Design a Maintenance Plan
Start by designing a maintenance plan for your playground. Make sure to fit the schedule around your operating hours to reduce the impact on your customers. For instance, if you have seasonal operations, conduct major inspections and repairs during the offseason.
When you design your maintenance plan, make sure to write it down and inform your team about the procedures. You should also make sure everyone is aware of their responsibilities in keeping up the play area. For daily equipment checks, workers need to know what signs to look for that indicate a need for repairs.
Consult the owner’s manual for your playground equipment for recommended checks and inspections of the structures and parts.
Schedule Annual Inspections
Set up annual inspections of your play equipment. Choose a professional service provider in your area to conduct these inspections instead of using your staff. An expert in indoor play structures will have the training needed to identify issues that most people may miss. Plus, if the inspector finds an issue, they can set up a time to make repairs or part replacements.
Through annual inspections, you can ensure that the integrity of your indoor playground is sound. These inspections can help you find and fix minor problems before they become bigger, more costly issues. When you catch these concerns early, you can take care of them quickly so your visitors can keep enjoying the play area.
Check Equipment Daily
Don’t rely only on annual inspections alone to make sure your equipment is in great shape. Train workers to conduct daily checks of the equipment before opening and after closing. Create a checklist for your team to follow to ensure they look for common minor issues like the following:
● Unclean surfaces
● Exposed metals
● Cracks in surfaces
● Rust
● Damaged nets
● Vandalism
● Excessive wear and tear
● Tripping hazards
● Litter
Make sure employees know that they need to correct any minor issues they find right away. If a quick fix isn’t possible, they’ll need to flag components for repair and close that section of the play area. Have clear procedures in place for these situations so everyone is on the same page.
Conduct Thorough Exams of Equipment Every Month
While daily checks are important, some parts of the playground hide beneath coverings. Once a month, check the connections, nuts, bolts and other couplings on the playground. Verify that all parts are connected properly, including slides and nets.
If possible, have two workers conduct these monthly inspections so they can verify each other’s work. Alternatively, you might request an individual to check the area twice. It’s important to be as thorough as possible.
Train Workers to Look For Signs of Wear or Damage
Workers who aren’t in charge of conducting daily or monthly checks of the equipment should still know signs of wear and problems to look out for. They may have a customer bring a problem to their attention or identify an issue themselves during their shift. The more eyes you have on your indoor playground equipment, the greater the chances are that you can find issues at their earliest stages.
Proper training for your whole team will also make it easier to change workers’ duties as needed.
Keep Records of All Inspections and Repairs
Maintain records of all inspections and repairs, including copies of daily checklists for your indoor playground. These records will demonstrate that you’re putting your best effort into maintaining your play equipment and keeping it clean.
With thorough records, you can also verify the last time that you repaired equipment. Compare this information to repair or replacement intervals suggested by the manufacturer to maintain optimum integrity.
Have Signage Prepared for When You Need to Close the Indoor Play Area
Always be prepared to close off portions of the play area or the entire playground if you find a problem that requires repair or immediate cleaning. Having signage ready will make the process faster and easier. Plus, with the signage, you can demonstrate that your facility is putting a priority on the health and well-being of your customers and their kids. Your signs can also indicate that you’re working hard to get the play area back open as quickly as possible.
When you need to close the play area, keep workers nearby to watch the area and prevent kids too young to read the signs from using the equipment. These employees will also provide valuable customer service by gently explaining the situation to parents and reassuring them that the play space will reopen once cleaned or repaired.
Verify All Repairs against The Manufacturer’s Recommendations
When conducting any repairs to your indoor playground, always verify that the methods adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you want to ensure that your equipment has the best care, contact your local distributor for information about nearby service providers. Local service providers can set up regular checks and inspections of the indoor playground to ensure it’s in great shape.
You should also get all replacement parts directly from the manufacturer to ensure a proper fit and compatibility — especially if your play equipment comes with a warranty. If you don’t know the names of the parts you need, you can send a picture to the company to get help with getting a replacement.
Know Your Product’s Warranty
Many indoor playgrounds have warranties to cover their construction and installation. Keep a copy of this warranty and mark its expiration date on your calendar. If you have any issues with your playground that might fall under the warranty, contact the manufacturer for more information on repairs or replacements. You could save money on the repairs. The only way to know is by reading and understanding what your indoor playground’s coverage is.