Monkey bar frames are a favoured feature in plenty of gardens, with countless reasons why monkey bars are a popular choice for families across the UK.
These include a wide range of child development benefits, from improving physical strength and hand-eye coordination to self-confidence and problem-solving skills.
Whatever your reason may be for installing monkey bars for your children, creating a safe play environment is essential at all times.
But how do you know when monkey bars need replacing?
If your children play on the monkey bar frame almost every day and you aren’t sure when you’ll need to invest in new monkey bars, take a look at our guide below.
These 12 signs are the red flags you should look out for, letting you know when it’s time to replace old and unsafe play equipment with a reliable new frame.
Signs of wear and tear
It can be easy to spot playground equipment that isn’t safe for use if there are visible signs of wear and tear that have damaged parts of the structure.
You should visually inspect the entire play frame for problems such as:
1) Splinters and cracks
If wooden components are splintering or cracking, these are obvious hazards that could lead to children getting splinters or the damaged parts breaking under a child’s weight.
All beams and bars should have mostly smooth and even surfaces, with no chips or cracks that could worsen over time and catch on a child’s skin, hair, or clothes.
2) Sharp edges or corners
Similarly, there should be no exposed corners or sharp edges that could cause scrapes or cuts. Any protruding hardware should usually have protective coverings.
If there are pointy parts of the structure that have been exposed due to missing covers, or a surface wearing down unevenly has created a jagged edge, this can also injure kids.
3) Increased hand injuries
If children are experiencing more frequent injuries after playing on the monkey bars, there is clearly something wrong, and everyone should stop using the play frame.
If a child experiences abrasions on their hands or legs, or their hair or clothes get caught on parts of the structure, you should keep them away from it until the issue is fixed.
Signs Of Weather Damage
Some signs of wear and tear are the result of constant weather exposure throughout multiple seasons, as well as general wear over several years of regular use.
So, you should also check the structure for signs of weathering, including:
4) Worn and faded surfaces
Gradually, UV rays from the sun and exposure to wind and rain can cause plastic, metal, and wooden parts to fade and even become warped, posing safety risks to users.
Fading colours and peeling paint can affect its appearance, but degraded surfaces can become too slippery or too rough, affecting the functionality of the play frame.
5) Moisture damage
The weather in the UK is known to deliver plenty of rain at any time of year, so all outdoor play equipment must be able to withstand moisture from rain and snow.
Prolonged exposure to humid conditions or moisture build-ups can cause metal to rust and wood to rot, leading to mould and mildew, which can cause health problems.
6) Rust and corrosion
Most play structures will be made from a mix of materials, with frames often made from wood and bars or ladders made from metal rungs, which may corrode over time.
Moisture or exposure to inappropriate cleaning chemicals or treatments can damage these parts, rusting metal and eroding wood or plastic to create unsafe surfaces.
Signs Of Structural Instability
One of the most significant signs that a monkey bar frame is no longer safe to play on is an unstable structure, which could cause load-bearing parts to fail.
Whenever a child wants to play on the monkey bars, you should test them for:
7) Wobbling structure
If any part of the structure wobbles or shakes when pushed or pulled, it won’t be safe for anyone to climb and swing on it with their full weight – even a small child.
You should check that the supports are securely anchored to the ground, then also look for signs of erosion and warping of the beams and bars that could make them unsteady.
8) Loose or missing bolts
A common explanation for wobbling or shifting structures is loose bolts. Under the pressures of use, screws and bolts can slowly become loose and may even fall out.
Loosened or missing bolts and screws will compromise the safety of the frame, as they should all be tightly secured in place to keep the structure from shifting around.
9) Damaged or failing welds
Alongside loose connecting hardware, parts of the monkey bar frame can eventually become unstable if welded joints or sealed nuts and bolts are weakened.
If the welding that holds the bars in place is cracking or the bars are bending away from the connection points, the bars won’t be able to withstand the stresses of use.
Signs Of Unsuitable Equipment
As with any type of play equipment, monkey bar frames will become more prone to damage the older they get, as they experience more wear and tear over time.
When inspecting the monkey bars for safety, you should consider factors like:
10) Equipment lifespan
Whether you’ve found that your monkey bar structure is cracking, rusted, or has loose or missing parts, a common source of these issues is simply the age of the equipment.
The older the frame, the sooner it will need to be replaced. The average lifespan of play frame equipment is around 10 years, depending on how well you maintain it.
11) Size and spacing
The layout of the play equipment and its surroundings also affect the safety and suitability of the monkey bar frame for anyone who wants to play on it.
All parts of the frame should stay correctly positioned and secured, with a shock-absorbent surface below and no obstacles within a radius of several feet.
12) Age appropriateness
In addition to the age of the equipment itself, you need to consider the age of the children using it compared to the age range it was designed for by the manufacturer.
If the structure isn’t the right height or can’t hold the weight of your child in their current size and age range, then it could be time to upgrade your monkey bars.
Replace Old Monkey Bars To Maintain Safety
Have you discovered any of these signs of monkey bar problems in your own garden?
Monkey bars are designed to be fun, but the importance of safety cannot be overstated. So, if you carry out regular inspections and find that your child’s play equipment no longer meets safety standards, unfortunately, it may be time to get rid of it.
Not to worry, though – if your old monkey bars can’t be repaired, or simply installing new ones would give you more peace of mind, it’s easy to find a robust new frame.
There are several leading manufacturers of monkey bars for young children and teens, such as Plum, Creative Playthings, and BERG. Durable products from all of these brands are available from reliable UK suppliers like Wicken Toys.
Even better, if you want to test out different monkey bars in person before making a decision, you can take a family trip to the Wicken Toys display site in Milton Keynes!