How can the ground beneath a playground climbing wall be made safe?
Playground climbing walls are covered by BS EN 1176. Where the free height of fall exceeds 60 cm, the entire impact area requires impact-absorbing surfacing with a critical fall height, tested to BS EN 1177, at least equal to that free height of fall. BS EN 1176 recognises grass and topsoil up to a free height of fall of 100 cm, provided the surface is maintained, yielding and free from stones, roots, foundations and other hard objects. Compaction, drying out or frost mean that this condition is no longer met.
For greater heights, loose fill or playground safety mats and safety tiles may be specified. The test report states the critical fall height for a defined construction, including tile type, thickness and jointing, or the complete layer sequence in a multilayer system. This value is established in the laboratory on a rigid base. Tested constructions are available for critical fall heights up to 300 cm. Tile thickness alone does not demonstrate suitability. If the tested critical fall height is insufficient, a construction with a higher tested value, a lower free height of fall or a different equipment design is required.
Installation must reproduce the construction covered by the test report across the impact area. Playground safety mats and safety tiles are laid in accordance with the installation instructions on a level, load-bearing base, since voids, settlement and open joints reduce impact absorption. Loose fill is installed at the required depth with an allowance for displacement. Depressions can develop quickly at the foot of a wall during use, so fill level and distribution require regular checking and replenishment. No foundations, edges or other hard objects may be present in the impact area.
Sports climbing walls and bouldering walls must be assessed separately, as they fall under BS EN 12572 according to their construction and use. Impact-absorbing surfacing tested to BS EN 1177 does not replace an appropriate protection concept in these settings. Depending on the construction, climbing walls require rope protection or auto-belays, while bouldering walls require an impact mat arrangement designed to BS EN 12572.