    • Definitions
    • Safety requirements
    • Information to be provided by the manufacturer or supplier
    • Test method
    • Appendices A - D

  • These Standards superceed British Standard BS 5696 and parts of BS 7188:1989
  • The new Standards are not mandatory. However, in the case of an accident where legal action is taken, the play provider will have to satisfy the court that they had sufficient and valid reasons for not complying to the Standard.
  • The Standard is not retrospective.
  • In some areas, the Standard is specific in others, general guidance with examples are given.
  • It is likely that over time, the non-specific areas will be clarified, as the Standard is revised and updated.
  • Copies of the new Standard can be purchased from British Standard Institute. However, they are extremely difficult to read and understand.
    ROSPA has published a brochure entitled 'A Guide to the New European Playground Equipment and Surfacing Standards', which is well worth reading.

Examples of Loose-Fill Surfacing Materials (as set out in BS EN 1177 Table A.1)

Note

1. The table above is for guidance only.
2. Frozen material is not permitted.

When is Surfacing is Required

Item 4.2.2 of BS EN 1177 states that :-
"Beneath playground equipment having a free height of fall of more than 600 mm, there shall be impact attenuating surfacing over the entire impact area."

"Beneath playground equipment having a free height of fall not exceeding 600 mm, the surfacing used should have some impact attenuating properties, but in such situations no test of its critical height is required."

Item 4.2.4 of BS EN 1177 states that :-
"If well maintained, top soil and turf are effective for fall heights of upto 1.00 metre, and can be used without the need to conduct a test."

Item 4.2.8.4 of BS EN 1176 part 1 states that :-
"the surface in the impact area shall meet the requirements for impact attenuation equal to or greater than the free fall height of the equipment."

The Extent of Surfacing

This is given in E.2 of BS EN 1176-1

British Standard 7188:1998 "Method of Test for Impact Absorbing Surfaces", has recently been updated.
• This Standard sets out methods by which surfaces for playgrounds should be tested. The properties to be tested include:-
  • The ability to absorb energy
  • The ability to resist abrasive wear
  • Slip resistance
  • Resistance to indentations
  • The material's ease of ignition
  Only two of the above tests i.e. 'The ability to absorb energy' and 'The materials ease of ignition' are applicable to loose impact absorbing surfaces.
• Once measured, the impact absorbing test results, together with the playground equipment critical fall height, are used to determine the correct installation depth of the loose impact absorbing surface.

British Standard 4790:1987 "Determination of the effects of a small source of ignition on textile floor coverings, Hot Metal Nut method"
• Although this standard is usually used to fire test floor coverings, in the absence of any recommended fire test procedure in BS EN 1177, this test method can be used as an independent reliable alternative.
  In simple terms, a hexagonal nut weighing 30 grammes is heated to 900°C. This is then carefully placed on the sample to be tested. (The sample measures approx. 1100 x 200 x 50 - 100 mm deep). After a 30 second duration of flaming, the greatest radius of char is recorded.

• Another method of fire testing, although not a British Standard, is the 'Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems, using a Radiant Heat Energy Source'.
  With this method, the burn length, critical radiant flux and duration of flaming are recorded after a 600°C radiant source is held at a 30° angle above the product sample being tested for 15 seconds.

Basic Level Mark
• A 'basic level mark' is to be put onto the equipment by the equipment manufacturer. This will indicate how far up the equipment superstucture, the surfacing should attain.

Tracability
• EN 1177, Items 5.1 and 5.2 requires the supplier of LIAS to provide specific information, to effect 'Product Tracability'. This includes technical data, recommended installation, inspection and maintenance requirements for each order supplied. See Technical Support Data and Tracability.