W Felton 2016
Annual Inspection of play space and apparatus
West Felton Parish Council
Shropshire
Tedsmore Road Playground
Date August 18th 2016
This inspection was carried out by
John Hicks. M.A. (Oxon) RPII Annual Inspector - Registration number 1016A
Enhanced Criminal Record Certificate number 001510554890
Date of issue 23rd November 2015
EXPLANATORY NOTES
1. This inspection was carried through within the requirements and advice of British Standard (BS) EN1176 2008 Parts 1-7 inclusive as well as BS EN 1177 Now fully implemented but not retrospective in effect. Procedures adopted are those incorporated in The Playground Inspection and Maintenance Manual – John Hicks 2nd edition 2005
2. Inspections employ entirely non dismantling procedures
3. While the suppliers might prescribe advised ages for use the equipment on site is available to all and access for all ages is limited only by carers discretion, child size, boldness and abilities.
4. The standard protocols for equipment accessible to children aged 0-14 were applied in all cases.
5. The equipment inspected does not entirely meet current requirements relating to the marking of equipment,* and so in this respect fails to meet the current standard (BSEN 1176 1.7). No risk arises from this situation which is general throughout the industry.
6. Where concerns relating to safety arise they are highlighted in bold print. In these cases advice or recommendations are offered to reduce identified risk or other problems.
7. No formal risk assessment has been made but Indications of risk as highlighted are based upon the information and advice incorporated in Assessing Risk on Children’s Playgrounds - Bob Cook & Peter Heseltine 3rd edition - RoSPA 2002.
8. Opinions offered in relation to access issues are based upon Accessible and Inclusive Playspace – 2nd edition 2005 – John Hicks
9. There is at present a national debate taking place in relation to the toleration of risk in play and the judgement of the Appeal Court – Regina v Porter 2008 – which dismisses some risks as being ‘fanciful’ or ‘hypothetical’ is noted and these degrees of risk as well as ‘the trivial risks of everyday life’ are subsumed within the term ‘Low risk’ which requires no action to be taken.
· The fact that an item fails to fully meet the current standard (BSEN 1176) does not mean that it is unsafe.
· Where concerns relating to safety arise they are highlighted in bold print. In these cases advice or recommendations are offered to reduce identified risk or other problems.
Introductory comments
This play area serves the needs of children aged 7-12 and, if accompanied, some younger children.
Hedges and fences in sound order and while sight lines have improved over recent years the hedges are now virtually as high as ever Advise work on this in the autumn.
The play area is, in spite of the hedge reductions not wholly in view of the hall, nearby houses and passing local traffic which adds slightly to the risk attaching to children and other vulnerable site users.
Numbers of new play items added to the site over recent times remain in sound order and are plainly well used.
Post Installation Inspection (PII) findings as described in an earlier report are again assumed to be to hand for insurance and other liability purposes.
The company is increasingly concerned at the numbers of timber framed swings and similar apparatus found with significant rot and decay. Some of the damage is evidently caused buy overstrimming grass around the bases and so cutting out the very thin protective layer of timber but there are other causes too. The attached note gives some further advice and information on this topic.
Access
Via a steep short path from a ‘kissing gate’
The whole area is fenced and hedged and access to the equipment is over 50metres of close cut grass. There is some surface damage here and like everywhere else there is surface cracking owing to the recent absence of rainfall.
Signs
Limited and largely relating to dogs
Seats
Two new picnic tables! + benches.
Some logs which serve as seats as well as balance beams and as features in an extended adventure trail
Litter bins
The large bin by the MUGA has been vandalised and still needs a new cover section.
Cleanliness
Satisfactory overall.
The equipment
1. Junior swings - Roundaplay
There is minimal chain wear and seat edges show signs of damage. There remains evidence of ‘pulling’ at seat fastening points Monitor. Low risk
Surfacing
Perforated sheet on grass – sinking and so less effective. Low risk
2. Cradle seat swings
There is minimal chain wear. Monitor. Low risk.
