5 Things Every Buyer Must Check Before Importing Soft Play Equipment

While importing soft play equipment can be a great way to expand or start an indoor playground business, making the wrong choice in supplier or in the product can come with some really expensive consequences. Many buyers just look at the price and neglect to consider other factors that would impact safety, durability and installation. While it might be tempting to have a lower upfront cost, anything from hidden fees, delays, or quality problems can shorten your profit margin. Before ordering, it is essential to verify a few crucial aspects that will help to secure your investment and provide a better experience for operators and children. When buying Soft playground indoor equipment, here are five things that every buyer should consider.

EN1176 & ASTM Certification Documents

It is important for all buyers to look for products that comply with recognized safety standards as one of the first things to check when importing soft play equipment. The two most prevalent standards in the playground business are EN1176 and ASTM. These standards are designed to ensure that Soft play equipment is designed and tested with children's safety in mind.Many first time buyers are deceived into thinking that products from the supplier are certified based on their verbal promise. Rather, ensure that the certification documents are always provided prior to ordering. Read through the certificates thoroughly. Make sure all of the company's name, product information, testing body, and certification period are prominently displayed.One real life scenario was for an indoor playground owner who imported equipment from a supplier on the basis of product photos and a supplier's claims. Upon arrival, local authorities asked for the facility's safety documents before allowing it to operate. The buyer later found out that the certificates supplied were incorrect and were not applicable to the equipment bought. This resulted in delays, further testing and a later opening date.It is also a good idea to ask for test reports in addition to certificates. Test reports will generally be more detailed as regards the materials used, the strength of the structure, and the safety testing which was carried out in the testing process.If there is any document that appears to be unclear, contact the testing laboratory that has been indicated on the certificate and verify the authenticity of the document. Reputable suppliers will typically be happy to supply supporting documentation, and will respond to questions about compliance requirements.Remember that even if a product is certified, it may not be quite as good as one without a certification, but it does indicate that the equipment is tested against a known standard for safety. It may be a little extra time to read these documents before ordering, but doing so could save you some money down the road and make you feel better about the products you're importing.

Fire Safety Rating of Foam and Vinyl Materials

The role of soft play equipment is to provide a fun and safe area for children to play, but safety is not just physical. Purchasing this type of play structure, buyers should also take great notice of the fire safety performance of the foam and vinyl materials that are used on the entire play structure.On a cursory look, two products might seem identical. The colors, design, and look may be very alike. The quality of the materials are not visible. The lower quality foam and vinyl will not meet the fire safety standards and can present a significant hazard in the event of a fire.Prior to ordering, request fire safety test reports and material specifications from the supplier. These documents should display the results of the foam and vinyl's fire resistance testing. Be careful not to go by marketing brochures or product descriptions only. A written report from a recognized testing laboratory will give more confidence.A practical application is the fire inspectors inspecting materials in a building prior to the approval of operation in a shopping mall or family entertainment center. Unexpected delays have occurred for some operators due to imported equipment not having fire safety documentation. In a few cases, portions of play areas needed to be replaced incurring extra costs that could have been avoided when purchasing the equipment.It is also recommended to ask suppliers about their suppliers of foam and vinyl materials. Good manufacturers would normally have no problem identifying the materials used in their product and the testing methods to which the product is subjected. Good manufacturers are able to clearly explain why the product satisfies the safety standard and can produce documentation as required.It may be important to know that if prices are being compared, the cheaper one will most probably be made of cheaper materials. It might look like a good idea to buy cheaper materials, but later they will cost a lot to replace parts which are non-compliant.Ensuring that the fire safety rating is confirmed before the imported soft play equipment enters the country can reduce risk of fire; satisfy regulation and ensure the equipment poses no risks to children, staff, or visitors.

Spare Parts Availability and Repair Lead Time

Even the most durable soft play toys will need to be replaced after time. Foam padding may be damaged, netting may have to be replaced, and protective covers or other parts that are used a lot like slides, climbing elements, etc. may become worn and need repairs. When purchasing equipment, it is important to learn what kind of spare parts are available for the item purchased and how long it will take for the parts to be delivered.Many buyers are only interested in the first purchase and don't consider what goes after installation. This can be an issue if a damaged component has to be taken down and replaced parts are not available, leaving part of a Soft foam playground closed to use. If repairs are several weeks or months away, this small problem can have a major impact on the customer experience and daily revenue.If you are talking to a supplier about buying something, ask them what the most often replaced parts are and if they have them available. Also it is advisable to inquire about average production and shipment time for replacement parts. Some manufacturers can deliver spares within days, others may have to wait for several weeks before they can be manufactured and sent out.A heavy use area of protective netting was damaged at an indoor playground, for instance. The supplier had a stock of replacement parts and the new netting was delivered promptly with a minimum of disruption for the repair. A custom replacement panel was replaced after a wait of over 2 months for another operator using a different supplier, resulting in part of the play area remaining closed during a very busy season.Another good idea is to order a small box of key spare parts along with your main shipment. Components such as connectors, screws, netting panels, foam covers and vinyl skins can cost very little compared to the expenses associated with later emergency express air freight.When you determine which of these spare parts you need before you sign a contract, you can prepare for future maintenance, keep down time to a minimum and maintain the smooth operation of your play structures. Sometimes the after sales support of a supplier can be equally important as the quality of the play structure itself.