Blog
By Gary Heslington, TRA Snow and Sun
Are you tired of dealing with damage caused by ice dams and icicles? Are you frustrated with having to fix roof penetrations each spring that are damaged or broken off during the winter? Does the thought of repairing or replacing one more rain gutter make you lose sleep at night? Then you need to finish reading this article.
For many, dealing with such problems has just become one of those annoying issues you are forced to deal with each year. But what if you didn’t have to deal with it? What if there was a permanent way to avoid these issues each year? Well there is a solution!
It is called “Snow Retention Systems”. That’s right – put a system on the roof that will hold snow and ice in place and keep it from sliding or moving. Sounds a bit crazy at first, doesn’t it? We always think we need to get that snow off the roof – not keep it on. But think about it for a minute. The problems we just talked about are all the result of snow and ice moving instead of staying put.
So, is this the trendy, new “fidget spinner” of the roofing industry? No way! In fact, snow retention has been around for centuries. For some reason, the pendulum just swung away from it for a while here in the Western United States, but many architects and building designers are now utilizing it in their designs, especially in areas with heavy annual snow fall. But there are a lot of buildings out there that should have it but don’t.
I know what you’re thinking right now. This sort of makes sense but are the roofs I deal with really going to hold all that snow? Especially those years with really heavy snow fall? Yes, they will, at least in most cases. Due to updated building codes, almost all buildings constructed since 1975 were designed to be able to hold all that snow on the roof. Good to know, isn’t it?
Now let’s discuss some issues related to snow and ice moving or sliding off roofs that you may not have considered. To begin, go to this short YouTube video. You will love it. It will introduce you to a new concept – Roof-alanches: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rstKvsXSjzI
Pretty cool isn’t it? Could you feel the power of all that snow cascading off those roofs? Unfortunately, it isn’t too uncommon for people to be trapped and even killed in such occurrences. When it does happen, insurance companies like to consider it an Act of God. But is it really? Especially when it is completely avoidable? What a great reason to utilize snow retention!! Use it to save lives and avoid the liabilities that, unfortunately, always follow.
Snow and ice cascading off roofs can also result in severe property damage such as crushing cars and A/C units. It also regularly tears off gutters, balconies and patio railings.
But snow and ice doesn’t have to come off in dramatic Roof-alanches to cause damage. Sometimes it only slides from one part of the roof onto another. For example, snow can slide from the main portion of the roof to a dormer. When the sliding snow hits the dormer, it will many times stop, but the force of the moving snow will often cause severe damage to the dormer. Sometimes you have no idea what caused the damage once the snow and ice has melted and the damage is visible. With asphalt shingles, we often see an even more subtle type of damage. Ice only has to move a very short distance to damage these shingles once the ice has frozen to the granules on the surface. The ice pulls the granules free and then they are washed away when the ice melts. The result is premature aging of the roof.
I think you get the idea. So how do you find out more about utilizing snow retention systems? Simply contact a snow retention company and ask about a free engineered layout and estimate. It is an easy, no cost way, to get started. So, don’t’ delay! Protect your properties with engineered “Snow Retention Systems” and start sleeping better at night.
Gary Heslington has been working for TRA Snow and Sun for nearly two years as their Business Development Manager. TRA Snow and Sun is a pioneer in modern, fully engineered, snow retention systems and are leading out in establishing codes and standards in the snow retention industry. For more information go to www.trasnowandsun.com.
By David A. Firmin, Esq, HindmanSanchez P.C.
Winter in a community association can be beautiful, serene, and of course wrought with perils from freezing pipes to slip and falls. In addition to the pipes and snow, the association also must consider the pressures of its budgets. Associations will look to trim snow removal costs in order to balance budgets by increasing the inches of snow that falls prior to calling for snow removal. These strategies, while well intentioned, may cause more problems than they are worth.
Associations have legal responsibilities under the governing documents and through established common law to take sufficient steps to exercise reasonable care to protect against dangers of which the association knows or should know upon reasonable inquiry. With this standard in mind, the association can take several steps to mitigate risks and avoid potential pitfalls that come with the winter months.
Education
As with all factors, education of both the owners and the board can go a long way. Prior to the first freeze of the season, the association should discuss the winter issues, including the importance of keeping a minimum level of heat in the units. Additionally, keeping cabinet doors open at night can assist in the air flow in the unit allowing warm air to keep pipes from freezing.
The board should also take time to walk the property with its elected snow removal contractor. Point out to the contractor problem areas that tend to collect ice along with where the snow storage areas will be located. The board should also point out those areas that may need extra attention, which can be given while the contractor is there during the first snow push allowing for proactive snow removal.
These problem areas can also be pointed out to the owners and residents within the community. This will assist residents in avoiding these problems areas.
