We also call the PumpTrack the ultimate urban playground. Playground equipment must legally meet certain (safety) standards. That is why all our asphalt pump tracks are certified. Not only for safety, but also to guarantee the playing value of the PumpTracks. In this blog we explain to you how the certification (inspection) of a PumpTrack works and also what is required annually to maintenance and inspections.
When certifying sports and/or play equipment, a decision must be made in advance as to whether the equipment will be used for sports OR play. This is an important difference because playground equipment in the Netherlands must always comply with the Commodities Act Decree on Attraction and Playground Equipment (WAS). This law relates to the safety of playground equipment in public spaces. Because the WAS has strict standards, it is quite complicated to get playground equipment certified. In the Netherlands there are two inspection bodies for this: TUV Netherlands & Quality mark institute.
Play equipment:
Based on the Velosolutions mission to get as many people as possible to exercise (in an accessible way), we clearly see PumpTracks as a playground equipment, because the track is used by a very broad target group.
can be achieved and no one is excluded. From children on balance bikes and scooters, to adults on skateboards and mountain bikes. If you have a Velosolutions asphalt PumpTrack installed, we always provide a WAS certificate. The WAS sets out strict requirements for playground equipment. For example, you can consider safety requirements regarding materials, construction, accessibility & fall protection. Above we specifically mention only our asphalt pump tracks, because gravel pump tracks cannot practically meet the standard because they continuously change shape due to wear. One of the principles for certified playground equipment is that it is no longer changed or adjusted after the inspection.
In addition to the WAS, our PumpTracks also comply with the NEN-EN14974 standard. This standard is specifically aimed at skate parks in public spaces that can be used by skateboards, BMX and other roller sports. By meeting both the WAS and EN14974 standards, we offer a high degree of certainty when it comes to safety. In addition, the liability risk for the client or landowner will also decrease.
Certify:
For us, the certification process actually starts before we start construction. The technical design is a very good time for a first test. We then submit the design to the inspection body so that we get a good idea of possible bottlenecks. We may then adjust the design if necessary. After the track has been constructed, we create a Technical Construction File (TCD). This file is the basis for inspecting the PumpTrack. It includes, among other things, a detailed explanation of the design, the track environment, possible risks for users, a maintenance plan and an inspection regime. With this TCD in hand, an inspector from the inspection body can actually inspect the PumpTrack on location. This will be followed by a report with, in our case, always an approval from the PumpTrack. The corresponding certificate will be sent by post. We keep a copy of the TCD and certificate on file for our customers.
Maintenance:
Now that the PumpTrack is officially open and meets all standards, it is important to properly maintain the PumpTrack. The maintenance of an asphalt PumpTrack is very limited. The asphalt top layer is wear-resistant and has an expected lifespan of up to 20 years. Maintenance therefore mainly concerns maintaining the surrounding greenery and keeping the asphalt clean (sweeping away stones and sand). We have also drawn up a maintenance plan for (minor) maintenance so that the customer can carry it out himself or have it carried out by us.
Inspections:
It is important to carry out inspections to keep the certificate up to date. During such an inspection, the PumpTrack is checked for all requirements as stated in the standard. It's a good time to see if everything is still in order and safe! Annual inspections allow overdue maintenance or minor defects to be quickly identified and resolved. The inspections can be carried out by any expert. In practice, this means that we do the inspection for most of our customers. As a builder, we know the PumpTrack like no other and do everything we can to keep the track in top condition. Because there is a 5-year warranty on the asphalt of our tracks, few costs are expected for any repairs. As mentioned earlier, the asphalt is very wear-resistant and has an expected lifespan of up to 20 years.
PumpTrack standard:
PumpTracks do not yet have their own standard. This is mainly because PumpTracks are still a relatively new phenomenon. Together with the KNWU, among others, we are currently developing a PumpTrack specific standard. This standard includes even more specific safety requirements that are focused on PumpTracks. It is expected that this standard will match the possibilities of a PumpTrack much better than the requirements currently set by the WAS and skate park standard. Once the standard has been developed, it will provide a good basis for clients when selecting a pump track builder.
