What is Single-Plank Bridge for Indoor Playground

Created on 09.22

1.Abstract

V Shaped Single Plank Bridge is an important and challenging developmental equipment found in contemporary indoor playground and soft playground. Its unique structure gives full body workout of child's sense of balance, co-ordination and courage. This paper intends to conduct an in-depth and strict discussion on the equipment by elaborating its definition, precise structural composition, precise specification of core playing value and multiple safety measures.

2.Definition

V Shaped Single Plank Bridge is a corridor type play element suspended or fixed between main steel frames of indoor playground equipment. The most prominent feature of its appearance and structure is the extremely narrow walking beam and the side safety netting inclined outwards at certain angle. The cross-section of the equipment presents a distinct V shape. Functionally the equipment often acts as a bridge connecting different area of different platform while experientially it creates a challenging way of passage which requires the child to focus on the path and work hard to achieve a extremely good balance.

3.Specification.

Design and fabrication of V Shaped Single Plank Bridge is based on precise engineering and material science specification. The whole equipment can be divided into three main parts of bottom beam, side safety netting and support system. Each part of the equipment has precise material and dimension specification.

The bottom beam is the part which directly bears the weight of the child on its surface and he / she walks on it. Based on the precise specification case, the length of the beam is normally 2.4m while the passage width is only 20cm. The design of narrow passage creates a very challenging requirement on the balance control of the child. It is a multi-layers composite structure. The core part uses solid wood frame of high strength or rectangular section steel tubing to provide basic load bearing capacity and deformation resistance. The core is then covered with a layer of thick and high density EPE foam to absorb impact energy. It is very important to prevent accidental falling down or collision accident. The outermost part is totally wrapped by soft padding of anti-slip high resistance PVC leather which is easy to clean. The product is also non-toxic, environment friendly and flame retardant. It is safe to touch and environment friendly.

The V-shaped net on both sides of the beam is the main protection net. The length of the netting corresponds with the beam, 2.4m. This kind of heavy-duty net is woven with 5cm-wide Nylon or high-strength polyester. The mesh apertures of the webbing are controlled within a safe range (e.g. 6x6cm to 8x8cm). The range of mesh apertures is strictly controlled in the scientific range of entrapment of children's head, neck and limbs. The tensile strength and anti-wear performance of the webbing material itself are extremely high and have passed the abrasion resistance test for a long time and heavy use. It can be used for a long time without any wear.

The whole V-Shaped Single-Plank Bridge's stability depends on its supporting system. The two steel tubes supporting the whole bridge are fixed under the beam rigidly connected to the main steel structure framework of the playground. All connection parts use industrial-grade anti-loosening high-strength screws. The equipment will not be wobbly or moved by dynamic loads from children using it. There will be no safety risk of children shaking it and falling off.

4.Play.

The main game process of V-Shaped Single-Plank Bridge is that a child starts to stand at one end and then step by step put one foot in front of the other on the 20cm-wide surface to control the center of body to stay in a balanced state until he/she can reach the other end. Although the process of crossing the bridge is simple, it is closely related to the value of training of sensory integration. It directly trains the balance function of the vestibule and proprioception of the child. At the same time, it also trains the child's ability to coordinate the use of brain, eyes, core muscle and limbs. The sense of achievement children will get after reaching the other end will greatly enhance their confidence. It also trains their focus and courage to face challenges.

5.Safety.

V-Shaped Single-Plank Bridge is play equipment that children use it directly. The principle of safety is the first thing that dominates the design, manufacturing and operation of the equipment. Its assurance system covers the whole life cycle of the product.

The safety of design is considered from the very beginning. All the rigid parts that children may contact with, including the beam and connectors, must be fully padded with soft padding to avoid any sharp corners or hard edges that may hurt children. In addition, the mesh aperture of the net must be strictly controlled in accordance with national safety standards (GB/T 34272-2017) to avoid any possible squeezing or entrapment accidents. All the materials used for manufacturing the equipment, including the filler EPE foam and PVC leather, must have the qualified reports of non-toxic and environmental protection, and the qualified reports of flame retardancy performance.

Safety assurance in operational phase. During the operational phase, safety assurance is just as important as during the installation phase. The installation of the equipment should be performed by professional technicians. It is imperative that all connection points are fastened securely. The facility operator should set up and enforce a daily and periodic inspection regimen, in which the equipment is systematically checked for damage to the PVC surface, wear and tear on the webbing, and the tightness of all fasteners that hold the structure together. Any facility found to pose a safety hazard must be removed from service immediately and repaired by a professional.

Rule of one child at a time and supervision by staff members on site are effective management methods to avoid accidents occurring due to chasing, roughhousing, or overloading.

6.Conclusion.

V-Shaped Single-Plank Bridge, through its intelligent design, skilfully combines playful challenges with sensory integration, making it an essential functional part of children's indoor playground. A deep understanding of and adherence to structural, material, gameplay and safety standards is the most basic requirement to ensure that V-Shaped Single-Plank Bridge can provide a safe and effective environment to promote children's healthy growth.

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