European standards for a safe school playground
Children learn and develop through play on the school playground, every single day. It is where friendships are formed, energy is released and learning continues beyond the classroom.
Precisely because school playgrounds are used so intensively, safety is an essential starting point. Across Europe, clear standards provide guidance for the design, layout and management of playgrounds.
BOERplay has been working within these frameworks for many years, creating play environments where play value and safety go hand in hand.
From experience to regulation Playground safety has not always been as self-evident as it is today. In the second half of the twentieth century, play equipment was mainly assessed in terms of strength and ease of use. Many decisions were based on experience and common sense. As play equipment became more challenging and playgrounds were used more intensively, awareness grew that risks needed to be managed more effectively. In the 1990s, this led to legislation for amusement and playground equipment in the Netherlands. At the same time, the need for consistent guidelines grew across Europe, so that play equipment in different countries could be designed and assessed according to the same safety principles. EN 1176 – Safety of playground equipment EN 1177 – Impact-attenuating playground surfacing These standards form the basis for safe play in public spaces and on school playgrounds. They cover: The principle remains the same: children should be able to explore and take on challenges, as long as the risks are predictable and manageable (Speelplan, n.d.). Safety on school playgrounds does not happen by itself. It starts with experience and is supported by detailed regulations. We will briefly take you through this process, so you understand why certain rules have been introduced and how they should be followed. In the Netherlands, the European standards are incorporated into the Dutch Commodities Act Decree on Amusement and Playground Equipment (WAS). This decree stipulates that: Responsibility therefore lies with both the manufacturer and the school playground operator. Safety as part of the overall design When designing a school playground, we look at the entire environment rather than individual pieces of play equipment: We always combine play equipment with impact-attenuating surfacing in accordance with EN 1177. The surfacing is selected according to the fall height and type of play. Safety starts at the design stage From the very first design, we take into account: By approaching the school playground as a whole, we create a safe and well-organised play environment. Beyond completion Safety is not a one-off consideration. A school playground changes as a result of: Maintenance and inspection That is why we pay close attention to: By supporting schools and playground operators in these areas, the play environment remains safe and reliable in the long term. Safety requires an integrated approach, not isolated solutions Safety in a play environment can only truly be ensured when it is an integral part of the design. It should not be treated as a final checkpoint, but as a starting point from the very first sketch. Looking only at individual pieces of play equipment, without considering how they interact with surfacing, routes and sightlines, can result in risks being overlooked. A piece of equipment may comply with the relevant standard on its own, while its position in relation to other elements may still create unsafe situations. For example: A safe play environment is created when design, standards, use and management are properly balanced. European standards such as EN 1176 and EN 1177 provide a solid foundation, but the real difference lies in how these standards are applied within the overall design. Would you like to learn more about the principles behind future-proof play spaces? You can also read our blog with ideas for an inspiring and future-proof school playground. Source: Speelplan. (2023). European standards for playground equipment (NEN-EN 1176 & NEN-EN 1177).Why safety on the school playground is so important
A European need for consistent guidelines
From ‘healthy play’ to demonstrable safety
National regulations in the Netherlands (WAS)
How BOERplay integrates safety into the design
Safety as an ongoing process
