If your children are very young, consider swing sets that can be added onto easily and grow with your children. Younger children using equipment designed for older kids is the leading cause of playground and swing set accidents. Additionally, having a component on your swing set such as a rock wall or cargo net that won’t be used for a few years exposes the equipment to the elements needlessly.
Avoid swing sets that combine the swing crossbeam (the bar that the swings hang from) and monkey bars (overhead ladder). Common sense tells us that children negotiating monkey bars fall, and falling on a swing or, worse, on a child on a swing is a hazard we can avoid. Additionally, swing crossbeams are 7-9 feet high, which is much too high for monkey bars. Monkey bars should be 6-7 feet high and should stand alone.
If you are considering a swing set with a fort, make sure there is at least one easy way for children to access the fort. An easy access can be a gently sloped ramp, a ladder that is angled and has a backing to prevent feet from slipping through, or simple steps. This makes it safer for children to have lunch in the fort or bring up a juice box, and easier for you if you want to be in the fort with your children.
Another consideration is the height of the fort itself. Fort height is determined by the type of slide you choose. The majority of residential swing sets have 10-foot-long slides, requiring a 5-foot-high deck or fort. A 5-foot deck height is more appropriate for younger children and makes it easier to supervise them. There are commercially available slides up to 14 feet long (we have made custom slides 24 feet long) requiring 7-foot-high decks, which make reaching in to help or retrieve children impossible from the ground.
Placement of the slide in relation to other accessories is also an important safety concern. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines for playground safety specify that “Nothing shall be within four feet of either side or six feet in front of a slide.” This means you should avoid swing set designs that put a ramp or ladder next to the slide. The slide should have a side of the fort to itself.
As for swing separation, the CPSC recommends swings be a minimum of 22 inches apart. Many swing sets have four swings in a space where only three safely fit, and I have seen some that space swings 9 inches apart. When it comes to how many swings should be on your swing set, less is definitely more.
The end of the swing frame not connected to the fort should be securely anchored in concrete.
Finally, all hardware should be recessed or flush with the surrounding material, whether wood, metal or plastic, to prevent a sharp point being exposed and clothing from catching.
Where to place the swing set
Assuming there are multiple places in your yard that are level enough, the prime concern with placement is safety. The space in which you place the swing set should be free from rocks and exposed tree roots. If there are large trees in the area, have your landscaper trim the dead and almost dead branches.
Make sure the area is fenced in if it is near a road, stream or pond.
The other primary placement consideration is visibility from the house. This becomes more important as children grow older and begin to play without adult supervision. I have found most of my customers are comfortable if the swing set is visible from the kitchen or family room.
For those who have no level sites and have been told you cannot have a swing set, custom swing sets are the answer. A custom set can incorporate the landscape into the structure or simply create a swing set that is level and safe even if your yard is not. I have seen many swing sets installed on uneven ground without being leveled. This is dangerous and unacceptable.
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