Play
Slides
What are Playground Slides?
Commercial playground slides are just one of the many popular playground activities. No matter their age, children love a good playground slide! When visiting a playground, the slide is often the activity they run to first and demand a final ride before heading home – "Just one more time, please!" A commercial slide is available in three versions: a freestanding slide, a slide attached to a playground structure or an embankment.
The main difference between a traditional home slide and a commercial slide is that residential slides are for private use, and commercial slides are for public use. Public slides require stringent safety standards and certifications compliant with national legislation.
Click below to see the different types of slides and get sliding!
Explore our products
Explore your options
Need tips for planning a playground?
Get in touch with us today
Please fill in your contact details and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Benefits of playground slides
Commercial playground slides are a thrill rush and contribute to motor-skill development. It's a piece of classic freestanding playground equipment loved by kids everywhere. When in doubt: A slide is a safe choice with a 'fun-factor' guarantee. No matter the design, slide playground equipment intrigues and challenges children. When climbing a playground slide, children train and improve agility, balance, coordination, and spatial awareness when shooting down: all necessary skills when judging distance and navigating safely in traffic.
Slides for playgrounds require younger children to anticipate cause and effect and manage rhythms. The height and length of playground slides train children's judgement of distance and speed. All these cognitive abilities are crucial developmental skills to require through childhood and can be learned by sliding in a fun playground. Sliding also encourages the development of social skills and is a great way to be with peers playing and practicing taking turns when sliding down.
Durable construction for long-lasting play
Working with playground equipment for nearly 50 years has allowed us to take the quality of our equipment to the next level. Our slides are durable constructions available in three different materials: moulded on piece PE slides, Combined EcoCore™ sides and stainless-steel slide or full stainless steel, all with longevity and long warranty in mind. As a manufacturer, we are CPSC-certified, which tells you that our slides comply with safety guidelines. You can also read more about our industry-leading warranties on the different types of slides, as warranties differ from material to material.
Customisable slides for a unique playground experience
Slide chutes come in many different shapes, materials and colours. They can be curved, straight, spiral or tunnel and are made from either bright and vibrant composite, PE or stainless steel. Our commercial freestanding playground slides are straight and vary in height and width. Moreover, they are truly customisable, so choosing colours, material combinations, and side panels is totally up to you.
Embanked slides are ideal for reducing the risk of falling. The play advantage of an embankment slide is the interaction that can occur with friends when going down the same hill as friends running or climbing up or down. Our range of embankment slides also come in curved and long versions.
Like seesaw playgrounds and classic swings, the slide is an original yet essential part of any playground. Are you interested in more playground equipment? Check out our rope climbing play equipment too!
How to choose the right slide for a commercial playground?
Slides are a classic playground structure, and when looking into finding the perfect slide for your playground, here are some factors to consider when selecting commercial playground slides:
Materials
Composite, PE and stainless steel are the most common materials used for commercial-grade slides. All materials have pros and cons. However, they are all equally safe and durable. A metal playground slide generates more speed and will stand up to the test of time but will often get heated during the midday sun.A PE slide is a little slower, does not conduct heat to the same degree as metal, and is more likely to attract younger children with its vibrant and vivid colours. To sum up, it's up to you whether you are going for a metal or PE commercial playground slide.
Size and Age-group
Choosing the right size of playground slide for your project depends on the user; this may also be the answer to choosing the right material. A tall slide is often more likely to generate attraction for school-agers, whereas shorter slides are more suitable for younger children and toddlers.
Style and Colour
Often style and colour choices also depend on the user group. However, the location may also have a say in the chosen aesthetic. Choose colours that appeal to the age group, the play area's surroundings, and other playground equipment. Is your playground in an urban neighbourhood or a green area? This may also impact your style and colour choice. Maybe you already have a themed playground with an existing colour palette; in this case,a slide colour that matches and complements the other playground equipment is a great idea.
So, what other elements to feature to make the playground even better? Your public playground can cater for many hours of fun when paired with other freestanding equipment, such as swings, springers and seesaws.
Cost
Cost considerations are important when choosing a freestanding slide for your public playground. Your slide's materials, shape and size will impact the cost, but try to see choosing high-quality playground equipment as an investment. A stainless-steelslide option is a more costly affair, but in the long run,higher prices often indicate higher quality hence longevity. Regarding safety for all users of your playground, spending more money on a product to ensure safety regulations are compliant is the best investment for everybody.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I replace the slides on an existing playground?
If you want to replace existing freestanding playground equipment, such as a slide, that is no problem. The existing playground slide can be replaced by us even if your slide was bought and installed by another manufacturer.
2. Can the slides be customised?
Yes. Our slide assortment offers excellent flexibility and many options for customisation. Side panels, colours, materials and the chute's shape, width and length are customisable.
3. How much space do I need for commercial playground slides?
Playgrounds with public access must have properly spaced equipment and fall heights to ensure safety. The use zone surrounding a slide should be a minimum of 1900mm. Please consult your local sales rep or installation instructions for the proper use zone measurements for freestanding play equipment.
4. What are the safety considerations when installing slides?
All commercial freestanding playground equipment must be installed according to stringent safety regulations and with proper use or safety zones in place around the equipment. Do not hesitate to contact your local sales consultant for more information on safety considerations when installing slides.
5. Do I need to install the slides myself?
You don't have to install the slides yourself; at KOMPAN, we work with professional installers to take the burden off your shoulders. Please chat with your local sales consultant about our installation services and get a free quote.