FAQS
Your Questions, Answered
Frequently asked questions FAQ’s
“What is your company’s purpose?”
The Nordic Playground Institute (NPGI) was established to provide the playground industry with a means of certifying products and people. Our mission includes placing children’s motor skills development on the agenda for playground developers and owners worldwide.
We focus on:
- Impartial inspections: Ensuring the safety and compliance of playground equipment.
- Consultancy services: Offering expert advice to playground developers, designers, owners, customers and authorities.
- Certification: Certifying both products and staff to maintain high safety standards.
Our work helps ensure that playgrounds are safe and beneficial for children’s physical development both physical and mental.
“Is the Nordic Playground Institute (NPGI) ISO 9001 certified?”
“What services do you offer?”
“Where are you located?”
“Should the playground be inspected every year?”
“Do playground inspectors have to be Certified to inspect playgrounds?”
“Why should playgrounds inspections be carried out?”
- To ensure the long-term safety of the playground
- To meet legal and insurance responsibilities
- To comply with the European Playground Standard (BS EN1176)
“Are there requirements for testing of fall protection surfaces?”
“Do playgrounds need a certification?”
Yes, a Playground certification is needed before it can be sold and after it is installed.
- Product Certification: Products are certified at the manufacturers premises so they can be sold as compliant with the standard BS EN1176
- Post-installation inspections: Post-installation playground inspections by are crucial because they verify that a newly installed playground has been built and assembled correctly, meeting safety standards, and ensuring there are no potential hazards for children by checking for issues like improper installation, missing parts, incorrect surfacing depth, or any other defects that could compromise the play area’s safety, even if the equipment itself is certified; essentially acting as a vital part of a risk assessment to guarantee the playground is fit for use. This is why an independent inspection, post install is crucial as they ensure the installers/supplier adhere to the standards giving the customer what they have paid for.
“Is Playground safety important?”
Playgrounds and outdoor play equipment offer kids fresh air, friends, fun, and exercise. But it’s important to make sure that faulty equipment, improper surfaces, and unsafe behaviour don’t ruin the fun. Each year, more than 200,000 kids are treated in hospital ERs for playground-related injuries
“What is BS EN 1177?”
“What is standard BS EN 1176?”
BS EN 1176 was developed by experts from the UK and across Europe and is used in all major European countries. BS EN 1176 only covers play equipment and surfacing in public play areas, such as local authority parks, schools, pubs, holiday parks and shopping outlets.
The Nordic Playground Institute (NPGI) was established to provide the playground industry with a means of certifying products and people. Our mission includes placing children’s motor skills development on the agenda for playground developers and owners worldwide.
“What does standard BS EN 1176 cover?”
- Equipment: Playground equipment, fencing, and gates
- Surfacing: Impact-attenuating surfaces
- Installation: How to install equipment safely and in accordance with national building regulations
- Maintenance: How to maintain equipment and establish a maintenance and inspection regime
- Safety: How to establish a safety system and ensure that unsafe equipment and areas are not accessible
“Why is BS EN 1176 important?”
- It helps to create safe spaces for children to play
- It helps to reduce the risk of accidents
- It promotes activities that can help children develop skills that will help them cope outside of the playground
“Do only playgrounds need to be safety assessed?”
“When is the playground private?”
“Do you have to use RoSPA to inspect playgrounds in the UK?”
No, you don’t have to use RoSPA to inspect playgrounds in the UK, but they are one organisation that can perform inspections. Other organisations that can perform inspections include:
- Insurance companies
- Playground equipment manufacturers
- Commercial companies, such as the Nordic Playground Institute (NPGI)
“What Standards can Nordic Playground Institute Inspectors, inspect and certify?”
EN 1176-1 Playground equipment and surfacing – General safety measures and tests
EN 1176-2 Swings – Additional safety measures and testing methods
EN 1176-3 Slides – Additional safety measures and testing methods
EN 1176-4 Cableways – Additional safety measures and testing methods
EN 1176-5 Carousels – Additional safety measures and testing methods
EN 1176-6 Rocking equipment – Additional safety measures and testing
EN 1176-7 Guidance on maintenance, inspection, and operation
EN 1176-10 Fully enclosed playground equipment – Additional measures
EN 1176-11 3-dimensional climbing structures – Additional safety measures
EN 1177 Impact attenuating playground surfacing
EN 13219 Gymnastic equipment – Trampolines
EN 14960-1 Inflatable play equipment – Bouncing castles
EN 14960-2 Inflatable play equipment – Bouncing pillows
EN 14960-3 Inflatable play equipment – Snappies
EN 14974 Skateparks – Safety measures
EN 15312 Free access multi-sports equipment
EN 16630 Permanently installed outdoor fitness equipment
EN 16899 Sports and recreational equipment – Parkour
“Does NPGI UK subscribe to the UN Goals?”
Goal No. 3: We will ensure a healthy life for everyone and promote well-being for all age groups. We are working purposefully to increase focus on better motor challenges and motor development in children and young people, and thereby help more people in the target group experience the joy of movement and thus play for health and well-being.
Goal No. 4: We will ensure equal access to quality education and promote everyone’s opportunities for lifelong learning. At the institute, it is important that our employees are always competent to perform their tasks in the best possible way, which is why we constantly upgrade their education and skills so that we are always at the forefront and thus help increase focus on better and greater motor challenges and motor development.
Goal 5: We will achieve gender equality and empower women and girls. We will ensure that women in the workplace have the opportunity to participate on an equal footing with men in decision-making. Women must be guaranteed full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels.
- Certified inspector
- Playground safety
- Playground inspection
- Playground inspector
- Independent inspection
- Annual playground inspection
- bsen1176
- bsen1177
- playground certification
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