Soft Play Rules and Regulations: Everything You Need to Know
Creating a soft play space can be a profitable business decision as they are an appealing solution for many parents and children. However, there are a selection of rules and regulations which must be implemented and adhered with to ensure that soft play is a safety activity for kids. These rules are also applicable whether you are creating a new business or undertaking a soft play refurbishment.
In this article, we’ll share soft play rules and regulations for the UK, plus highlight some extra considerations company owners can make in ensuring spaces are suitable for children to interact with. Keep reading if you want to be clued on how to keep spaces safe and inviting!
Why Is It Important That Soft Play Spaces Meet Certain Rules and Regulations?
Just like any other public space, there are multiple rules and regulations which soft play areas must meet. This is even more important for these settings due to the fact that children are interacting with the equipment, which means safety is of paramount importance. With parents admitting to spending an average of 37 hours per week worrying about their child’s safety, the importance of correctly assembling and maintaining soft play spaces is undeniable. This is why we always recommend that companies assess the accurate costs of setting up a soft play centre, as cutting corners can put children in vulnerable situations.
What Rules and Regulations Apply to Soft Play Areas?
The Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RSPA) offers full guidance for businesses in creating soft play spaces which meet all rules and regulations. This combines both their official recommendations for play structures and environments with the recommendations from The Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The guidelines that these regulations cover are EN 1176-10:2008 and The British Standard BS 8409: 2009. The Children Act 1989 is also a set of welfare guidelines which soft play owners should consider when creating safe spaces.
The rules and regulations included within these officially published materials that all soft play spaces are recommended to consider are as follows:
- Although the details outlined in these standards are not mandatory, they are used in the case of an accident if an enquiry is required. The RoSPA always carries out investigations using these standards so adhering with them as much as possible is advisable.
- All equipment must meet safety standards and have been sourced from official suppliers who have undertaken quality testing. Whether a soft play space is installed in a shopping centre or operates via a mobile service, top quality equipment is essential.
- When operating in a static building, all other health and safety business regulations must have been adhered to which included the following:
- Emergency equipment (Applicable standards include BS 5306-8, BS 5266-1, BS EN 1838 and BS 5395)
- Ventilation considerations (Applicable standards include BS 5720, BS 5925 and PD CR 1752)
- Lighting for both indoors and outdoor spaces (Applicable standards include BS 8206-1 and BS 8206-2)
- The rules from the BS 5852:1990, Section 4 relating to PVC covered foam equipment is also relevant for most soft play spaces as this is the most common finishing material for play items.
- All spaces must be regularly inspected and well maintained which includes cleaning and general repairs to equipment that may have experienced an issue. It’s advised that businesses keep track of all of these inspections and any repairs to equipment to cover themselves should any issues arise in the future. This is often a prerequisite of many insurance policies available to business owners, so close attention should be paid to the rules that certain companies must adhere to.
- Cleaning should also meet the top health and safety standards, ensuring any dirt or bodily matter is removed professionally. This should also include cleaning products suitable for use around young children as they are more sensitive to the effects of different chemical solutions.
- All staff must be properly trained and also have passed DBS checks proving they are safe to be around kids. Without this, companies are likely to be in breach of their insurance plus they are directly putting customers at risk.
- As there is a wider selection of ages likely to be using soft play spaces, every area also needs to be clearly marked as to who the equipment is suitable for. This should also be clearly separated to avoid any confusion and to allow the correct safety equipment to be installed to meet the needs of those particular childrens.
- The layout of a soft play space is also vital, as supervision must be available at all times. This means that when planning and installing equipment, considerations include not having any blind spots, proximity of equipment to safety equipment, and places for parents to sit down.
Aside From Following the Rules, What Other Steps Need to Be Taken to Ensure Safety?
Preparing the Areas
All soft play spaces should be initially set up to meet all safety standards. This includes anything from having height-appropriate supporting accessories to meeting the requirements of special needs children who may need padded rooms. Daily tasks should also be assigned to ensure the intended condition is still in place. The best time to do this is before opening, during the day (how often will depend on how busy the space is), and once the area is closed.
Sourcing Professional Soft Play Equipment
By selecting soft play equipment from a trusted supplier, adhering with the various rules and regulations is much easier to achieve. This is because the correct care and considerations have gone into producing play equipment intended to support all needs of children.
We offer a wide selection of equipment from nursery agility solutions and furniture to both multi-level and dual-level soft play areas. The benefit of using a professional supplier is that services such as installation and initial inspections can be better trusted to offer the finish ideal for keeping little ones safe at all times. This is also a benefit that can be marketed to parents as it shows that the soft play area can be trusted, which provides a competitive advantage.
Security of Spaces
Businesses must also ensure that soft play areas are secure at all times. This is to stop both little ones from wandering outside of the space and the wrong people from making their way inside. Considerations such as barrier entrances, pre-booking for slots and assigned visitor numbers are a great way of helping with this.
All buildings must contain secure entry systems, plus it is advisable to offer safe areas outside as, for most companies, this area is still included within their liability should any accidents occur.
What’s The Best Method of Remaining Up To Date With The Latest Rules and Regulations Impacting Soft Play Spaces?
By following the bodies recommended in this article, companies can remain clued up on any changes to the rules impacting soft place spaces. Another method is to be included within mailing lists for these organisations or trusted suppliers who also have a vested interest in ensuring equipment meets the latest regulations.
How Can Softplay Solutions Help?
After reading this article, you should feel more clued up on what rules and regulations are important to know about when managing soft play spaces. Our collection means any space, including businesses or home play areas, can be equipped with reliable solutions that kids will love.
We also offer a bespoke design and manufacturing service to ensure that even the most custom requests can be met. This doesn’t just give companies more control over their soft play equipment but helps businesses adhere even further to the rules and regulations shared in this blog. To make safe equipment accessible, we also offer a selection of finance solutions to suit a range of budgets.
