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Playground Maintenance Checklist: What Should You Check?

Regular playground maintenance is essential for keeping outdoor play equipment and surfacing safe, usable and enjoyable for children all year round.

Regular visual checks can help identify small defects before they become bigger problems, while an annual professional inspection provides a more thorough assessment of the playground.

This playground maintenance checklist for schools covers the key areas to include in routine playground equipment maintenance, including timber, surfacing, ropes, fixings and fixtures.

Why Is School Playground Maintenance Important?

School playground equipment is used frequently and exposed to changing weather conditions, general wear and tear or accidental damage. Over time, this can affect different parts of the playground equipment and surfacing. Timber can develop cracks; fixings can become loose or moving parts can deteriorate. Surfacing can also shrink, lift or become damaged, creating potential trip hazards.

So, regular maintenance helps schools identify these issues early.

A small defect may be relatively straightforward to address, whereas leaving it unchecked could allow the problem to become more significant. This can potentially result in equipment needing more extensive repairs or being unavailable for children to use.

Our advice is simple: don’t wait until something breaks before checking it.

Regular checks, combined with an annual professional inspection, can help schools keep playgrounds in good condition and minimise unnecessary disruption to children’s play.

School Playground Maintenance Checklist

The following checklist can be used as part of your routine school playground equipment and surfacing checks. We would recommend using this checklist daily for the smaller checks and monthly for the bigger checks.

1. Check timber for cracks or damage

Timber playground equipment should be visually checked either daily or weekly for signs of deterioration. Regular playground equipment inspections can help identify early signs of timber deterioration before they develop into more significant problems.

Look for:

[ ] Cracks or splits in timber

[ ] Rough edges caused by weather or general use

[ ] Signs of early rot, which typically takes place around 50-100mm below ground

[ ] Any areas that appear significantly different from when the equipment was installed

If you notice a crack between 8–25mm, don’t ignore it. Depending on its location, it could create a potential finger entrapment, particularly if it is adjacent to equipment with forced movement, such as slides or firefighter’s poles, or at heights above 1m.

It is important to note that timber will expand and contract due to atmospheric conditions, this may lead to air cracking of the timber, which is quite normal.

Record the issue and get in touch for any advice if you are unsure whether the equipment remains suitable for use.

2. Check fixings and connections

Fixtures and fixings are an important part of playground equipment and should be included in routine visual checks.

Check that:

[ ] Fixings are secure

[ ] There are no obvious missing or damaged components

[ ] Bolts are in place, tight and good condition

[ ] They aren’t becoming loose or unstable

[ ] There are no obvious signs of movement or wobbling

If equipment appears loose or unstable, it should be investigated rather than simply left until the next scheduled inspection. Any damaged or missing fixings should be replaced immediately.

3. Check ropes and other flexible components

Ropes on Fawns playground equipment are steel reinforced and extremely strong. However,  they should be included in regular playground checks as they can become very dangerous if they are neglected.

Look for obvious signs of:

[ ] No protruding wires

[ ] Fraying

[ ] Loose connections

[ ] Deterioration

[ ] Components cross section are at least 90% of their original section

It is important during your visual checks to pay particular attention to areas that receive high and frequent use.

4. Check Steel Surfaces for Damage and Deterioration

Both galvanised and painted steel surfaces should be checked regularly. Galvanised steel surfaces are very durable but will naturally become duller over time. They can also exhibit a white powdery residue which is caused by oxidation, this is quite normal and nothing to worry about.

Any painted steel that is damaged or has scratched paintwork can be touched up using approved primers, undercoats and finishing paints that have been formulated to comply with the Toys Safety Regulations.

5. Check playground surfacing

Playground surfacing maintenance is a very important part of keeping a school play area safe. Different types of surfacing require different levels of care, so schools should understand the maintenance requirements of the surface installed in their playground.

During routine checks, look for:

[ ] Shrinkage

[ ] Lifting

[ ] Cracking or damage

[ ] Uneven areas

[ ] Potential trip hazards

[ ] Any obvious deterioration

Surfacing can change over time, and even a relatively small area of lifting or damage can create a trip hazard. It is important to keep up with the maintenance of the surfacing which varies depending on which surfacing you have in the area. Some surfacing will require more maintenance than others.

If you’re unsure, you can get in touch, and we can discuss the aftercare of your surfacing.

6. Check for wobbling or unusual movement

During a visual check, it is important to look at the equipment and surfacing as a whole.

Does anything appear to be:

[ ] Wobbling?

[ ] Loose?

[ ] Moving differently from normal?

[ ] Damaged?

[ ] Unstable?

After your inspection, if you feel that anything doesn’t look or appear right it should be investigated and recorded.

How Often Should Schools Inspect Playground Equipment?

Schools should have a routine approach to playground inspections that includes regular visual checks alongside a thorough annual professional inspection. Regular playground safety checks can help schools identify potential issues early and act before they become more significant.

