KENYA STANDARD  KS 2948 -
3:2022  
ICS ##.### 
First Edition  
  
 © KEBS 2022   
 Safe play environ ment for 
children  — Guidelines    
Part 3:  
Maintaining a playground    
 
 
 PUBLIC REVIEW  DRAFT NOVEMBER  2022  
 
KS 2948 -3: 2022  
ii © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee:  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee:  
AMC Group Africa Limited (formerly, Apex Management Systems - Consultants Ltd)  
Assist Development Solutions (ADS)  
Competition Authority of Kenya  
Consumer Information Network  
Ideaz Software  
Kenyatta University  
Topserve East Africa Limited  
Nairobi Sports House Limited  
Nile Road special school  
Mount Kenya University  
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS  
In order to keep abreast of progress in industry, Kenya Standards shall be regularly reviewed.  
Suggestions for improvements to published standards, addressed to the  Managing Director, 
Kenya Bureau of Standards, are welcome.  
© Kenya Bureau of Standards, 2022  
Copyright. Users are reminded that by virtue of Section 25 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 130 of 2001 of  the Laws of Kenya, 
copyright subsists in all Kenya Standards and except as provided under Section 25 of this Act, no Kenya Standard 
produced by Kenya Bureau of Standards may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by 
any means without prior permission in writing from the Managing Direc tor.  KENYA STANDARD  KS 2948 -
3:2022  
ICS ##.###  
First  Edition  
 
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  iii 
  Safe play environment for children  — 
Guidelines    
Part 3: 
Maintaining a playground   
Kenya Bureau of Standards,  Popo Road, Off Mombasa Road,  
P.O. Box 54974 - 00200,  Nairobi, Kenya  
 +254 020 6948000, + 254 722 2022 37, + 254 734600471  
 info@kebs.org  
 @KEBS_ke  
 kenya bureau of standards (kebs)  
  
KS 2948 -3: 2022  
iv © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 Foreword  
This Kenya Standard was prepared by the Safety of toys  Technical Committee under the 
guidance of the Standards Projects Committee, and it is in accordance with the procedures of 
the Kenya Bureau of Standards  
This is the  First edition of this standard.  
The guidelines in this standard are focused on playground -related injuries and mechanical 
mechanisms of injury; falls from playground equipment have remained the largest single hazard 
pattern associated with playground use  
These guidelines do not represent the sole method to minimize injuries associated with 
playground equipment. However, the recommendations will contribute to greater playground 
safety.  
This is Par t 3 of KS 2948  which consists of the following parts, under the general title Safe play 
environment for children — Guidelines   
⎯ Part 1 : General playground considerations  
⎯ Part 2 : Playground hazards  
⎯ Part 3 : Maintaining a playground  
⎯ Part 4 : Parts of the playground  
During the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following document (s):  
1. Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents – Accidents do not have to happen  
2. EN1176 Playground equipment standard  
3. US Consumer Product Safe ty Commission – Public playground safety hand book  
Acknowledgement is hereby made for the assistance derived from this (these) sources  KS 2948 -3: 2022  
 
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  v 
  Introduction  
Inadequate maintenance of equipment has resulted in injuries on playgrounds. Because the 
safety of playground equipment and its suitability for use depend on good inspection and 
maintenanc e, the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions and recommended inspection 
schedules should be strictly followed. If manufacturer’s recommendations are not available, a 
maintenance schedule should be developed based on actual or anticipated playground use. 
Frequently used playgrounds will require more frequent inspections and maintenance.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 KS 2948 -3: 2022    
 
© KEBS 2022 – All rights reserved   
 Safe play environment for children — Guidelines   
Part 3: 
Maintaining a playground   
1 Scope  
This draft standard presents safety information for public playground equipment in the form of 
guidelines. This is Part 3 of KS 2948. It provides a broad overview of maintenance of 
playgrounds . It is intended to raise awareness of good inspection procedure s and maintenance 
of playgrounds .  
2 Application  
 
This draft standard is intended for use by childcare personnel, school officials, parks and 
recreation personnel, equipment purchasers and installers, playground designers, and another 
members of the general public (e.g., parents and school groups) concerned with public 
playground safety and interested in evaluating their respective playgrounds. Due to the wide 
range of possible users, some information provided maybe more appropriate for certain users 
than others.  
 
Public” playground equipment refers to equipment for used by children ages 6 months through 
12 years in the playground areas of:  
 
• Commercial (non -residential) child care facilities  
• Institutions  
• Multiple family dwellings, such as apartme nt and condominium buildings  
• Parks, such as city, state, and community maintained parks  
• Restaurants  
• Resorts and recreational developments  
• Schools  
• Other areas of public use  
 
These guidelines are not intended for amusement park equipment, sports or  fitness equipment 
normally intended for users over the age of 12 years, soft contained play equipment, constant air 
inflatable play devices for home use, art and museum sculptures (not otherwise designed, 
intended and installed as playground equipment), e quipment found in water play facilities, or 
home playground equipment.  
 
