What is this BS EN 1176‑6 - Safety requirements and test methods for rocking equipment about?
BS EN 1176‑6 discusses playground equipment and surfacing with a focus on general safety requirements and test methods. BS EN 1176‑6 is the sixth part of the BS EN 1176 multi-series that is applicable to rocking equipment which is used as playground equipment for children, as defined. Where the main play function is not rocking, the relevant requirements in this document may be used, as appropriate.
BS EN 1176‑6 specifies additional safety requirements and test methods for seesaws and rocking equipment intended for permanent installation for use by children. BS EN 1176‑6 is intended to provide protection to the user against possible hazards during use.
Who is BS EN 1176‑6 - Safety requirements and test methods for rocking equipment for?
BS EN 1176‑6 on playground equipment and surfacing is useful for:
- Manufactures of playground equipment
- Contractors responsible for installing playground equipment
- Facility managers
Why should you use BS EN 1176‑6- Safety requirements and test methods for rocking equipment?
Injuries arise during the use of playground equipment for a variety of reasons and the great majority are minor. Even the presence of protection features like impact attenuating surfacing is known to affect the behavior of children, as well as carers and play providers, which in turn can affect the risk. BS EN 1176‑6 acknowledges the difficulties of addressing safety issues by age criteria alone because the ability to handle risk is based on the individual users' level of skills and not age. Also, users other than the intended age range will almost certainly make use of the playground equipment.
BS EN 1176‑6 discusses safety requirements, free height of fall, seat/stand slope, pinch, crush, restraint of motion, foot rests, hand supports, side view profiles, entrapment, falling space, anchor covering, axial seesaw, multi point seesaw/rocking equipment, rocking seesaw, overhead single axis seesaw, and forced movement.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 1176‑6:2017 supersedes EN 1176‑4:2017, which is withdrawn. BS EN 1176‑6:2017 includes some technical changes with respect to EN 1176‑4:2017.
These include:
- Type 2, 3, and 4 is not classified as a forced movement equipment
- Rocking equipment provided for standing use the falling space shall be at least 1,5 m