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Playground Safety and Design/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Safety standards for natural materials | 1/19/2012 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: Where can I find safety and design standards for using natural materials such as boulders, stumps, ... A: Paul, I am sorry, but to my knowledge there are no specific guidelines for using natural elements ... | ||
| wood chips | 1/7/2011 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: What is the best wood chips to use for playground ground cover. Is there a certain kind that must be ... A: The best wood chip ground cover is one that is made from all pure oak chips, nothing else. You can ... | ||
| Playground design | 10/21/2010 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: I plan to build a playground for my kids in the backyard and I need some tips. My backyard is not ... A: Ok, first the box you plan to build is not big enough, if you build 8 ft high swings the boarder ... | ||
| playground surface resiliency | 9/12/2010 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: exactly how is the surface of a playground tested for its resiliency? and are there special ... A: To really test the surfacing you need a very expensive piece of equipment that might be available ... | ||
| playground weeds | 7/20/2010 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: We have a new playground less than 3 years old with wood chips as recommended. Our problem is we ... A: The best way is to pull the weeds, but if this is not an option then you can probably use any good ... | ||
| Cave Building | 6/1/2010 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: I am planning on building a Cave Rock Structure as a type of fort for my kids. Would like to go as ... A: I am not sure I can be of much help with this type of structure, especially with so little info to ... | ||
| Playground | 5/28/2010 | Scott Burton |
| Q: How deep should be before putting woodchips,what kind of border should I put and should I put any ... A: Depth depends on the Fall Height of the equipment (see info from supplier). Border can be treated ... | ||
| Deer Ticks and Playground Ground Cover | 3/23/2010 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: We live in NW New Jersey and our property borders protected watershed forests. Deer ticks have ... A: The only suggestion I can give you is to consider "P" Gravel ground cover, real small rocks,in the ... | ||
| Playground slide repair | 3/4/2010 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: a local women/children shelter is in need of some playground repair, especially some metal slides ... A: Probably not, old metal slides can be really dangerous. I would remove them and see if you can find ... | ||
| swing set ground cover | 10/30/2009 | Scott Burton |
| Q: We have a swing set at school and are considering installing a border to keep wood chips contained. ... A: Depending on the state you are in, it may be a law to comply with ASTM & CPSC rules. Even if it's ... | ||
| Covering for a hill/slide | 7/9/2009 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: We have a slide that sits atop a (once-covered) grassy hill but now the grass is worn down in ... A: From the picture it looks like it is sand under the grass? Normally I would say pull all the grass ... | ||
| Becoming certified to produce playground material | 7/6/2009 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: I was wondering how my company would go about becoming certified to produce playground mulching ... A: As far as I know there is no playground specific certification for a company to manufacture ... | ||
| required level of gravel for toddler playground | 6/6/2009 | Scott Burton |
| Q: What is the required level of pea ravel for a preschool playground? Is there a national or state ... A: It depends on; 1) The fall height of the equipment 2) The state you are in (to determine if it's a ... | ||
| best material for swing support | 4/5/2009 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: I am going to install a yoga swing in my backyard so I need to build a framework for it. I could use ... A: I would use 4x4 treated posts set at a slight angle in with a little concrete around the post ... | ||
| ground covering of playgrounds | 2/12/2009 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: What is the advantage and disadvantage of using wood chips, sand, gravel, concrete, or asphalt in a ... A: WOW! What a complicated question. First, concrete, asphalt and dirt or even grass are out under any ... | ||
| Playground Mulch | 12/9/2008 | Scott Burton |
| Q: My daughter plus 4 other children broke there arm on our schools playground monkey bars in a 2 month ... A: If the kids are 5-12 years old then an overhead ladder is okay up to 84 inches high. Mulch has to be ... | ||
| playground square footage | 11/20/2008 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: what is the recommended square footage per child in a preschool playground area. The children are 3, ... A: In MO. I believe it is 75 square feet per child but I do not recall what is the percentage of the ... | ||
| plastic wood chip for playground | 9/29/2008 | Scott Burton |
| Q: About 7 months ago, I was on a site that was advertising plastic wood chips, not the rubber ones but ... A: Cedar Ridge and Adventure Playsets is ONLY designed and intended for residential use (single family ... | ||
| plastic wood chip for playground | 9/29/2008 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: About 7 months ago, I was on a site that was advertising plastic wood chips, not the rubber ones but ... A: Sorry, but I do not know anything about this product. Its not a new idea, many people have ... | ||
| types of playground mulch | 9/3/2008 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: Are there different types or grades of playground bark mulch ? Our town recently put down a very ... A: Yes, there are all types of mulch and it is hard so say what they used on your playground without ... | ||
| tires | 8/19/2008 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: We have a wood playground set in our yard. There is a small deck area (about 5' x 3') and I would ... A: NO! There are a few things in this business where there is no difference between residential and ... | ||
