manufactured in or after 2009 needs to fulfil their requirements. Safety requirements can be imposed retrospectively, but revisions to existing standards, for example, cannot stipulate that existing products need to be modified. However, any modifications and repairs carried out on existing equipment need to comply with the latest safety requirements. For example, existing staircases that lack adequate safety railings do not necessarily need to be replaced when a new standard is adopted, but once these fail, the replacement staircases have to comply with the latest safety standards. This means that eventually all products will comply with international safety requirements. Until then, the emphasis is on ensuring that no product is ever dangerous to use. This is why competent inspectors need to assess whether any aspects of old products need to be modified immediately. Regular maintenance increases safety The level of safety established during playground installation needs to be maintained throughout the life cycle of the products. Annual inspections help to assess whether the materials used in the products have deteriorated due to rust, rot or physical damage. Wearing parts may need to be inspected as often as four times a year, depending on the popularity of individual playgrounds. Visual inspections are used on particularly popular playgrounds or in areas where the risk of vandalism is high. The frequency of visual inspections can vary from a couple of visits per month to almost daily visits. The phone number of the person responsible for maintaining the playground should be posted on the playground info board, as this has been found to be a significant factor in quickly noticing and correcting damage caused by vandalism. Thanks to their modular structure, most Lappset products can be retrospectively fitted with new functions and, in case of special needs, accessibility features such as handles or railings. Product quality Product quality also depends on many different factors. The size of components, the strength of welded joints, the durability of surface treatments, the thickness of base coats, geometrical tolerances and the UV resistance of paints all contribute to the overall quality of products. That is why Lappset Group invests a lot of time and resources in maintaining the high product quality. Lappset has used its more than 40 years of experience to develop a quality control system according to which all new components are meticulously inspected. Spot checks are also carried out on production lines. Every complaint relating to quality is followed up carefully, and any components left in warehouses are inspected. The structural strength of products is tested both according to the applicable standards and Lappset’s own testing protocols, which are often considerably stricter than the compulsory tests. For example, Lappset’s own test for swing frames involves almost double the loads used in standardised testing. Moreover, the frames are subjected to torsion which wears the frames the most, contrary to the minimum requirements of standard test methods. Tests on materials include strength, corrosion resistance and UV resistance testing. The safety of fully assembled structures is assessed using tests for impact, loading and the risk of entrapment. Investing in product safety is a conscious choice for Lappset and an important element of our corporate social responsibility. © Lappset Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. 195
2016 | LAPPSET PLAY eng
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