What is Safety Netting for Indoor Playground

Created on Today

When it comes to indoor playgrounds, which are increasingly popular among children in urban areas, the most essential and solid starting point for operating such parks is the provision of a safe and reliable play area. Children indoor playgrounds are made up of numerous playground equipment, which together form a complex system of safety. Safety netting is of particular importance, as it represents both a physical barrier and a decisive line of demarcation for protecting children from potential physical injuries while they are at their most exploratory and fun-filled moments.

In this article, we will conduct a detailed and stringent analysis of indoor playground safety netting from the following aspects: definition, structure, material properties, classification, main applications and relevant safety standards.

1.Definition and Attributes.

Indoor playground safety netting is an officially defined mesh system that is systematically installed along the edges of play equipment, on elevated platforms, alongside passageways or in other designated functional areas. The primary goal of indoor playground safety netting is to prevent safety incidents such as falls, accidental exits, entrapment of body parts or entry into forbidden areas from occurring during dynamic movements such as running, jumping and climbing, which are associated with the use of this equipment. This is done through physical containment, delimitation of activity space and dissipation of impact energy.

Due to its passive nature, the design concept of indoor playground safety netting is to cause as little damage as possible when an accident occurs. Therefore, except for some specifically designed climbing nets, normal indoor playground safety netting shall not be used as active play netting for climbing or carrying loads. Otherwise, any pulling or stretching on it may destroy its structural safety and become a potential safety hazard.

2. Structural Composition.

A complete and reliable indoor playground safety netting system is a precision assembly in which several parts work together. The main body is the net body (or mesh panel), which usually uses a diamond or square weave pattern. This type of structure not only ensures a flat and aesthetically pleasing surface, but more importantly, when the netting system is impacted, the force will be quickly and evenly distributed to the entire net body, thereby achieving the effect of energy absorption and cushioning.

The border rope encircles and secures the edges of the net body. Its diameter is much thicker than the rope mesh of the net, and it is specially thickened and reinforced to become the main load-bearing part of the entire net, bearing most of the tension generated during installation and use.

Finally, the lashing rope or reinforcing rope is used to tie or connect the entire net to the metal frame of the playground or other support structures. In addition, reinforcing ropes may also be woven into the body of the net to increase the overall tensile strength and structural stiffness of the entire net, avoiding deformation caused by long-term use.

3. Material Properties.

The selection of material for safety netting is a prerequisite for ensuring its safety performance, service life and environmental compatibility. The industry widely uses synthetic fiber materials with high strength, strong weather resistance and environmental protection characteristics. And the most popular materials in the market now are High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polypropylene (PP). Meanwhile, the material has good UV resistance and chemical stability, which can resist aging in complicated indoor playroom for a long time and maintain the material’s basic performance. At the same time, the flexibility of the material makes the impact absorption performance be excellent. In addition, the smooth and burr-free surface of the material will not damage the baby’s delicate skin.

Furthermore, Nylon is also used in high-quality products for its excellent strength and wear resistance. And there is also a place for Polyester, because of its good shape retention and heat resistance. Whatever material is selected, the final product shall pass environmental test, which means there is no lead and phthalates, etc, in the product to protect the children’s health from the source.

4. Types and Classifications.

In order to meet the complex and diverse application scenarios in indoor playgrounds, safety netting can be classified into various types of netting with different functions and forms based on different classification criteria.

When classified according to the installation position and protection direction, netting can be divided into vertical nets and horizontal nets. The main application of vertical nets is vertical protection. Generally speaking, vertical nets are used around the periphery of the second-level and above platforms, on the outside of the climbing facilities, and on both sides of the stairs and passageways. The main function of vertical nets is to prevent children from falling off the platform due to horizontal movement. The main application of horizontal nets is horizontal protection. Horizontal nets are generally directly installed below aerial play features or passageways and in the buffer zone around the exit of slides. The design idea of horizontal nets is to catch the children or objects that have vertically fallen in an emergency and provide cushioning.

When classified according to their main function, they can be divided into fall-prevention netting, anti-climb isolation netting, decorative safety netting, and climbing nets. Fall-prevention netting is the most basic and widely used type, accounting for the majority of vertical and horizontal nets. The anti-climb isolation netting is woven with the purpose of isolation, that is, the mesh opening of the net is made smaller or other special weaving methods are adopted to prevent children from climbing. It is often used to isolate the activity area of equipment from the non-activity area. Decorative safety netting uses colorful designs while meeting all requirements for safety. It has the dual functions of safety and beauty. A climbing net is a play feature in itself. It is woven from higher strength ropes specially designed for children to climb, and therefore has more detailed and stringent design and installation standards. It is itself a play feature.

In addition, classification can also be based on mesh density. Generally, the mesh hole of fine-mesh net is less than 10mm. The main usage of fine-mesh net is to avoid small items like toys or play balls fall through the gap and hurt the person standing below. Also, it prevents finger entrapment accidentally. While the mesh hole of normal net is relatively bigger and its design focuses on preventing a person’s body from passing through or falling, which is the most commonly used netting in indoor playgrounds.

5. Core Uses and Value.

The value of safety netting in indoor playground is manifested in two core uses in addition to its primary and irreplaceable core use of preventing all kinds of falls from multi-level space happened when children play (the top priority of playground safety management).

Secondly, by physical separation, the netting defines the different functional areas very clearly, such as dynamic area and static area, toddler area and area for older children. This defines the flow of activity and guides good order and collision-free chasing.

At the same time, the elasticity of the net body has very good cushion effect and can absorb the energy of accidental impact and reduce the injury.

Also, toys, balls and other objects thrown by children are confined in the play area by the netting and protect the people outside the area.

The playground equipped with complete, sturdy and clean safety netting definitely gives parents more confidence, which is one of the most important factors for the operator to win the trust of parents.

6.Safety Standards and Regulations.

In order to make sure that the safety net can really play the expected protective role, the whole process from design and manufacturing to installation and subsequent maintenance should strictly follow the requirements of relevant safety standards and regulations for safety.

Internationally, there are already clear requirements for the safety of children\'s play equipment and its components in EN 1176 and other standards. In China, the national standard system is also very complete, and there are mandatory standards for small and large amusement devices in GB/T 34272-2017 (Safety Specification for Small-scale Amusement Devices) and GB 8408-2018 (Safety Specification for Large-scale Amusement Devices). These standards specify the key indicators for safety of netting. For example, the mesh size must be accurately calculated to ensure that the head, torso or any limb of the child cannot pass through and get entangled, and it also needs to prevent entanglement with drawstrings or accessories on clothes to avoid the risk of strangulation. The strength and load-carrying capacity of the entire netting and all fastening components must meet the standards, and can withstand specified static loads and dynamic impacts. In addition, because they are materials used in public places, the flame retardancy and non-toxic and environment-friendly properties are mandatory requirements that must comply with national fire and environment regulations.

Finally, be aware that merely a compliant product is not enough; scientifically installing and maintaining the product are also very important. The installation should guarantee that all connections are safe and fastened and will never loosen. An operator should develop and strictly implement a daily and periodic inspections and maintenance system. Any aging, wearing, damage or slack of the netting should be evaluated and rectified immediately. If any of the above situations are found, they should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible so that the netting is always maintained in its indestructible state of safety.

Indoor Playground Safety Netting is a material with mechanics of structure and ergonomics; only by understanding its characteristics, adhering to its specifications and performing diligent maintenance can we weave an indestructible net of safety for our children, so that they can explore and develop in a happy world freely.

Get in touch

Let's take your business to the moon.

By signing up to our newsletter you agree to our Term of Service and Privacy Policy.

Contact Us

Wechat