Care and maintenance
Care and maintenance of products
At Guldborg Playgrounds we use a wide range of components for our playgrounds, components with different kind of materials, all chosen carefully in terms of their scope and characteristics. In the selection we focus on the exact qualities and properties of each material, so that the products meet our requirements for actual use as well as recycling, disposal and viability.
In general
All equipment must be tightened up within three months of installation. Ropes, chains, shackles, hooks and other moveable parts must be checked at the same time. To prevent playground accidents the owner or operating manager must ensure that a suitable maintenance plan is available. The plan should include information about the components that require maintenance on each piece of equipment and on the surfacing. The plan should likewise include procedures for e.g. damage and vandalism. For this purpose, a service ledger should be created, the the owner/operator to verify that sufficient maintenance has been done, in case of malfunctions.
We have divided the materials into 6 groups, wood products, metal parts, ropes, plastic parts, miscellaneous and fall underlay.
1. Robinia wood
Robinia wood in general
Robinia (pseudoacacia or false acacia) is characterized by its beautiful irregular and vibrant expression, this is part of creating a unique playground. Robinia, which is self-preserving, has an expected lifetime of 20-25 years when in direct contact with soil, thus significantly exceeding other species of wood. The species originates from the United States from where it was imported to Central Europe in the early 1600. Within the last years and due to the increased need, the forestry has been regulated. What we use is typically from Hungary.
Found in
We use Robinia for posts, cross beams, swings and sandboxes. We have some products in pure robinia, witch means floors, roofs, handrails etc. are all in robinia.
Douglas
Douglas is characterised by the very beautiful graining, few knots and shape stability. Douglas has a high content of oils that naturally protect the tree from sprays and mushrooms. Douglas originates from the West coast of The United States from where it was imported to Denmark around 1850 and is now growing freely in Scandinavia. What we use originates from the Jutland forest.
Found in
We use Douglas for floors, handrails, sides and mountain plates.
Larch
Larch is characterized by high content of oils that ensures a long lifetime even with high moisture impact. The larch tends to twist in the wood, therefore it is not suitable for large dimensions or loads. Larch grows wild in many parts of the world where different climatic conditions create big variation in quality. Siberian larch is, for example, significantly more resistant than European larch because of the short growth period. The lark we use originates from Central Europe.
Found in
We use Larch for 4 side cut wood, roofs and kalmar boards, playhouses and log cabins.
Oak
Oak is characteristic of its large dimensions and knotted structure. It grows freely throughout most of the world and is used for many purposes. It is form stable, strong and stand against high climatic fluctuations. The one we use typically originates from Denmark.
Found in
We use oak for area boundary, sand boxes and 4 side cut wood.
Maintenance of wood.
Maintenance
Wood is a living material that is influenced by the changing temperatures and humidity of the seasons. Therefore, we recommend that all wooden parts are treated once a year with wood protection. This ensures less drying and minimizing occurrence of cracks while maintaining the golden color of the wood, and the elements always appear inviting. The 4 tree types we use have different aprroaches when talking about advice and fungus and direct soil contact.
Robinia has an expected lifetime of 20-25 years when in direct soil contact and therefore there is no need for surface treatment. The other types of wood, douglas, larch and oak have a slightly shorter life in direct soil contact. Therefore they must be checked and the posts must exposed 10 – 15 cm from the soil and then treated with wood protection. ( Where wood and soil meet, rot and mold occur over time, so it is impotant to use wood protection ecpecially in these areas). This applies especially to 4 side cut wood, ships and playhouses.
The type of wood protection is not essential, it must be good quality, with or without color pigments and preferably water based.
Once a year, the playground should be reviewed for cracks, loose downfacing knots, (they can collect water and create rod and mold in the core tree). Splinters should be sanded away, cracks over 8mm could be filled with color-matched flexible weather resistant fugue and knots are removed and are also filled with fugue. All screws, bolts and joints are tightened so clothing, cord etc. won’t be caught and stuck in the joints.
2. Metal parts
We use many different metal parts, slides, assembly brackets, swing chains, suspension and screws, etc. We use stainless steel and electro galvanized iron depending on the product.
There is no maintenance for all these groups. However, swing chains and swing brakets must be reviewed once a year for broken parts and if necessary replaced. Stainless steel can get small attacks of particles, it doesn’t do any harm and is easily removed with a scourer.
3. Ropes
We use steel reinforced 16 mm Taifunwire. Joints are made from recyclable nylon and joint bracket from a chain with stainless eye bolts. There is no maintenance, but nets and joints must be reviewed regularly and at least once a year checked for broken parts also because the steel core can be exposed. In addition, we recommend that you keep an eye on possible vandalism of the rope.
4. Plastic parts
We use many different plastic parts in the assortment. Similar to all is that they are maintenance-free and reusable. The plastic parts are used in joints for examble in floors and roofs where they work as protection for moving metal parts. Shackles, must be checked once a year, and if necessary, replaced.
5. Miscellaneous
Plywood is part of the systems such as mountain plates and underlay for upturns. When delivered, the plates are edge-sealed so water cant penetrate. The edge sealing must be checked once a year and may be refreshed. The crawl tubes do not require any maintenance.
6. Fall underlay
We use grass reinforcement mats and rubber tiles. The grass reinforcement mat is characterized by the grass growing up in the interstices to form a homogeneous and fall-absorbing surface. It is important that the mats, once a year and preferably at the start of the growing season, are lifted off from the ground and replaced so that the shock absorbing effect is maintained.
Rubber tiles must be cleaned regularly and checked once a year so that the substrate is correctly positioned to ensure the tiles are stable.
Applicable to all types of fall underlay: Continuously check that there are no dangerous and unauthorized objects in the area.