Playground Equipment
Requirements and information to assist schools in the design, installation and maintenance of playground equipment.
Yes – if your school has playground equipment.
All playground equipment design and installation should conform to the following standards:
- AS 4685.0:2017
- AS 4685:2014 (including Parts 1 – 6)
- AS 1428.1-2009
- AS 1428.2-1992
- AS/NZS 1428.4.1:2009
- AS 4422:2016.
The Victorian Government Department of Education and Training (Vic DET) provides the following advice to Government schools:
Only playground equipment items, which are in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards, may be erected in school grounds.
A full list of approved equipment items would be impractical, but for general guidance, the following have been approved:
- sandpits
- slides
- horizontal and vertical ladders
- horizontal bars
- gymnastic combinations
- jungle gymnasiums
- climbing nets and frames
- climbing ropes (fixed)
- track glides.
The following items of playground equipment are not approved for use in schools:
- seesaws
- swings (including log swings)
- maypoles (including climbing poles)
- merry-go-rounds
- roundabouts
- flying foxes.
All apparatus must be fixed unless specifically designed to be portable (e.g. A frames).
Vic DET also provides advice for Government schools regarding footings, heights and soft-fall conditions.
Suppliers should provide written confirmation that the playground equipment and its installation meet the requirements of the Australian Standards.
All playground equipment should be inspected weekly and repairs and maintenance acted upon in accordance with the school’s maintenance provision. Particular attention needs to be given to the under surfacing beneath and around the playground equipment.
There is the possibility of legal action against the school in the event of an injury.
Peter Roberts
Director, School Services
Ph. 03 9825 7211
peter.roberts@is.vic.edu.au
Kieren Noonan
Head of Innovation
Ph. 03 9825 7275
kieren.noonan@is.vic.edu.au
- Vic DET: School Policy and Advisory Guide – School Site Safety
- Vic DET: School Policy and Advisory Guide – Supervision and Access
- Vic DET: School Policy and Advisory Guide – Duty of Care
- Play Australia
- Standards Australia
Playgrounds and Recreation Association of Victoria
P: (03) 8846 4111
F: (03) 8846 4110
E: info@playaustralia.org.au
W: www.playaustralia.org.au