Guide to BS EN 1176 & BS EN 1177 – Children's Playground Equipment and Surfacing


As long ago as 1959, our playground equipment of the time carried the British Standard Kitemark to BS 3178. This Safety Standard evolved from BS 3178 to BS 5696 and then to the current BS EN 1176 and BS EN 1177. Mclays' parent company, Wicksteed Leisure, has technical personnel who have always been heavily involved in the formulation of the Safety Standards of the day and Wicksteed is still represented today on the European Standards Committee.

Wicksteed wanted to share this expertise with customers therefore they have co-written, with Peter Heseltine, of The Play Inspection Company An Essential Guide to BS EN 1176 and BS EN 1177 - Children's Playground Equipment and Surfacing. Wicksteed has also sponsored the Guide's publication by The Play Inspection Company in association with ILAM (Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management). The Guide includes changes agreed or proposed for the end of 2005.


Copies of the Guide are available from Mclays and it is also downloadable here. We hope this publication will help you find your way around these Safety Standards, in order to fulfil your responsibilities as a playground provider.

Click here to download pdfs of our Guide to BS EN 1176 & BS EN 1177