How Often Should Outdoor Play Equipment Be Inspected?

How Often Outdoor Play Equipment Should Be Inspected

Visual routine inspections should be completed on a daily or weekly basis to maintain a safe environment for children at play.

Periodic inspections should be performed by a CPSI (or with a guided inspection software like Park Protector) monthly, quarterly, or annually. Using the factors above, you can decide which frequency is most appropriate for your playgrounds.

Factors for Periodic Inspection Frequency

There is no perfect time frame for periodic playground inspections. Instead, how often you inspect your outdoor play equipment is affected by a number of factors.

Type & Size of Equipment

The first factor that will affect your inspection timeline is the type of outdoor play equipment you own or manage. If you have a small playground with a few swings and a traditional slide, you likely won’t need as frequent of inspections.

However, if you have more exciting, moving features like climbing walls, enclosed slides, or specialty swings, you may need more frequent inspections. The more parts and pieces in motion there are, the more there is that can go wrong.

Age of Equipment

The age of your outdoor play equipment is a huge factor in how often you need to have it inspected. If you have a brand new playground that is well-built, you can likely afford less frequent inspections. However, if you have an older playground that is a bit worse for the wear, we recommend more frequent inspections to ensure its continued safety.

Frequency of Play & Number of Children

While some playground hazards are the results of sudden weather or unexplained damages, many hazards are a result of wear and tear. That means that how often your playground is used and how many children use it is another key factor to consider in your inspection timeline.

If you manage a school playground that is used daily during the school year but rarely during the summer, you’ll need frequent inspections September - June but can likely ease off your schedule in the summer months.

Weather & Climate

The severity of your local weather and climate have a massive impact on your playground maintenance and inspection needs. Some weather and climate elements to consider include:

• Frequent thunderstorms, hurricanes, and/or flooding
• Heavy winds
• Natural disasters like earthquakes and tornadoes
• Saltwater from beachside playgrounds
• Snow and freezing temperatures
• Extremely hot climates