Playground

A playground or children's playground is a place where several different play equipment, with or on which children can play (usually up to 14 years ). Playgrounds are often in settlements or densely populated areas and are partially protected by fences of surrounding streets. Rarely, a soccer field belongs to the area of a playground. Is optimal integration into green areas and the assignment of lawns.

The building codes of most German federal states write the establishment of children's playgrounds before explicitly. So claims about the Bavarian Building that in the construction of buildings with more than three apartments, a sufficiently large playground is to be applied, if not already near a playground there ( see Article 8, Section 1 BayBO ). Hardly a larger residential project must therefore be built without the associated children's playgrounds. Public and municipal playgrounds are to be checked at least once per year to determine their suitability and safety. The housing associations are required to renew the sand in the boxes regularly. On most playgrounds unrestricted dog ban.

The social behavior, develop the children on the playground, is to skills that are effective up to their adulthood. Studies concluded that playgrounds are among the most important places for the development of children outside the home range. Most forms of play are essential for healthy development, but free, spontaneous play, as it occurs on playgrounds, is the most advantageous type of game.

History

Already in the early 19th century, the German physician and architectural theorist Bernhard Christoph Faust called for under the Sonnenbaulehre the establishment of children's playgrounds.

Legal framework

Public playgrounds are freely accessible playgrounds of communities and also all the playgrounds of residential buildings (except single-family homes ), schools, kindergartens, restaurants, shopping centers, used by tourists facilities, clubs and the like. Public playgrounds and the local play area must comply with the European Union since 1998, the European standard DIN EN 1176 and 1177. In Germany before it was the German Standard DIN 7926th Also to be noted are the DIN 18034 (Requirements and directions for design and operation) and for playgrounds in schools and kindergartens, the leaflets of the GUV ( municipal accident insurance). The responsibility of the playground operator are not only the establishment and proper setup and installation of the playground equipment, but also the ongoing maintenance and servicing.

For private playgrounds and playground equipment ( these are just the only owner-occupied ) is considered the weaker DIN EN 71 The built according to this standard devices are cheaper but also more unstable, less durable and less durable and also for this reason also for economic reasons not for playgrounds of kindergartens, shared Housing etc. suitable.

These standards (especially standards 1176 and 1177 ) are a measure of what precautions must always be taken into account during the construction and operation of a playground. The standards define the content and scope of safety duties, as they give an indication of the state applicable to those parties recognized rules of technology. This one is liable for damages ultimately according to § 823 BGB, if you violate any of these standards. In addition, a person can be punished which complies with the standards and that, for example, because of a judgment of the Higher Regional Court of Celle on 28 May 2003 - 9U 7/ 03:

" The manufacturer of a game device, however, has regularly comply with the acknowledged rules of technology with respect to its design requirements: He must be satisfied, as far as these rules do not lag behind the technical or scientific development and recent findings danger. "

Therefore, new accident events have to be considered without these are taken into account changes in standards. The EN 1176 determined, for example: Up to a height of 0.60 meters, there were no requirements for fall protection material, the extent of the event space is 1.50 meters around the device. This, however, is to be kept free of obstacles and objects. For heads of 0.60 meters to 1.50 meters of event space must be 1.50 meters wide and the ground in the event space must consist of grass. From a height of 1.50 meters of suitable sand, gravel, wood chips or bark mulch is a sufficient layer thickness ( at least 20 cm) or synthetic safety surface is required.

A visual inspection is up to every day at busy playgrounds, an Operational inspection every one to three months (test for function and stability), and each year is to be carried out by an expert the annual main inspection. This technical experts should be a "Qualified playground inspector to DIN SPEC 79161 ".

Notes on playground design

• Use of post shoes on wooden posts to counter the Verrottungsgefahr, which affects the stability.
• No use of car tires. These contain many hazardous substances to carcinogenic substances. The hazardous substances ( such as carbon black ) are added by the tire manufacturer, to achieve the desired tire characteristics (such as friction and heat resistance ). Car tires are not designed as parts of play equipment. The children take the hazardous materials on via skin contact. Only a dense surface coating (eg, paint) would protect, but this is not a long shelf life to tires, in particular outdoors.
• No use of track construction planks (railway sleepers ) due to the toxic wood preservatives contained therein.
• Acceptance of a new playground by a competent person. The costs are low compared to the construction costs and pay off because defects can be claimed immediately and many accidents can be avoided.
• Control as required by the playground and let control: visual inspection daily to monthly; operational inspection every one to three months; main annual inspection by a competent person.
• Use of sand, rubber granules or gravel as fall protection and no wood chips or bark mulch. These tend to mold growth or fungicides.
• No use of playground equipment in accordance with DIN EN 71 (eg from hardware stores ) for public playgrounds. These devices are intended only for personal use and wear out much faster than devices according to DIN EN 1176th
• Pay attention to the orientation of slides. Slides that have a southern orientation, can become very hot due to solar radiation. Remedy provides sufficient shading if necessary.

Accidents on playgrounds

In the last few decades have been a series of serious and fatal accidents on playgrounds. All of these accidents can be attributed to defects in the equipment, which would still have been avoided through professional inspections. Three categories were deficiencies in all fatal and serious accidents the trigger:

When bicycle helmets also greater distances than 23 cm are problematic. Even so this may not be worn in playgrounds. It should clearly indicate playgrounds a warning sign with a crossed-out wheeled bicycle helmet.

Playground equipment

Play equipment including: Play towers, climbing walls, climbing ropes, miniature wooden houses, slides, swings, seesaws, sandboxes, carousels, lifts, water play equipment (eg mud systems), balancing and gymnastic equipment, etc.

Seat carousel

Climbing frame with mesh

Climbing landscape

Swing and slide

Funicular

Seesaw

Federwipptier

Sandpit

Water playground

Hamsterrolle

Specific types of playgrounds

Experience Travels

There are opportunities to develop playgrounds for adventure travels. This includes an appealing terrain modeling, the inclusion of vegetation, particularly the trees, the opportunity to play with water and muddy. Quiet areas are designed to promote communication and creative play. Supplements with sense elements such as wood xylophone, humming and sounding stones, barefoot path expand the experience spectrum. Ideally, an adventure play area contains quotes for all generations, such as garden chess, beach volleyball, boccia.

Adventure playground

→ see main article adventure playground

Adventure Playgrounds are usually looked after by teachers or social workers and provide children with opportunities to deal with tool (eg: the huts ). Since adventure playgrounds are not freely available and supported, they are not subject to the playground standards and must not be removed and checked. The responsibility for the safety bear the supervisor.

Multi-generation space

A playground can also be transformed to a facility for " Young and Old". These can be for example an adjacent area for use by the elderly with specially designed shape game or exercise equipment. A slightly different way seniors are special playgrounds ( also "Senior Activity trails " or similar), which may be a senior center or hospital affiliated with or as a movement park in public parks established. The term 'senior playground " must be viewed critically, but it illustrates the concept of a defined movement space ( keep- square ) outdoors pretty good. Such facilities often also have play areas for example bocce.