Routine / Operational / Annual

Routine Inspections - these inspections are recommended to ensure that the playground is fit for use and should be undertaken on a regular basis. Inspections can be required on a daily basis for playgrounds that are subjected to heavy use and/or vandalism.

Operational Inspections - these inspections should be undertaken on a 1 - 3 month cycle and are specifically looking for wear and tear on the equipment and surfacing. Defects found on the equipment and surfacing should be attended to in a timely manner taking into account the risk assessment provided by the inspection process.

Annual Inspections - these inspections should be undertaken by a competent person and it is normal that an independent inspector is appointed for this task. The annual inspection will look at the overall safety of the playground, standards compliance, maintenance requirements and risk assessment. All of these elements together provide operators with a comprehensive overview of the playground and fulfil the majority of the legal obligations of the playground operator in conjunction with the other inspections.

Other Additional Reporting - at times it is beneficial to extend the area of reporting to assess for example: Play Value, DDA Accessibility, Equipment Life, Replacements costs, etc. Any of these services can be quoted as an individual report, or as part of an overall assessment.

Playground Consultancy

Any aspect of playground and playground management can be covered by our consultancy services. We will provide a fixed fee quotation for any areas of work that may interest you.

Post Installation Inspections

Many Local Authority bodies and commercial organisations are now requesting that new playgrounds be independently assessed prior to hand over to ensure that the playground meets with the requirements of BS EN 1176.

In some European countries the law requires that an independent assessment and certificate of compliance be issued before the playground is used.

For Playground owners it is important to ensure that a qualified inspector is employed to assess new build playgrounds and the simplest way to achieve this is to specify that the assessment is carried out by an Independently Registered RPII Annual Inspector on the Purchase Order or in the Tender Documents for the playground.

The Play Inspection Company can provide professional independent assessments for new build playgrounds.

Web Based Inspections

We have developed a web based inspection system that allows clients to access their own playground records and reports on-line from any computer that has access to the internet using a unique user name and password.

As well as providing the operator with instant access to the standard playground reports the system also contains a number of other reports that provide useful analysis and help to manage the playground facilities.

Web Based Inspections - Click Here

Accident Reports & Expert Witness Service

With over 500 legal cases as a background Peter Heseltine has more experience than any other individual in dealing with accidents. We can provide comprehensive reports, backed up with years of experience and knowledge, should the need arise.

RPII Training Courses (Or CPD Events)

At The Play Inspection Company we can provide RPII training courses for all levels of inspectors. Our trainers have a vast wealth of industry experience and are used to training a diverse range of people; from those that are completely new to the industry, to those that just require a referesher course.

More and more Authorities are now encouraging inspectors to become RPII registered to demonstrate a measurable level of competence and this can be included as part of the course if required. Training is available to Routine, Operational and Annual Levels.

At The Play Inspection Company we recognise that due to job commitments these courses can be inconvenient and sometimes expensive. We therefore provide training courses which are flexible and can be tailored to meet with your specific requirements. We will travel to your place of work to avoid the unnecessary expense of sending employees away for training, and we only charge for our time, not by the number of people sitting in the room. Please call or e-mail us your requirements and we will provide you with a quotation.

Safer Surfacing (Triax Testing)

There are many myths about playground surfacing, but it is important to understand that the prime purpose of any impact absorbing surface is to prevent serious head injuries (brain damage) to children that may fall from the equipment.

The portable testing equipment we use gives a good indication of the impact absorbing properties of any surface and provides the operator with a written record of the surface performance.

We only test using a specially designed Tripod that give accurate readings within 10mm of the actual drop height. The Tripod also ensures that the head form is dropped vetically to further ensure accurate readings.

Project Management

Not enough time to manage your Playground Project? We can help: - Initially working with you to develop a detailed specification of your requirements, we will then obtain quotations on your behalf, whilst at the same time following your normal tender procedures. Once we have obtained quotes, we will meet again to discuss the suitability, and once you are completely happy with the design, we will manage your project through to completion, efficiently managing the Contracting side to ensure a smooth and painless transition from start to finish. And just to make sure, we'll carry out a Post Installation Inspection and issue a report to add to your records for the play area!

Thanks to our contacts within the industry, you can rest assured that we will be able to deliver competitive rates and excellent service to undertake your projects.

Risk Assessments

Risk assessment is an important part of safety management if used correctly. We are looking to highlight the hazards that users cannot expect to see and therefore require remedial action; rather than remove the challenge provided by the design of the equipment.

2D Inspection Probes

Our Probe set is priced at £275.00 Excl. VAT. This price includes postage and packing. For further information and availability, please post an enquiry though our contacts page.

Training BS EN 1176 / 1177 - 2008 Revisions

The Play Inspection Company, in association with Wicksteed Playscapes, will be running CPD events across the UK during 2008, focusing mainly on the forthcoming updates to the safety standards for children's playground equipment and surfacing.

The events are aimed at anyone who may be involved in buying, specifying, designing or inspecting play areas.

With the changes to the standard due to be published in April 2008, this is your chance to prepare yourself and your organisation for the changes to be introduced. Our events will feature some of the leading experts from the industry; including Peter Heseltine & Rob Davies who sat on the SW65 Standards Committee writing the new standards, and Keith Dalton who is the new Technical Director for the RPII (Register of Playground Inspectors).

Peter, Keith and Rob will discuss imminent changes to BS EN 1176 / 1177, as well as news about the updated standards for skate parks and ball courts, and also cover some of the most newsworthy topics in the industry today.

The cost of attending the event is £125 per person (excluding VAT), with lunch and refreshments included in the delegate rate. Courses are expected to run between 10:00am and 16:00pm, with breaks for refreshments and lunch. The Play Inspection Company will issue all delegates with a personalised Certificate of Attendance.

Spaces are limited, so please download and return your form as soon as possible, to ensure your place at one of these significant events is guaranteed.

Download the booking form here!

Natural Play Area's

With heavy government funding available through the Pathfinder and Playbuilder schemes, short timescales and a strong recent push toward the more natural type of play area, the Play Inspection Company can assist with your projects in many different ways.

The Play Inspection Company are your perfect choice for assistance in this area as we have many years of experience and expertise in dealing with all types of play area's. Listed below are some of the services that we can offer. If you have any further requirements that are not listed below, please get in touch and we will see if we can help.

Design:

We can help you through the design stage with pre installation checks of your site plans, which could help to avoid the un-necessary cost of alterations after the installation has been completed.

Project Management:

We can help you manage the implementation of these area's with our Project Management Service catering for as much or as little assistance as you require.

Post Installation Inspections:

We can carry out Post Installation Inspections of your play area's to ensure that they are fit and safe for use.

For further information on any of the above services, including pricing details, please get in touch via the contact form on this website, or alternatively give us a call on 01202 590 675 for a free consultation.