The frequency of inspections will vary depending on the type of equipment, surfacing and materials used, as well as factors such as usage levels and vandalism. It is also worth noting that coastal locations, air pollution levels and age of the equipment and surfacing can affect the condition.

Running In Period for New Playground Equipment

When new playground equipment is first put into use the novelty of the new equipment may lead to initial above average use. It is considered essential that  daily visual inspections are carried out during the initial Running In period.

Weekly and Monthly Visual Checks

Schools should carry out regular visual checks of their playground equipment and surfacing.

These checks should look for obvious changes such as:

• Cracks in timber
• Wobbling equipment
• Loose or incorrectly operating fixings
• Damaged or worn ropes
• Damaged surfacing
• Shrinkage or lifting that could create a trip hazard

The important thing is consistency. A playground that looks fine today should not simply be assumed to be fine the next month. Keeping a record of checks and any action taken can also help schools keep track of the condition of their playground.

Regular playground equipment inspection helps schools identify visible signs of damage, deterioration or movement. Reducing the potential for becoming a more significant problem.

Annual Professional Inspection

In addition to routine school checks, we recommend that schools arrange an annual professional inspection. A professional inspection provides a much more thorough assessment of the playground and can identify issues that may not be obvious during a routine visual check.

This is particularly important because playground equipment is designed to withstand regular use, but no equipment remains completely unaffected by time, weather and wear.

The inspector will create a playground inspection report which will contain any issues identified and how urgently the issues need to be addressed. If you have Fawns equipment you can send us the report and we will take a look through and discuss next steps

What Should Happen if You Find a Problem?

If a member of staff identifies a potential problem during a routine check, don’t simply wait until the annual inspection to pick up the same issues. The first step should be to assess the issue and determine whether the equipment or area can continue to be used safely.

Depending on the nature of the problem, this could mean:

1. Recording the issue.
2. Taking appropriate action to prevent children from using affected equipment if necessary.
3. Contacting the relevant manufacturer or maintenance provider.
4. Arranging repair or further assessment.
5. Checking the equipment again before it is returned to use.

The aim should always be to resolve issues promptly so that children can get back to using the playground as soon as possible.

Don’t Forget to Check Your Playground Equipment and Surfacing Guarantee

One area that schools can sometimes overlook is what is covered by their playground equipment guarantee and what isn’t. If an issue occurs, it is worth checking the original paperwork and guarantee information before arranging repairs.

The guarantee may cover certain manufacturing defects or components for a specified period, but not every maintenance issue or form of damage will necessarily be covered.

• What does your guarantee cover?
• How long are different elements covered for?
• What isn’t covered?
• Who should you contact if there is an issue?

Keeping this information accessible can make it much easier to deal with an issue when one arises.

A Playground Maintenance Routine for Schools

It is a good idea to put together a maintenance routine for your school, so nothing gets missed and regular checks are carried out.  A schedule like the table below can be used as a guide on what needs to be checked and how regularly.

The exact frequency and scope of checks will vary between schools and should consider the equipment, surfacing, level of use and manufacturer’s guidance.

Don’t Wait For a Small Problem to Become a Big One

One of the most important things schools can do is act when they first notice a problem.

A crack in timber, damaged rope, loose fixing or area of lifted surfacing might initially appear minor. However, leaving these unchecked could allow them to deteriorate further.

Regular maintenance is therefore not just about keeping a playground looking good. It helps schools maintain the condition of the equipment and surfacing so children can continue to use their outdoor play space safely.

A simple routine of regular visual checks, prompt action when issues are identified and an annual professional inspection can make a significant difference.

Playground Maintenance Checklist: Key Takeaways

Before children use the playground, schools should make sure they have an appropriate system for checking and maintaining their equipment.

Remember to:

• Check timber regularly for cracks and damage (but keep in mind that weather conditions can affect timber cracking).
  
• Check fixings and make sure equipment isn’t wobbling.
• Inspect ropes for signs of wear or damage.
• Check surfacing for shrinkage, lifting and potential trip hazards.
• Don’t leave small defects until they become bigger problems.
• Know what is and isn’t covered by your playground guarantee.
• Arrange an annual professional inspection by an external company.
• Keep records of checks, problems and maintenance carried out.

Most importantly, playground maintenance should be an ongoing process rather than something that only happens when equipment develops a problem. Looking after your playground equipment and surfacing helps keep the play area safe, functional and ready for children to enjoy.

Need Advice About Your School Playground

Not sure whether your playground equipment or surfacing needs maintenance or repair?

Our team can help you determine whether your Fawns playground is still under warranty, whether repairs are needed, or whether replacing the equipment would be the best option. If you’re unsure about the condition of your playground, get in touch with our team today and we can discuss your options and next steps.

If you would like to request a copy of our Care and Maintenance Booklet for your existing Fawns play equipment, please email sales@fawns.co.uk and our team will be happy to help.

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