Playground fencing has several benefits, ranging from the psychological benefits for children of having a designated play area to the practical benefits of gates and railings improving safety. It’s important to consider RoSPA guidelines, however, when choosing the right fencing for a playground.
What is RoSPA?
RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) exists to try and improve safety wherever possible. In the case of playground fencing, child safety is, of course, the paramount consideration. Safeguarding children while playing demands they have fencing that is suitable for the task at hand.
RoSPA makes use of EN 1176 play equipment standard guidelines when assessing fences and railings for suitability.
What are the guidelines?
So, what does RoSPA recommend for playground fencing? They suggest the following considerations:
- The suitability of rigid panels at sloped sites
- Security of propitiatory caps and edgings
- Any child entrapment points within the fence
- Sharp, projecting, and potentially hazardous fittings.
- Material durability against projected usage/vandalism
- Preventative measures, e.g. timbre pressure impregnation or hot-dip galvanising steel
Another recommendation RoSPA makes is that investment in the best quality materials is made during installation. If this is done initially, it can minimise the requirement for regular ongoing maintenance and mitigate the need for frequent repairs.
It’s also important to consider any environmental constraints that may limit one’s options when choosing proper fencing. For example, a play area on a piece of “common land” may not be able to have any fencing at all. Likewise, metal fencing may be unsuitable for use in a rural wooded playground. In contrast, wooden fencing may not be durable enough to withstand the expected vandalism of a more densely populated area.
Other considerations should be made, too, such as the potential for breakage due to poor wire mesh diameter or strength of supporting wire. Lacking top board or railings to protect against the damage of the fence’s upper edge when climbing is something else to consider. Only nails being used when assembling timber fences can lead to sharp edges being exposed in the case of damage or vandalism. The general design must also be suitable, not sharp edges – so no spiked railings or fence pales with a fleur-de-lys style split.
How do you find the right fencing?
If you’re looking for the right fencing panels for a playground, you must choose to purchase them from fencing experts. At Zaun, for example, we can offer you bow top playground fencing that is RoSPA compliant. In addition, we have taken the guidelines into account from the design stage, which means you can be assured of complete compliance.
Our bow top playground fencing has other benefits to offer besides being RoSPA compliant. It’s an attractive design, offering excellent visibility, and can be bolted down, installed directly into the ground, or up against a wall. With durable vandal-resistant design, off-set hinges to eliminate finger trapping, and the availability to be installed on a flat or stepped surface, it makes the ideal playground fencing solution.
