What is BS EN 1176 for Playgrounds?

06th January 2021

The British Standard BS EN 1176 regulates playground equipment and fencing to ensure safe use. The standard has seven parts that detail specific requirements for the manufacture of playground equipment.

What are the seven parts of the standard?

Each part of the standard deals with a different issue. The parts are as follows:

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

What does the standard include?

The BS EN 1176 provides guidelines for playground equipment, surfaces gates and fences. Playground operators use it to develop a maintenance and inspection regime.

The standard focuses on keeping playgrounds safe. It outlines the operator must establish an appropriate safety system. No access should be allowed for unsafe equipment or areas. Therefore, site owners should assess the effectiveness of safety measures annually, and entrances for emergency services should be freely accessible. The standard states that Installers should install equipment safely to appropriate national building regulations and the manufacturer’s instructions.

What is the background of the standard?

Playground standards aren’t and have never been a legal requirement. However, following the BS EN 1176 represents good practice in an accident claim. This standard does have some limitations as compliance won’t automatically create a safe playground. However, use these standards intelligently and create safe playgrounds and equipment.

Why is the standard important for playground fencing?

The BS EN 1176 details the specification and design considerations of installing metal railings in children’s playgrounds. It states that gaps must not exceed 89mm. The standard reduces the risk of entrapment, as anything more significant could mean a small child could get stuck between the bars. For the same reason, it also specifies that railings should have a shorter hoop at the top.

The BS EN 1176 also recommends that railings have a minimum height of 1000mm and posts are capped. Furthermore, it states that installers should not install gates that open into a hazardous environment such as an open road. It is also essential that railings are not too close to the play equipment for a child to fall on. Finally, gates must be self-closing to prevent children from swinging and prevent dogs from entering. Therefore, the BS EN 1176 are in place to protect children from any accidents which could cause harm.

Therefore, are you looking for more information on BS EN 1176 play equipment safety standards and fencing products that meet that approval? Contact Zaun today!

About Zaun

Zaun Limited is the sole remaining manufacturer of welded and woven mesh fencing systems that manufactures the entire system in the UK. Zaun makes the mesh, fencing panels, posts, clamp bars and fixings at its state-of-the-art five-acre production facility in Wolverhampton in the West Midlands. Products have been tested and approved by testing organisations including CPNI, LPCB and Secured by Design.

Zaun works very closely with all stakeholders within the business including employees, local, national and international suppliers and a long-established customer base of fencing contractors to design, manufacture and supply high-quality fencing systems, increasingly often providing expertise in integrating PIDs and other systems into holistic security solutions.

Zaun was founded in 1996 and remains a private company solely owned by co-founder Alastair Henman with a regional office in Dubai. They are certified to the ISO 9001 quality standard. It is also a member of the Perimeter Security Suppliers’ Association (PSSA), of which Alastair Henman is a director.

Zaun is a proud British manufacturer and founder member of the Made in Britain campaign, a key player in the UK fencing market and one of the fastest-growing companies in an increasingly competitive industry.