One new? There is slight crack damage to one crotch bar. Low risk
There is characteristic fading or the orange coloured surface material and this commonly precedes cracking and rust damage – monitor
Surfacing
Perforated sheet on grass. Sinking and relaying as well as extension of the safety surface to a minimum of two metres might be prudent
3. Adventure trail Roundaplay Ten elements
This is potentially an accessible and a user friendly item but there are potential finger traps in chain links. Low risk..
There is here and elsewhere evident of deep strimmer cutting and there is some rotting in the balance beams and stepping stones – monitor and check regularly as advised in the last report.
Chain sections on the bridge and log walk ground in normal use. Low risk but it reduces play value considerably
Also monitor securing points in timber sections. Low risk.
Surfacing
Grass Low risk.
4 Spring Toy 1 Bird
This item ‘grounds’ front and rear under moderate load and leans to one side Loose ground fixing which might be partially caused by the dried out surrounding soil. Low/medium risk.
This is potentially a user friendly item but access will prove difficult for some
Surfacing
Grass deeply troughed
5. Spring toy 2 M/cycle
Ground fixing moves under load and cracks evident – see above.
This is potentially a user friendly item but access will prove difficult for some
Surfacing
Grass. Troughed
6. Multi play unit
The item fails Grip/grasp requirements. Low risk
There is a clothing entrapment potential (Toggle trap) Low risk
Monitor splits in timber sections and follow up on the advice offered previously.
This is potentially a user friendly item but access will prove difficult for some
Surfacing
Perforated sheet on grass.
7. Bowl form spinner – Sutcliffe Play
Soundly and competently installed and judged fit for purpose.
An accessible and inclusive play item.
Surfacing
Perforated sheet on grass.
8. Boulders and logs laid out as a trail in ‘Natural Play’ form
There is no British Standard applicable to this item but see the earlier advisory note
Soundly and competently installed but very evident rotting here.
An accessible and inclusive play item.
.
Surfacing
Grass.
9. Single point tyre swing with climbing bars - Lappsett
Soundly and competently installed and judged fit for purpose.
An accessible and inclusive play item.
Surfacing
Perforated sheet on grass.
10. Runway – generally described as an ‘Aerial flight’ or ‘Zip wire’
The timber frame is well weathered but a substantial knot has fallen out (been removed?) and the inspector is concerned that this might weaken the structure – advise consulting the suppliers in case they have experienced problems in this regard elsewhere. Medium risk.
Surfacing
Perforated composition sheet material commonly referred to as ‘grass mat’ at a notional 20mm thickness A wear strip rather than a safety surface - See the earlier report
11. Quad flyer – Sutcliffe
Soundly and competently installed
An overhead roundabout for the teenage market
Surfacing
Perforated composition sheet material
12. Muga RPPS
Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAS) are in varying degrees of sophistication merely games walls providing a mini multi-sport arena for up to eight sports, at relatively low cost.
In sound order as found
Surfacing
Tarmac
13. Three items of exercise equipment – Wicksteed Skier, surfer and walker.
Not play equipment and so only marginally subject to BS EN 1176 requirements but see the very extensive notes attached to the last report.
All in sound working order as found and in this inspector’s view a very worthwhile and useful addition to community resources were it not for the location See the earlier brief note – more information is available on my web sites.
