By Denise DiFulco
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, August 14, 2008
When it comes to outdoor play sets, one size or type definitely does not fit all. Choosing the wrong setup for your family can be costly and even dangerous.
That might sound alarmist to some. How hard can it be to pick out some swings and a slide? But the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that as many as 50,000 children end up in hospital emergency rooms annually because of injuries on home playground equipment, about 80 percent of them as the result of falls.
Statistics probably aren't uppermost in your mind as you explore stores, catalogues and Web sites that offer enormous and enviable fortresses of fun. Even if you're considering a modest setup, there are questions you should ask before making your choice.
1. How much should I spend?
A customized play set can cost as much as a compact car. But you can find safe, durable sets for a few hundred dollars at mass-market retailers, though Will Stoltzfus, vice president of HomePlace Structures, says their quality varies and the options are fewer.
HomePlace, based in New Holland, Pa., sells painted wood and vinyl-clad play sets online and through its catalogue, in addition to supplying such retailers as Costco. Stoltzfus says the advantage of going directly to the manufacturer is customer service. "You get someone to walk you through the process and help you design a set specifically to what your needs are," he said.
The base price of HomePlace's 30-by-42-inch loft with a slide and ladder is $1,195, with swings costing an additional $600 to $700. Options such as bridges, rock walls, tube slides and fire poles add up quickly, and Stoltzfus says the average customer spends about $3,500. The company's most expensive preconfigured set costs $11,400. The price tag on some custom models can go up from there.
2. Does my yard have the proper clearances?
There should be at least six feet between a play set and any obstacles, such as fences, walls or trees. But that's not always possible in residential areas, says André Henderson, a certified playground safety inspector for Gaithersburg-based Maryland Materials, which has installed hundreds of school playgrounds in the Washington area.
"There's an ideal, and there's a reality," he said. "And the reality is that a lot of back yards don't have a lot of room."
For swings, the recommended leeway is twice the height of the structure both in front of and behind the swings. If you don't have enough space, you might want to reconsider the size and scope of the play set.
3. Is the set I'm considering appropriate for my children's ages?
One of the biggest mistakes parents and grandparents make is choosing a play set that doesn't take into account the children's ages. A 2-year-old, for instance, shouldn't be swinging in a flexible rubber seat with no restraints or barreling down a six-foot slide. The height of the play set and the spaces between ladder rungs also should differ depending on a child's size and physical ability. On the flip side, children might outgrow a small play set too quickly, so be sure to ask whether the set is expandable or adjustable.
4. Which materials are best?
Henderson said Maryland Materials, which specializes in commercial playgrounds, stopped selling sets made of pressure-treated wood years ago because of health concerns about substances added to prevent insect and fungal damage.
One such pesticide, chromium copper arsenate (CCA), was banned in 2003 after concerns were raised about arsenic exposure. It was largely replaced by acid copper chromate (ACC), a skin irritant and a known carcinogen that can still be found in some play sets.
Now, alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ), believed to have low toxicity, is more commonly used as a preservative. But if you decide to avoid chemicals and opt for natural wood, remember that it needs regular cleaning and painting or staining.
"The safest thing is for homeowners to go with plastic or metal structures," Henderson advised. That said, it couldn't hurt to ask where plastic or metal components were produced, especially if they are painted. "You want to be sure the country of origin hasn't had any problems with lead paint," Henderson said.
5. What kind of surfacing should I use underneath?
Grass and dirt won't protect your children from falls, and even resilient surfacing won't work unless you use enough. This is one area where you don't want to cut costs: Protective surfaces are critical for preventing devastating head injuries.
A minimum depth of nine inches of loose fill, such as wood chips, engineered wood fiber or rubber mulch, is recommended for an eight-foot-tall play set; nine inches of sand or pea gravel is sufficient only for a five-foot set. These materials must be replenished over time as they settle or are kicked away, so their cost should be figured into your budget. Rubber tiles or poured-in-place surfaces should extend at least six feet from the play set in all directions. Tire swings require even more protective surfacing, with a radius equal to the height of the suspending chain plus six feet in all directions.
6. Can someone watch the kids?
It should go without saying that supervision is the best defense against injury. If you don't plan to monitor your children (and, if you're at all concerned about liability, your neighbor's children), then you're better off not owning a play set. "The playground is no substitute for a babysitter," Henderson said.
Web Resources
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's playground safety publications are available online. The Outdoor Home Safety Handbook (Document No. 324) gives a particularly useful overview for homeowners considering a play set. The Public Playground Safety Handbook (Document No. 325) contains specific guidelines for the age-appropriateness of playground equipment. They can be viewed at http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/playpubs.html.
All of the commission's voluntary guidelines for public playgrounds, which are stricter and more detailed than residential guidelines, can be viewed at http://www.cpsc.gov/volstd/publicplayground/publicplayground.html.
If you have the space and can afford to do so, it makes sense to come as close as possible to meeting public and/or commercial standards.
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