Garden climbing frames safety testing
Jungle Gym garden climbing frames and play equipment undergo rigorous safety testing, to ensure our products are both safe and durable for many years.
Strength testing
Wood
Timber is placed in a machine which slowly increases applied load over time. This determines the maximum load that our timber can handle. We ensure all timber can withstand much more load than that exerted by multiple children playing on a climbing frame, tower playhouse or swing set.
Rope
Our rope is strength tested by attachment to two parts of a machine that slowly move in the opposite direction to one another. This determines the maximum load that they can handle. We ensure all swinging and climbing ropes can withstand much more load than children can exert on them.
Fabric
The tower playhouse roof canvas is attached to two parts of a machine which slowly move in opposite directions to one another. This determines the maximum load that our fabric can handle. We ensure all fabric can withstand much more load than that exerted by normal weather conditions.
Construction hardware
Screws and bolts are placed in a torsion testing machine which slowly increases applied load over time. This determines the maximum torque that our hardware can handle. We ensure all screws and bolts can withstand much more torque than that exerted when screwing them into the wood to construct the climbing frame or swing set.
Although our screws are self-tapping, drilling pilot holes into dry timber is recommended to prevent splits or cracks.
Swings
200kg weights are hung from individual swings for one hour to ensure no fraying or other deterioration occurs. For multi-swing sets, the crossbar is loaded with 200 kg, and each swing is loaded with 50 kg, to ensure it can withstand this for one hour.
Play decks
Keeping in mind that multiple children will be using the play deck at the same time, we place 50 kg multiplied by the maximum number of users (the maximum number of users for a product can be found in the product specifications) on the play deck for one hour, to ensure the climbing frame does not break.
Entrapment prevention
Holes, slots or gaps that can be assessed during the use of our products are tested with the appropriate probes, simulating the head, fingers, hands and feet. Additionally, dimensions of our designs take into account available anthropometric data to ensure that relevant body parts can move freely through these spaces. This minimises the risk of your child becoming trapped or injured during play on our climbing frames and swing sets.
Hoods and clothing strings present a significant hazard, for example, when sliding down the slide. To prevent clothes or other accessories getting trapped or tangled whilst playing on one of our playhouses or climbing frames, no baggy clothing, clothing with cords or belts, or neck gear (scarves, necklaces etc.) should be worn. Also, children should not wear bicycle/play helmets whilst using our products.
Suspension ropes, used in the construction of swings, are designed so that the risk of strangulation due to the child's head getting tangled in the ropes is reduced. Additionally, the arrangement of suspension points is designed in such a way that children won’t become entangled in the swing ropes by using our equipment.
CE-marking
CE marking is a certification mark that indicates conformity with health, safety and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area. This means that the CE tag guarantees that the product complies with the mandatory safety conditions (flammability, toxicity, usability, etc.).
UV-testing
A lack of UV-resistance can speed up weathering and make materials more brittle. To prevent this and ensure everything lasts as long as required, Jungle Gym outdoor play equipment is UV-stabilised. To test this, we expose samples of a range of the materials we use to significant amounts of UV.
Flammability tests
Our roof tarps are tested for flammability. A sample of the roof material is put in a holder. It is then placed at a 45-degree angle above a 4 cm high burner flame. The edge of the martial is dipped 1 cm into the flame for 10 seconds. To pass this test, the material must extinguish on its own and no drop formation should occur.
Chemical analysis
Plastic components of our climbing frames and accessories have undergone a series of comprehensive chemical analysis by third-party inspection laboratories, such as Dekra and TÜV Rheinland LGA. By doing this, we can ensure that these components adhere to European safety directives, and do not contain any chemicals in amounts that could harm your child.