The safety standards for large outdoor slides are the core aspect of ensuring children's safety during play. They cover multiple dimensions such as structural design, material selection, installation specifications, and daily maintenance. The following are the key safety requirements summarized based on national and industry standards, which can help you comprehensively understand and implement slide safety management.
1. Structural Design: Scientific and Rational, Preventive Measures Taken in Advance
Slope and elevation control
The overall angle between the slide and the horizontal plane is generally no more than 40°, and the maximum local angle is no more than 60°. This is to prevent collisions caused by too fast a sliding speed.
Platform recommendations:
Children aged 3 to 6: ≤ 1.5 meters
Children aged 7 to 12: Can reach up to 2.5 meters, but need to enhance support and protection.
The starting area should slope downward with an angle of no more than 5° and a length of more than 350mm to ensure a smooth transition into the sliding state.
Safety facilities configuration
Ramparts no less than 60 centimeters high are set around the platform, with a gap of less than 9 centimeters to prevent children's heads from getting stuck or falling.
Continuous barriers were installed on both sides of the slide, and the transition at the turning point was smooth to avoid cuts.
Isolation barriers of no less than 100 millimeters are set up between multiple slides, covering the entire area to prevent mutual interference.
Buffer zone and fall protection
The exit of the slide is equipped with a horizontal extension section, with a length of ≥ 30 cm, which helps to reduce the impact when sliding out.
When the fall height exceeds 1 meter, the ground must be covered with cushioning materials, such as:
EPDM plastic floor mat (thickness ≥ 50mm)
Fine sand or wood chips (thickness ≥ 30 cm)
The buffer zone extends outward by at least 1.5 meters, forming a safe containment circle.
II. Materials and Techniques: Durable and Safe, Resistant to Tests
Main structural material
The support is made of galvanized steel pipes (with a wall thickness of ≥ 2.5mm), which is corrosion-resistant and has strong load-bearing capacity.
The connecting bolts are of anti-loosening and anti-theft type. The welding areas must be fully welded and undergo anti-rust treatment.
Requirements for the material of the slide track
It is recommended to use food-grade HDPE or LLDPE engineering plastics, which are non-toxic, resistant to ultraviolet rays, and have good temperature stability (-30℃ to 60℃).
The surface is smooth without any burrs, and the friction coefficient is controlled within the range of 0.3 to 0.5, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted sliding.
When using fiberglass reinforced plastic for water slides, the thickness should be ≥ 6mm. There must be no bubbles, cracks or other defects.
Surface treatment details
All the edges and corners are subjected to arc grinding, with a radius greater than 100mm, to eliminate the risk of sharp corners.
The height difference at the joint should be no more than 2mm, eliminating the possibility of foreign objects being inserted.
III. Installation and Foundation: Secure and Robust - Start from the Foundation
Foundation treatment
The support is fixed using expansion bolts + concrete pouring (with a strength of C30 and a burial depth of ≥ 15 cm).
For soft soil foundations, a crushed stone cushion layer (with a thickness of ≥ 30 cm) should be laid first to enhance the bearing capacity.
Protective caps should be installed on the exposed parts of the embedded components to prevent bumps and damages.
Drainage and Rust Prevention
Set a drainage slope around the base to prevent water from accumulating and causing corrosion to the metal components.
The metal components need to be treated with hot-dip galvanizing or coated with anti-corrosion paint to extend their service life.
IV. Usage and Maintenance: Continuous Protection, No Room for Slack
Daily inspection
Check every month whether the screws are loose or the solder joints are cracked.
Check every year whether the plastic parts have any signs of aging or cracking.
Safety Management
Set up safety warning signs, clearly indicating the age limit for use, the number limit, and the prohibited behaviors (such as backward sliding and side sliding).
It is recommended to use under the supervision of an adult, especially for young children.
Climate adaptability
In areas prone to the rainy season such as Nanjing and Shanghai, special attention should be paid to preventing moisture and rust; in hot regions, materials resistant to ultraviolet rays should be selected.
