Are there guidelines to follow when adding to or building a play system?
Currently there are no governed or legal guidelines for residential construction or parts. Typically these parts are not tested for weight ratings or other specifications because it is not required by law. Nor is it a requirement for manufacturers of residential playground parts to provide specifications of the products manufactured and sold. However, many manufacturers state that residential products CANNOT be used for any commercial application, and should only be used in residential applications for children under the age of 13. And, although there are no legal guidelines for residential play equipment, there are several good publications and websites available that will provide general “do’s and don’ts” for building residential play sets. There are several governmental agencies that provide and enforce guidelines and laws for commercial play equipment. Among these agencies are the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPE
