Is a Playground Fence a Legal Requirement?

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SSESSMENTS

PLAYGROUND FENCING

Is a playground fence a legal requirement?

Whilst there is no legal obligation or requirement to enclose a children’s playground with a perimeter fence there are many good reasons for doing so. First, and foremost, a well maintained fence, with effective gates and access points, should restrict dogs from gaining access to the playground. Secondly, and just as important, a fence should contain the children in the playground especially young children who are fond of simply “walking off” when Mum is not looking!

There will be some locations where it may not be possible to enclose a playground with a fence. Playgrounds on Common land, for example, must remain open-access as most common land is protected with bye-laws preventing any enclosure or fencing. But, as a general rule, it does make sense to fence children’s playgrounds.

Erect the best fence you can afford and don’t opt for the cheapest.

All too often the money runs out long before any consideration is given to providing good quality, effective playground fencing. This leads to the cheapest possible fencing being erected, by the company offering the lowest possible quotation and, almost without exception; it costs far more in the long run, to go for the cheapest fence option.

A playground fence is an integral play element of any playground. To a child the fence surrounding the swings, the see-saw, the slide and the roundabout is yet another piece of play equipment. It is there to be climbed, jumped upon or off, to sit upon, to push and shove friends into (and over, occasionally) but it is there to be used, as part of Play. Older children seem incapable of walking by a fence without making contact either by kicking a ball against it, running a stick along it, or trying to jump it or fall against it. Usually bikes are thrown against a fence by their owners-seldom are they stood carefully or gently against the fence rails.Most playground fences suffer from abuse and misuse and it really is short-sighted of any playground manager skimping on good quality fencing by saying that whatever money is available is best spent on play equipment rather than necessary extras. Increasingly we are seeing more and more money being spent by playground managers on providing a “safe” surface for the whole playground, than is actually spent on providing an exciting, challenging and stimulating range of play equipment. It is almost as if we have forgotten that there should be an element of risk and consequence to be found in a children’s playground.

We are in danger of becoming over-protective to growing, developing, eager-to-learn-youngsters, who want to test out their new skills, physical strength, agility and co-ordination. Managing the risks and ensuring the consequences are acceptable are essential parts of the playground manager’s responsibility. Providing a good quality perimeter fence with safe effective gates is another.

What type of fencing is best?

Not surprisingly there is no single answer to providing the best fence possible as a number of factors can affect your decision. However some forms of fencing are obviously unsuitable and yet they can be found, every so often, on children’s playgrounds!

Barbed wire, rusting, single wire barriers, any kind of animal or stock fencing employing barbs or spikes should not be used. Neither should ranch-style fencing be used. Horizontal bars offer a climbing platform or unofficial access into the playground. If ranch fencing is used make sure children cannot climb out of the playground by putting up a wire or plastic-mesh screen on the side of the fence facing into the playground. This should prevent small feet from gaining a purchase on the bottom rail.

Perhaps the most convenient and most durable fence for a children’s playground is the type seen in municipal parks. and around public buildings. Galvanised mild steel bow-topped railings are easy to install, are very strong, easy to maintain and they can be painted or not. Usually bolted onto matching uprights securely fixed (concrete) into the ground such fencing comes in a range of widths and heights. The ideal height for a fence around a children’s playground should be between 1 – 1.2 metres. Galvanised railings come in a variety of styles, some flat-topped, others with a hoop or half-round top. Do not use any metal railing that features a fleur-de-lys design or arrow-head style of top rail. These can be dangerous and must be avoided. The advantage of galvanised (or wrought-iron if you can afford it) is the durability and strength of the material. Another benefit is that invariably such railings actually blend into the background far more effectively than traditional wooden fencing, which can sometimes look rather like a stockade or a cage. More and more rural communities are using metal railings around their playgrounds as they really do offer value for money, in the long term.Traditional wooden fencing featuring vertical half-round logs or flat lengths fixed to horizontal cross rails are very popular and come in a great variety of styles and finishes and qualities! Any wood used in a children’s playground must be appropriate for the purpose and should be pressure impregnated with preservative to last and also must be free of any finger entrapments (small knot holes, splinters or splits/gaps above 10mm). Again the height of the fence should be between 1 – 1.2 metres with the vertical bars fixed securely to the cross rails so that small feet cannot gain a purchase on the cross rail. A maximum gap of 100mm between uprights should prevent this from happening. For maximum strength insist that the uprights are SCREWED to the horizontal support rails even if this will cost more. It is harder to kick down a fence upright when it screwed on than when it is just nailed, even if the nails are put in at an angle and two or more are used. Nails split wood unless entering a pre-drilled hole and good quality screws are much stronger and less damaging to the wood.

The choice of wood or metal fencing depends largely upon taste and maybe local surroundings but which ever material is chosen, the fence should be as open as possible allowing for good vision, in and out, of the playground. It is vital that small children can be seen, and can see out. Just as important is that older children, who may frequent the playground, can also be seen. Playing behind a solid barrier can be upsetting for young children who may lose sight of parents, brothers and sisters. Solid fences may conceal all sorts of mischief especially with older children.

Wire or plastic coated mesh can be useful as fencing but only if it is well supported, by sturdy rails and posts. Chain link is not very effective unless it is carried taut on two cross rails, one at the top and one at the bottom. Prone to attack from vandals, wire and plastic coated mesh is a cheap option that requires a lot of maintenance and inspection especially if children climb it, (which they frequently do!). Loose wires quickly appear at broken points and these can be very dangerous. Probably best used in conjunction with a planting schemes at perhaps the rear of the play area, at say a boundary with a neighbouring area, gardens, allotments etc. etc.

Styles and Suppliers

The attached sheet shows a number of fence styles suitable for playgrounds and there are a number of manufacturers and suppliers listed for you to contact. When discussing the type of fence you want remember you will need two pedestrian access gates and a vehicular access gate and possible a dog grid

Gates, access points and dog grids

Unless it is a very small playground it is always advisable to install two gates for pedestrian exit and access This gives a choice, if required, when leaving the playground. .If there is a large area of grass in the playground you will need a gate to let in mowing equipment. Pedestrian gates should be self-closing, of which there are many types on the market, and the gate should open OUTWARDS to prevent dogs from pushing open the gate to get into the playground. Gates opening onto a pavement or near to a water hazard should open INWARDS to prevent children from dashing straight out of a play area. There should be a minimum gap all around the gate opening of 12mm to ensure small fingers are not caught and there should be no protrusion likely to injure a child, i.e. a latch or bolt extending past the gate or gate post. Where possible use rounded handles and make sure a rubber buffer is fitted on the strike plate to lessen the sound of the gate closing. Access gates for mowing equipment should be kept padlocked to prevent unauthorised access

All pedestrian gates should be clearly marked and be very visible and with a smooth ground surface. Children are frequently injured when tripping over worn, rough ground at playground entrances. Paving slabs can help ease the wear and tear and if you want to make sure no dogs access the playground consider fitting a dog grid. Then, if the gate is left open, or is broken, dogs will not be able to get in. Dog grids are only effective if cleaned out on a regular basis. Once they become full of litter or mud animals can cross without difficulty. Always remember to fit the grid with the slots running across and not along the line of access otherwise pram-wheels may become wedged.

Regular inspection and maintenance

The playground fencing and gates need to be inspected just as frequently and as thoroughly as the rest of the playground. Most problems emanate from around the gate area with the gate itself attracting most of the problems. Make sure the self-closing mechanism is operating correctly. It should close slowly without propelling a child or mother and pram into the play area! Is the gate hanging correctly? Children love to play on the gate but dog grids are an effective way of deterring them for some reason.

Check all fence posts for movement. Make sure all uprights are in place and there are no gaps. Ensure there are no protrusions especially nail heads or ends of wire sticking out just waiting to rip out a child’s eye. Make sure any wire mesh is fixed to a top rail and a bottom rail to prevent any sagging. Are there any splinters or hazards present in the wood?

Finally make sure the base of the fence is free of litter and that in the case of loose fill material such as bark, the fence is not covered by the bark. A tip worth remembering - regularly replace bark in the main wear areas with bark from alongside the fence. Lightly fork over the worn areas first and then mix in the fresh bark to prolong the life of the play surface.

WHAT IF I NEED FURTHER HELP OR INFORMATION?

If you still have any queries you are advised to contact CPFAs at

The CPFA movement is grateful to Leicestershire & Rutland Playing Fields Association and Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association for producing this topic sheet and is also pleased to acknowledge the invaluable assistance provided by Fields in Trust, the HSE, the API and RoSPA in the origination of material for this Information sheet. Whilst every care has been taken in the production of this Information Sheet CPFAs, cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies that might occur, or be held liable for any advice given. April 06

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