John Hicks & Associates
(Inspection and Audit Division)
41a Upland Road, Selly Park, Birmingham. B29 7JS
Phone 0121 472 1276
John Hicks & Associates is a wholly owned subsidiary of John Hicks Ltd
Registered in England & Wales Company Registration no 4160958 VAT Reg. No 650 3437 57
Tax point September 1st 2016
Invoice
To undertaking the annual inspection of play equipment including exercise items and a MUGA and providing a report with recommendations for action £69 + £47 = £116 – 10% = £104.40 + VAT @ 20% £20.88
Total = £125. 28
PLEASE MAKE PAYMENT TO JOHN HICKS
Alternatively
John Hicks Ltd
Lloyds Bank plc
Univ of B’ham (306261) branch
Sort code 30-62-61
Account number 64486868
Settlement is requested within thirty days of the date above
West Felton Parish Council
John Hicks & Associates
(Inspection and Audit Division)
41a Upland Road, Selly Park, Birmingham. B29 7JS
Phone 0121 472 1276 email
John Hicks & Associates is a wholly owned subsidiary of John Hicks Ltd
Registered in England & Wales Company Registration no 4160958 VAT Reg. No 650 3437 57
Inspecting timber framed equipment – Rot and decay
There are three fundamental procedures in the inspection of timber in playgrounds
1.Observation – On approaching the item look for changes in surface colour and texture which might indicate problems. The most obvious examples are lighter and darker surfaces which can be ascribed to variations in surface treatments, abrasive surface wear, exposure to light and possibly the presence of replaced sections – this latter might offer a guide to the extent of maintenance and repair on the location. There is often evidence at ground level of surface damage caused by grass strimmer action as well as contact with water retentive surfaces such as bark and wood chip which are liable to create, conceal and encourage surface growths.
Shading under trees or in the shadow of buildings as well as drip from aphids can encourage surface growths particularly on the exposed top surfaces of linking bar sections and cross bars but these tend to be low risk apart from the degree to which they stain clothing and reduce effective grip .
Look for cracks, splits and shakes which are characteristic of natural timber and generally harmless but three measures of significance are
1. Does the crack run to the heart of the timber section?
2. Does it run between significant fastening points?
3. Is it deep enough to create finger entrapment of splinter injury?
BSEN 1176 4.1.2 specifically warns of the problems associated with water accumulation and retention which might occur in cracks. In some cases securing points retain water and if left almost inevitably rot will develop which to a degree accounts for rotting in the centres of top bars. The fruiting of dry rot spores can be observed characterised by their appearance and distinctive smell
2. Probing – A sharp blade or spike, chisels and terminal screwdrivers are excellent for the purpose. Scraping or pressing on healthy structural posts demonstrates integrity of the timber while the probe if it readily enters soft material generally indicates rotting or at least saturation likely to develop rot at an early time. A combination of these two techniques can by probing and seeking to lift the surface be a useful indicator of problems since short splinters can indicate rotting and a characteristic loss of strength
It is essential when timber is in contact with the earth or LIAS that by excavating or scraping the post is exposed to the foundations or other ground securing points since it is here, perhaps 10 or more centimetres below ‘ground’ level that the rot is most likely to occur and least likely to be observed. The standard states specifically that annual, and by association operational inspection procedures ‘may require excavation or dismantling of certain parts’
3. Striking timber sections with a mallet or a bar can readily identify problems via a hollow sound, especially in heavy wooden sections or a change in note as the post is struck at different points. These sounds are difficult to describe but are characteristic and immediately recognisable when experienced by anyone who as a child has run along railings with a stick and so knows the sound of loose rails. These experiences are very similar. A rubber or plastic faced hammer is preferable since it can be used in the same way to detect cracking in steel support and linking members.
A Recent Case Study
Plainly there is always a degree of weathering and deterioration arising from exposure and use which is tolerated but singling out only the most conspicuous defects in the apparatus recently examined on one location it was concluded that
The top bar forming the main support of a crossed rope bridge unit displayed surface features suggesting that it might be rotten to the core along its length and certainly was decayed and weakened at key securing points. A steel probe readily entered the wood to a depth of seven (7) centimetres and this unit was taken out of use pending replacement of rotten sections.
The cause of the timber failure was a combination of inadequate or incomplete treatment of the timber sections at source compounded by an apparent failure to treat and seal , or otherwise protect, drilled and cut surfaces in the fabrication and installation procedures. The degree to which core rotting occurs at or near drilled fastening points demonstrates this to be the most probable cause of the problem. The fact that timber is rotting in these ways and at this rate is disturbing but in no way surprising since many similar incidents have been reported over the past two years and they appear to derive from similar causes. This problem was the subject of an advisory note in Wiltshire schools in May 2015 which is on the internet..