Created on 07.29
How Long is the Lifespan of a Plastic Slide
The service life of a slide is the time span from normal use to aging and Completely scrapped. As an infrastructure of outdoor playground, the lifespan of plastic slides will not only influence the economic benefits of
outdoor playsacpe, but also the basic issue of child safety.
This article will focus on the analysis of typical aging types of plastic slides, discussion on the factors affecting the durability of slides, and establishment of a complete life cycle management procedure from procurement to maintenance to scrapping.
Principles and Phenomena of Material Aging
children’s slides that are exposed to the outside for a long time will gradually and irreversibly be damaged. The first sign of aging of slides is the appearance change. The wear and scratches on the component and the surface of the slide are caused by repeated use; the fading, staining and chalking of the plastic part of the slide are caused by UV radiation of pigment molecules. The process of aging is a series of physical and chemical changes, and the rate of change depends on the material’s resistance to UV radiation and oxidation.
High quality Slides, usually manufactured with linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) rotational molding and with anti-UV pigments and UV stabilized formulation (HDPE or LLDPE), can maintain the color difference ΔE<3 for 5 to 10 years. The cheap slides will be severely faded in 1 to 3 years.
In addition, aging will also cause the performance and life of slides to be damaged. UV radiation and thermal expansion and contraction will cause the plastic components of slides to become brittle, and the impact resistance and ductility of slides will drop sharply. Brittle slides are very dangerous because they are more likely to break. The forces that used to be able to withstand (children climbing on slides and jumping) now cause cracks to occur at the stress concentration points (such as corners and joints). With time, cracks will spread and lead to component breakdown. Long-term creep (permanent deformation under load), loosening and corrosion of metal fasteners will cause the stiffness of the slide to decrease and the possibility of instability or collapse. In addition, mold and algae in humid areas will cause damage. They not only affect the appearance, but also cause microbial degradation of plastic, which leads to a decrease in service life.
Factors Affecting Service Life and Durability
The service life of outdoor plastic slides is not fixed. It can be extended or shortened depending on the following factors.
Material Composition and Manufacturing Process
The durability of the slide is determined by the selection of raw materials and manufacturing method. High quality plastic slides are usually manufactured with linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) rotational molding. This method can manufacture seamless and single-piece components with uniform wall thickness (preferably not less than 6mm). It can avoid the defects of bonding method and injection molding method. The effectiveness of the adductive package, including UV stabilizers, antioxidants and thermal stabilizers, also plays an important role in resisting environmental attack.
Environmental Exposure and Usage Intensity
External factors big influence the rate of degradation. High UV radiation intensity in high altitude or low latitude areas, large annual temperature differential, high humidity or acid rain will promote material fatigue and chemical corrosion. Usage also determines the speed of wear. If the slide in a kindergarten is used with high frequency but low impact, the expected life of the slide would be 5-7 years. If the same type of slide is used in a slide in a community park with a wider range of user weights and higher impact, the expected life of the slide would be 4-6 years. If the slide is used in a commercial amusement park, it is the most extreme usage scenario and could reduce the life of the slide to 3-5 years. Strict maintenance can only delay and alleviate this accelerated usage.
Standards
National and international standards such as GB 8408-2018 or Europe’s EN 1176 provide important safety boundaries. For example, GB 8408 requires that amusement structures have a design life of no less than 35,000 hours. It is important to recognize that this is a requirement for structural fatigue design, and material degradation will reach a limit sooner than this. Reaching the end of the design life does not mean the structure must be removed immediately, but it does mean that a comprehensive safety assessment by an independent body must be conducted to determine if and under what conditions it can remain in service.
A Hierarchical Approach to Maintenance, Repair and Removal of Service.
A structured approach to addressing aging allows for a balanced approach to safety and cost. Proactive maintenance is the best way to extend service life. This includes regular cleaning of abrasive or chemically corrosive contaminants, regular inspection and tightening of all fasteners to prevent loosening of the structure, and application of special plastic protectants to the surface.
For moderately aged attractions, such as non-structural surface cracks or cosmetic damage, repair is a possible solution. Plastic welding can be used to restore the integrity of a structure’s crack using a compatible polymer rod. Often, heavily worn or damaged components can be replaced if they are not structural, preserving the main structure.
For extensive color fading, if the attraction is moderately aged, it can also be repaired by having it professionally refinished with appropriate primers and topcoats to restore the appearance and add a new layer of protection.
If aging is severe and through-and-through cracks are present, or if the structure is widely embrittled and/or severely deformed, the slide must be immediately removed from service. At this point, a formal safety assessment by a qualified engineering or inspection agency is an unavoidable step. Using NDT methods, experts assess the remaining serviceability of the structure and the material’s strength. If an assessment shows that it cannot be repaired safely or the cost to do so is unacceptable, the slide must be removed from service according to procedure, with an emphasis on responsible recycling of components.
Strategic Procurement for Longevity and Safety.
A successful lifecycle management approach starts with a well-informed procurement decision based on total cost of ownership and not the lowest upfront price.Request from suppliers to provide you with material specification sheets to validate the use of premium resines (LLDP for example) and UV resistance of both the material and the colorants.Select items manufactured with rotational molding and with significant and uniform wall thickness, and are backed up by third-party certification to safety standards (EN 1176 for example).
As part of your purchase decision, also consider the manufacturer’s and company’s reputation, quality control certifications (ISO 9001, for example), after-sales service (warranty, spare parts, for example) and choose the slide that, although more expensive initially, will last longer and will need less maintenance.The high quality outdoor playground slide, although more expensive initially, will, in the long term, provide much better economic and safety returns than the low-cost slide that will need more frequent replacement.