Playground Equipment and Structures for Children

Essential Playground Safety Features

One of the main differences between residential and commercial playground equipment is safety features.

Commercial playground equipment must adhere to stringent safety regulations and guidelines set by organisations in your local area. It includes protective barriers, impact-absorbing surfacing, and age-appropriate play zones. We also focus on proper zoning in the planning so children can focus on socialising and creating fun memories. At the same time, parents can rest assured their little ones are always protected.

Here are some other essential aspects where commercial and residential playground equipment differ:

Durability and Construction

Commercial outdoor playground equipment is built to withstand heavy use and meet strict safety standards. Commercial play equipment is constructed with commercial-grade materials such as galvanised steel, sturdy plastics, and weather-resistant coatings to ensure durability and longevity. Only the highest quality materials are chosen to guarantee limited maintenance in kindergartens, schools, parks, housing areas, shopping and retail areas and restaurants.

Playground Installation and Maintenance

Commercial playground equipment often requires professional installation and regular playground inspections to ensure compliance with safety standards. Playground maintenance is typically carried out by dedicated and skilled personnel. In contrast, private homeowners can install residential playground equipment and may require less frequent maintenance, although periodic inspections and upkeep are still recommended.

Playground Cost

Professional playground equipment tends to be more expensive than residential equipment due to its larger size, higher quality materials, and safety standards compliance. It is designed to withstand heavy use and frequent maintenance, contributing to the higher cost.

Types of Playground Equipment

There are so many choices to make when designing or updating a playground.

Which style? Should it have a theme? Who is the target user group? Is there more than one? What capacity is needed? Should I focus on certain play activities? What is the budget? Maybe you are looking for a natural playground?

These are just a few questions that influence how you choose your specific playground. And with more than a thousand products to choose from, we don't blame you. Here are some ideas to spark your imagination:

Classic Play Equipment

Classic play equipment refers to stand-alone play equipment such as slides, seesaws, swing sets, and springers. These stand-alone pieces add fun to smaller playgrounds at a minimal cost. They are also perfect as add-ons when updating your current play space. In our assortment, you can choose between single-user playground equipment or multi-user play structures in different styles, themes, materials, and colours - all at different price levels.

Preconfigured Play Systems

Prebuilt playsets are the perfect way to get the most out of your space. With many play activities gathered in one place, one solution can accommodate hours of play. Our Play Systems range includes multifunctional playground equipment that can take many shapes and purposes, and many children can play on them simultaneously.

Rope Climbing Playgrounds

Large rope net climbers are packed with play activities that benefit children's physical, social-emotional and cognitive developmental skills. Research suggests that climbing structures prompt physical activity in tweens. Both tween boys and especially girls love to climb—the more spaces to hang out on the actual climbing structure, the better. If you want to maximise use, placing the climbing structure in a separate area from the main playground is the way to activate tweens.

Wooden Nature Play Playgrounds

Connecting with nature awakens children's instinct to play and explore. A natural playground has many benefits; our nature-inspired playgrounds give children a play environment with room to do what children do best – play and explore. Nature-inspired playgrounds are also a way to bring nature into urban environments. 

Sport and Fitness Playgrounds

Establishing a healthy exercise foundation early on is critical to improving children's overall health. Children need physical activity to build strength, coordination, balance, and outdoor fitness equipment helps develop essential motor skills and promote strength and agility. Children are still attracted to playgrounds as they age, especially if the challenging fitness equipment play structures are placed away from play areas with younger kids. Multi Use Games Areas are perfect for schools and community centres because they satisfy the demand for various sports and games.

Custom Playground Equipment

Most of our products are configurable on our website so that you can change size, accessibility and play activities. Suppose you have a unique idea for a custom product that can't be made from our configurator. In that case, we have a dedicated team at the KOMPAN Design Studio that can help your vision come to life in a customised playground solution. KOMPAN Design Studio is a team of highly experienced designers, architects and engineers. They aim to create unique, personalised playground equipment, making your design dreams come true.

Not sure where to begin? Our playground equipment specialists are here to guide you in the right direction. They are also available to offer advice based on your requirements to help ensure your success in creating the best possible playground for your community.

What to Consider When Choosing Playground Equipment?

First of all, you need to define the identifying goals of your designated playground. Considering the specific age groups, needs and interests of the intended playground users. Also, planning your budget early on can be helpful as budget is a decisive factor. Then you are already a couple of steps closer to choosing the right playground equipment. A thorough evaluation of your location and terrain is also essential, ensuring your safety features and standards are in place. Look for ongoing support and services needed and see if funding or grants are available in your area. To learn more about playground planning, download our Playground Planning Checklist.

Why choose us

KOMPAN has been at the forefront of innovative manufacturing of commercial playground equipment for more than 50 years. It all started with the work of an artist, Tom Lindhardt, and since then, architects and industrial designers have worked creatively to invent unique designs used in playgrounds worldwide. From the beginning, there was great attention to the playground equipment users – the kids. Child development experts were added to the KOMPAN team to help collaborate with designers, integrating feedback from children into the product development process.

KOMPAN Play Institute is our in-house research centre that collects data on our products and how children flourish through play. Exceptional playground equipment can assist a child in every step of their development process, pushing their physical limits and sparking creativity while developing cognitive and social interaction skills. Our offerings, from the standard range to our custom products, are designed with the KOMPAN Play Institute's research in mind, always ensuring evidence-based, functional quality. Therefore, we specialise in inclusive playground planning and developing accessible play equipment.

Our extensive research has set new global standards for ways to play and innovating new play equipment for children of all abilities.

Enhance Your Play Space

A new play structure can be all the children need, but consider your site's overall look and utility. We want parents and children to stay and have fun for as long as possible. Therefore, parents need somewhere to hang out while the kids are playing, and now and then, the children also need to take a break and retreat for a cool drink and a snack. That is why creating a truly recreational outdoor activity space should involve outdoor furniture, picnic tables, benches, and shading. Our commercial playground shade structures are the ideal solution.

Planning, buying and installing a new playground is exciting and overwhelming. To help guide you during the process, we offer free design consultation and support at every step of your journey - click here to get in touch with us.