| Ground cover for play ground | 7/1/2008 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: It's a large wooden swingset in an area aprox. 12'x15'. I have two concerns. One, if my girls fall ... A: Danielle, you have only two choices that are affordable. One is a loose fill organic like all ... | ||
| playground | 5/7/2008 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: I live in a complex where I am responsible for a large playground. Around 5 years ago we installed ... A: Yes, it is past time to add new mulch on top of the old mulch. You should add mulch at least every ... | ||
| mulch | 5/7/2008 | Scott Burton |
| Q: I live in a complex where there is a large playground. Around 5 years ago we installed wood mulch. ... A: It's up to you to remove the old mulch. You should if it's moldy, but might not be able to count on ... | ||
| mulch | 5/7/2008 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: I live in a complex where there is a large playground. Around 5 years ago we installed wood mulch. ... A: You are past due on adding new mulch, you should add mulch every other year if not every year ... | ||
| residential playground | 2/5/2008 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: I am getting ready to create a backyard playground for my son. I would like to have a bordered area ... A: Sorry to say, but not much of one in that size area. For a bordered area to be safe and not more of ... | ||
| small preschool playground - what will it cost? | 1/12/2008 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: I realize the range of what it could cost is huge. But in general how much are we likely to spend ... A: You are correct, this isn't an easy question to answer with this format, but I will attempt to give ... | ||
| P-Gravel | 12/30/2007 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: I saw some of your previous suggestions and we would like to install a p- gravel area around our ... A: Kim, you can use 6x6 oak ties, one or two rows high if you really want to try and keep the gravel ... | ||
| Playground design for a 10 year old | 9/19/2007 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: Bob, I'm trying to design a playground for 10.5 year old girl, I know I'm late in the process but ... A: You could enclose the lower area into an additional playhouse to create a 2 level play structure, ... | ||
| Playground design for a 10 year old | 9/14/2007 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: Bob, I'm trying to design a playground for 10.5 year old girl, I know I'm late in the process but ... A: Not any one simple answer. My suggestions for playhouse, no straight ladders, angling them a little ... | ||
| pg surface material & border | 9/11/2007 | Scott Burton |
| Q: I am in process of seeking grant/funds for city playground. I was wondering if we could utilize a ... A: Surfacing needs to comply with the impact attenuating requirements of the ASTM Standard #F1292. ... | ||
| playground equipment making and design | 8/30/2007 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: there: I will be ready to start my own factory making commercial playground equipment in late Nov. ... A: What a loaded and complex question. Unfortunately there is no school or college degree in this world ... | ||
| Safe and functional playground for small autism charter school | 8/6/2007 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: As an occupational therapist, I know the beneficial relationship between movement and learning. I am ... A: Frances, there are numerous rubber surfaces that come in tile form or are poured in-place rubber. ... | ||
| Safe and functional playground for small autism charter school | 8/4/2007 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: As an occupational therapist, I know the beneficial relationship between movement and learning. I am ... A: Frances, cannot be of much help with the funding issue, there are other more knowledgeable and ... | ||
| design and technology homework. | 5/27/2007 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: why do you use the materials you use, where do you get them? where does most of your manufacturing ... A: Dean, sorry I am not a Manufacture I am a Designer Consultant but I will still try to answer your ... | ||
| rubber nuggets | 5/19/2007 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: I have a daycare with 12 children ages 4 months to 3 years old. I am in the process of redoing my ... A: Ray,sorry but you are asking the wrong expert with this question. No! I do not like the rubber ... | ||
| playground equipment | 4/29/2007 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: I am looking for a canopy to shade my toddlers on the playground. Can you give me information on ... A: Michele, if this is for a commercial use like a school or daycare, almost every playground company ... | ||
| Wood Chips for Playground | 2/7/2007 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: We are in the process of installing a playground for the kids. We have been told that the best ... A: Tina, actually I think " P" gravel, really small pebbles is probably your best, most affordable, ... | ||
| Installing a Basketball Basket on a Metal pole | 8/14/2006 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: Could you please lead me thru using cement to install a basket ? Size and depth of hole if stone ... A: Actually the frost line could be an issue. The frost line if you are in a really cold climate should ... | ||
| Installing a Basketball Basket on a Metal pole | 8/14/2006 | Bob Meihaus |
| Q: Could you please lead me thru using cement to install a basket ? Size and depth of hole if stone ... A: Ed, if you bought a manufactured basketball system? You should follow the instructions of the ... | ||
Playground Safety and Design
Answers by Expert:
Bob Meihaus
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can provide experienced answers, options, solutions and personal opinion on almost any topic concerning children`s playgrounds residential or commercial. Including questions on design, construction, maintenance, groundcover, accesiblity and most importantly safety.
Experience
For 23 years owner of custom design and build playground company. Over that time designed and built thousands of residential and commercial play structures.
Organizations
Certified Safety Inspector and member ASTM committees on playground safety for commercial and residential play areas.
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