Installing childrens' play equipment BSEN 1176 / 77

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Just starting to look at this, not yet done deep research but wondering if anyone has covered this territory already:

 

I'm seeing quite a few new or replacement installations of children's play areas where it appears blatantly obvious that no consideration has been given to 5837 in regard to digging / landscaping within RPAs, nor the any thought given to future implications of potential hazards associated with drawing, and holding, occupants into potential risk areas if trees become dysfunctional or defective in the future.

 

The installation can cause damage to tree roots and the installers (and new owners) appear oblivious to the potential to encumber the owner with a responsibility for inspection / assessment of existing trees where the human use of the potential hazard area is significantly changed.

 

It appears to be an area that may, or may not, require planning consent, depending upon the size / scale of the installation, the proximity to neighbours, the designation of the existing land mass etc. Doesn't appear to be a clear answer (although Mumsnet did give some opinions!)

 

BSEN 1176 / 1177 (overview here: http://www.wicksteed.co.uk/pdfs/EN1176%20and%20EN1177.pdf) provides the design, installation and maintenance schemes for the play equipment, but, and only based on a quick scan, appears not to link in any way to 5837.

 

Should the standards link to each other? Should we expect anyone other than those quoting standards to actually read them? Would more people read them if they weren't so expensive?

 

Is anyone looking / thinking / seeing a similar situation and starting to look at the details?

 

More to follow when I stop typing this as an excuse to avoid what I should actually be doing tonight!

[Gary Prentice]

Wouldn't this require joined up thinking and collaboration between industries?

 

How many bottles did you have last night?

 

 

 

Sorry, got out of the cynical side of bed this morning.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Wouldn't this require joined up thinking and collaboration between industries?

 

How many bottles did you have last night?

 

 

 

Sorry, got out of the cynical side of bed this morning.

 

 

I got into bed after being on cylindrical (bottle shaped) side Gary!

 

Bit shabby this morning 😒

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Here's one of the worst examples I've seen.

 

The Chairman of the PC was horrified to be informed that the tit with the wheel digger that took the bank out could have compromised the trees. He was super keen to explore the possibility of recovering the costs of damage / remediation from the contractor.....

 

Until it came to light that the landscaper was the husband of a parish councillor who'd been given the job as a bung!

 

Then it all went rather quiet......

[Gary Prentice]

Our local highways put a cycle path in just like that footpath. They had a lovely pile of roots waiting for the TO when he turned up.