Since 1st of August 2008 local authorities as playground owners, as well as producers of playground equipment, have to consider important modifications for playground equipment and playground floor to maximise the security of our children on playgrounds, hence to guarantee learning by playing in save areas.

European standard guidelines regarding save playgrounds have been imposed ten years ago for the first time. Due to the experience of the last decade the norms coming into force attend to avoid accidents when playing, climbing, skidding or swinging – oftentimes on the basis of a wrong arrangement of the playground equipment, just like deprivation of maintenance, as well as too little protection against falling or similar mistakes regarding shaping of playgrounds.
To avoid especially injuries of collar and neck, the new regulation makes great demands on balustrades, railings and precipitous playground equipment, in particular in the area of entrance and exit possibilities. Therefore the guidelines set aside an opening - with respect to playground equipment, like windows etc. - with less then 110 millimetres of diameter, in fact an extent smaller than 89 millimetres. For validation of circular pennings new test pieces have been introduced. Furthermore there is a tighter regulation on tapering angels, which also have to be verified by test pieces.

Basically there exists an inventory keeping for all playgrounds built up to the date the new guidelines coming into force. Different however if main groups of playground equipment is exchanged, in that case the local authority have to regard the regulations what especially will concern ballustrades and railings in the near future.
Excepted from inventory keeping is the playgrounds floor. Now dynamic equipment such as swings, teeter-totters/seesaws or roundabouts - independent of the height of fall - have to be situated on a shock-absorbing surface – such as sand, turf, mulch or synthetic safety mats.
Totally enclosed playground equipment has to be accessible from any place, for parents can react much more rapid in case of emergency. Furthermore the regulations include decided requirements for slides with more than one chute and sexangle swings.

Producers of playground equipment are requested to implement the new european Regulation until the appointed date of 30th of April 2009. Alltogether the serial of innovations pursue the safetyness of playgrounds to provide protected space for children when learning by playing.
Additionally the local authority should support save playing by locally informing parents and children about appropriate handling. There are still too much children with bike helmets climbing on playgrounds under the danger of caughting themselves - to guarantee save playing it is also important to regard the given security advices.

For further information on the new Regulation on playground shaping coming into force on 30th April 2009 read TÜV article, „freeLounge“, May 2008, page 48-50 as pdf-file in German language here:
PDF Neue Normen für Spielplatzgestaltung