Equipment components intended solely for children with disabilities and modified to 
accommodate such users also are not covered by these guidelines.  
2 Normative references  
The followin g document is referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of its content  
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. 
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (incl uding any 
amendments) applies.   
 
KS 2948 -1 Safe play environment for children — Guidelines  Part 1: General playground 
considerations   
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  iii 
  KS 2948 -2 Safe play environment for children — Guidelines  Part 2: Playground hazards  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions in KS 2948 Part 1 shall apply.  
4 Maintaining a playground   
4.1    Maintenance Inspections  
 A comprehensive maintenance program should be developed for each playground. All playground 
areas and equipment should be inspected for excessive wear, deterioration, and any potential hazards  
such as those shown in Table 1.  
 One possible procedure is the use of checklists. Some manufacturers supply checklists for general or 
detailed inspections with thei r maintenance instructions. These can be used to ensure that inspections 
are in compliance with the manufacturer’s specifications.  
If manufacturer -provided inspection guidelines are not available, a general checklist that may be used . 
This is intended to address only general maintenance concerns.  
Detailed inspections should give special attention to moving parts and other parts that can be expected 
to wear.  
Maintenance inspections should be carried out in a systematic manner by personnel familiar with th e 
playground, such as maintenance workers, playground supervisors, etc.  
4.2  Repairs  
Inspections alone do not constitute a comprehensive maintenance program. Any problems found during 
the inspection should be noted and fixed as soon as possible.  
 
4.2.1  All repairs and replacements of equipment parts should be completed following the 
manuf acturer’s instructions.  
 
 4.2.2 User modifications, such as loose -ended ropes tied to elevated parts, should be removed 
immediately.  
 
4.2.3 For each piece of equipment, the frequency of thorough  inspections will depend on the type and 
age of equipment, th e amount of use, and the local climate.  
 
4.2.4 Consult the manufacturer for maintenance schedules for each piece of equipment. Based on these 
schedules, a maintenance schedule for the entire playground can be created. This routine maintenance 
schedule should not replace regular inspections.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
iv © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 Table 1 ⎯ Routine inspection and maintenance issues  
 
 
 Broken equipment such as loose bolts, missing end caps, cracks, etc.  
 Broken glass & other trash  
 Cracks in plastics  
 Loose anchoring  
 Hazardous or dangerous debris  
 Insect damage  
 Problems with surfacing  
 Displaced loose -fill surfacing  
 Holes, flakes, and/or buckling of unitary surfacing  
 User modifications (such as ropes tied to parts or equipment rearranged)  
 Vandalism  
 Worn, loose, damaged,  or missing parts  
 Wood splitting  
 Rusted or corroded metals  
 Rot 
 
 
4.3 Maintaining Loose -Fill Surfacing  
 
Loose -fill surfacing materials require special maintenance.   
 
High-use public playgrounds, such as childcare  centres  and schools, should be checked 
frequently to ensure surfacing  has not displaced significantly, particularly in areas of the  
playground most subject to displacement (e.g., under swings  and slide exits). This can be 
facilitated by marking ideal  surfacing depths on equipment posts.  Displaced loose -fill surfacing 
should be raked back into proper place so that a constant depth is maintained throughout the 
playground.  
 
Impact attenuating mats placed in high traffic areas, such as under swings and at slide exits, can 
significantly reduc e displacement. They should be installed below or level with surfacing so as not 
to be a tripping hazard.  
 
The following are key points to look for during regular checks of surfacing:  
 
4.3.1 Areas under swings and at slide exits  
 
 Activity in these areas tends to displace surfacing quickly. Rake loose -fill back into place.  
 
 
 
  
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  v 
  4.3.2 Pooling water on mulch surfacing  
 
 For example, wet mulch compacts faster than dry, fluffy mulch. If puddles are noticed regularly, 
consider addressing larger drainage issues.   
 
4.3.3 Frozen  surfacing  
 
Most loose -fill surfacing that freezes  solid no longer functions as protective surfacing.  
 
Even if the first few inches may be loose, the base layer may be frozen and the impact attenuation 
of the surfacing may be significantly reduced. It is recommended that children not play on the 
equipment under these conditions.  
 
4.4   Record  keeping  
 
Records of all maintenance inspections and repairs should be retained, including the 
manufacturer’s maintenance instructions and any checklists used.  
 
When any inspection is performed, the person performing it should sign and date the form used.  
 
A recor d of any accident and injury reported to have occurred on the playground should also be 
retained. This will help identify potential hazards or dangerous design features that should be 
corrected.   
vi © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 Annex  A 
(Informative)  
 
Suggested general maintenance checklis ts 
 
General Upkeep of Playgrounds  
     There are no user modifications to the equipment, such as strings and ropes tied to 
equipment, swings looped over top rails, etc  (3) 
             Remove string or rope  
             Correct other modification  
     The entire playground is free from debris or litter such as tree branches, soda cans, bottles, 
glass, etc.  
        
  Clean playground  
    There are no missing trash receptacles.  
        
  Replace trash receptacle  
  Trash receptacles are not full.  
          Empty trash  
 
 
 
 
NOTES:  
DATE OF INSPECTION: ………….……………. INSPECTION BY: ………………………………..