We Put Safety First: We're ASTM Tested

If you are looking for the best swing sets to guarantee peace of mind while your children whirl, zooms, climbs, hangs, or enjoys some themed adventures, then look no further. Swing ‘N Slide has got you covered! We are a trusted outdoor playset company committed to safety. Plus, we are proud to say our products meet ASTM standards for quality and safety.

What's ASTM?

ASTM International is a recognized organization that develops as well as publishes voluntary consensus standards for a wide range of industries and products, including construction, manufacturing, materials, and consumer goods. The organization comprises experts from industry, academia, government, and other relevant fields.

Injuries are not a strange occurrence in playgrounds. Playground equipment manufacturers can help minimize these cases by adhering to ASTM standards. These guidelines often specify criteria for design, construction, materials, testing methods, and other factors relevant to product quality and safety.

ASTM standards also help to streamline playground equipment design and manufacturing, resulting in consistencies and efficiencies of scale that minimize cost and boost the interoperability of products.

Swing 'N Slide is Committed to Safety

At Swing N' Slide, we are dedicated to providing safe playsets for families. Buying a playset is a fantastic way to invest in your child's well-being and development. Playsets are the stuff for adventure and play, allowing children to take a break from screens and spend time outdoors, climbing, swinging, zooming, hanging, and balancing on structures. They help promote a passion for adventure and fitness from a young age.

The last thing we want is things to go wrong at the backyard playground. That's why we are committed to the manufacturing of quality and safe equipment that your kids can enjoy for years to come. Here's a look at how we ensure product quality and safety.

ASTM Testing

ASTM testing refers to the process of evaluating and testing products, materials, and systems to ensure they meet specific safety and performance standards set by the ASTM International Committee.

It involves a series of standardized tests, procedures, and specifications designed to assess the quality, safety, and performance of various products. These tests are typically conducted by laboratories or testing facilities accredited by ASTM or other relevant accreditation bodies.

ASTM testing is crucial for both manufacturers and consumers. For manufacturers, it provides a framework for producing safe and high-quality products, helps mitigate liability risks, and facilitates market access. For consumers, it offers assurance that products meet established safety and performance criteria, enhancing confidence in the products they purchase.

What does ASTM testing cover?

In the context of outdoor playsets, ASTM testing ensures that these playsets are designed and manufactured to meet safety standards that protect children while they play. This includes evaluating aspects such as structural integrity, materials, sharp edges, entrapment hazards, choking hazards, and more to reduce the risk of injuries and accidents during playtime.

One popular ASTM standard among playset manufacturers is the F1148-21. This standard covers all playground equipment designed for swinging, sliding, climbing, creeping, or more as long as the supporting structure remains stable during the activities. It provides guidelines for minimizing the risk of falls, strangulation, entrapment, etc, by covering parts with non-slip materials, designing ladders with flat and broad steps, and removing sharp edges, shear points, pinch points, and small parts. It also lists recommendations to ensure enough clearing around a playset for safe play.

Another popular standard is the F1487-21. It mainly deals with public playground equipment, specifying dimensional requirements to create an obstacle-free safety zone, thereby reducing the risk of injuries. However, it also touches on the above-mentioned aspects of F1148-21 but sets strict requirements because of the higher risk of injuries in public playgrounds.

ASTM standards are periodically reviewed and updated to incorporate advancements in technology, changes in industry practices, and emerging safety concerns. This ensures that standards remain relevant and effective over time. You can check specific product info to see what ASTM standards have been used in the design, assembly, and choice of materials.

Our playsets and accessories are intentionally designed to satisfy ASTM and CPSIA standards for material quality and safety. We implement a thorough quality control plan to ensure products meet safety and durability requirements. Some of these measures include:

• Material inspection. We carefully inspect our playset materials for dents, cracks, sharp edges, rotting, etc, to ensure the final product is free of defects and safety hazards.
• Dimensional checks. We ensure that products are manufactured according to the correct sizes for stability and safety.
• Assembly checks. Most of our playsets come in parts, but we thoroughly check the package to ensure you get everything you need to set up the structure.
• Surface finish checks. We check equipment to ensure they don't feature splinters, sharp edges, pinch points, and slippery surfaces (if not necessary)
• Safety check. Our playset designs integrate safety features such as smooth edges, pinch-free chains, anti-slip coating, UV protected slides, broad ladder steps, and grab angles at strategic locations.
• Activity testing. Our playsets and accessories undergo extensive testing for each recommended activity to ensure they perform according to expectations.
• Documentation. We document all quality control checks to assure customers of the safety of our products.
• Customer feedback. Your recommendations are at the heart of our playset designs. We love to hear from parents and their little ones themselves on how we can improve our playset design for the modern user.

For any playset, we also include ASTM recommendations for determining minimum safety zones. Specifically, it's best to maintain a 6 ft obstacle-free safety zone around a playset to reduce the risk of collisions and bumps against objects.

Wrap-Up

ASTM provides guidelines for testing playset materials, dimensions, and surfaces to ensure they meet specific safety and performance standards. These guidelines are at the heart of our quality control and assurance measures.

Our motto here at Swing ‘N Slide is that “We put safety first!”. So, check out our swing sets to explore the full range of fun and safe playset options with complete peace of mind. Enjoy!