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40,000 injuries to children on playgrounds each year Approximately 40,000 injuries to children occur on playgrounds each year Image: child on a playground
 

RoSPA Play Safety : FAQs

Swings Swings

1. How high should the swing seats be?
The minimum ground clearance at rest should be: 350mm (400mm for single point swings and tyres). This is measured from the underside of the seat to the ground. There is no maximum seat surface height but RoSPA recommends a maximum height of 635mm for cradles and flat seats

2. Can I mix cradle and flat seats?
Mixing junior and cradle seats in one bay is not recommended (EN 1176) If two or more bays or swings are available then separate the seat types. Where only one bay or swing is available, no recommendation for action is made.

3. What area of surfacing should I have?
See answers under heading Surfacing. Insert link to Surfacing

4. What is bush/shackle pin wear?
The swing chains are normally secured with a D shackle which fits into the top bar of the swing. A special replaceable wear metal sleeve (the bush) is fitted into the fixing to absorb wear. If the bush becomes worn it can then lead to the shackle pin becoming worn. In turn this can lead to the pin snapping and sending the user on the swing flying.

5. The report stated that there was chain wear but we can't see any.
Chains often "wear" into each other so that they outwardly appear sound. However if you separate the links then the wear becomes clear. Wear usually takes place where the two chains from the seat link into one chain, or at the seat fixings. Replace chains where there is 40% wear.

6. When should we replace swing seats?

  • On flat seats where the front rubber surface has gaps of 100mm or more allowing a head to strike the underlying metal of the seat or when the seat becomes distorted.
  • On Cradle seats, besides the above, it is important to change/repair the seat if the vertical bar that goes between the child's legs is not intact. They also need changing if metal on the top of the cradle becomes exposed.
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