Be Proactive
When dealing with snow removal issues, the association should look for ways to address the issues prior to their becoming a problem. Proactive ideas for winter issues include email blasts to owners prior to freeze and snow events reminding owners to turn up heating, opening cabinet doors, and if needed moving cars to allow efficient snow removal. The association may also consider placing ice melt or sand stations in problem areas (identified in the snow walk).
Encourage owners to promptly report problem areas as soon as they are known. The association can then take steps to mitigate these issues.
In the Event of a Lawsuit…Don’t Panic
Of course, even the most prepared and diligent association can run into trouble. In order to ensure that the association is in the best possible position to defend a suit, the association should establish and follow policies and procedures for regular inspections, snow and ice removal, supervision of vendors, and posting warnings. If the association is notified of a slip and fall, the association should investigate the alleged area of the fall. Photographs of the condition of the area should be taken and maintenance logs preserved.
Finally, risks can be shifted and insured through appropriate insurance coverages for the association, and through indemnity provisions in contracts with vendors and warnings. Associations should team with their insurance professionals as well as legal counsel to ensure coverages are sufficient to withstand these perils. In addition to the association’s master policy, the association should encourage its owners to revisit their personal policies. Make sure the owners and tenants have sufficient coverage for their personal property along with items not covered by the association’s policy.
If the association takes the appropriate steps, “Winter is Coming” will not strike the association with fear of slips, falls, broken pipes and lawsuits (or dragons), but rather good tidings and cheer.
David Firmin is the Managing Partner at HindmanSanchez P.C. in Lakewood, CO. HindmanSanchez is a HOA law firm serving the Denver Metro area, Northern and Southern Colorado, and the mountain communities.
By Evelyn Saavedra, CMCA
Q: Explain the differences in maintenance between high rises and single-family homes?
A: Maintenance is important for all homes; however, what you do, or don’t do, in a high rise can leave your neighbors at risk.
In single family homes changes to the interior of a home typically don’t impact neighbors. Residents transitioning from single family homes to condos have a lot more to consider when modifying their unit. For example, the underlayment for flooring used in single-family homes might not be neighbor friendly in a high-rise environment, depending on its STC/IIC ratings. What is STC/IIC? STC (Sound Transmission Class) is a rating for how well the underlayment reduces airborne sound such as music. IIC (Impact Insulation Class) is the rating for how well the underlayment reduces impact sounds such as someone walking. Some high rises restrict hard surface flooring like hardwood altogether eliminating any worry about this; however, with proper ratings and installation hard surface flooring can be installed with minimal impact.
Maintenance of appliances and the unit itself is also important. A simple item can easily impact other units. Think about where the water from a leaking refrigerator hose could travel to. No one wants to be in the unit below that is “rained” on. Yikes!
Q: What are some key factors to consider for high rise maintenance?
A: One of the most important factors is figuring out a way to prioritize and track historical issues. Life and safety equipment should always be the top priority, and providing utility services to units is secondary. Why are historical issues important? If a manager starts to see trends, it may point to bigger issues.
In one of the buildings I managed, I noticed multiple complaints about the smell of marijuana coming from another unit. After looking at the locations of the complaints on various floors, we noticed there was one thing in common, they all were on the same exhaust stack. After conducting a simple airflow test on multiple bathroom exhausts, it was clear this was the path transferring the smell. We then discovered that the shaft was never fully completed, and the large section that was missing was causing the smells to be transferred to other units.
Q: What is a BMS System and why is important for a high rise?
A: BMS stands for Building Management System also known as Building Automation System (BAS), which is a computer based system used to control and monitor a building’s mechanical and electrical equipment. With proper forethought and setup, this type of system can be used to identify issues before the residents experience the outcome of the issue.
For example, installing a sensor on the water temperature output of a chiller that has an alarm set to sound if the water temperature reaches a certain point, gives managers an indication that there might be an imminent loss of air conditioning. This allows managers to get ahead of the problem and fix the issue before the residents are impacted.
Q: What can residents do to help with the building maintenance?
A: While many people buy in high rises looking for a lock and leave situation, there are important things that need taken care of within each unit. First, don’t delay on repairing a running toilet or leaking faucet.
It is also important to think about what is put down sewer lines and garbage disposals. It is shocking to hear about the things that plumbers pull out of sewer lines throughout the city. The garbage disposal is intended to grind down table scraps from your plate, with some small exceptions, not to be used as an in-sink trash can. As for pasta and rice? No way! Those items expand and swell, causing unnecessary clogs. Grease from a cooking pan also is not good for drains. It will solidify and act as a glue and plug with other items in the sewer lines. Things like this can lead to a sewer backup and, if not caught early enough, cause a lot of damage to everything around. Be kind, and remember in a high rise the sewer lines open to all of the units throughout the building.
Remember, in a high rise everyone has different perspectives on maintenance and what is important. Most owners and residents want to be able to have a simpler life, and no longer worry about snow removal, landscaping and many of the maintenance items to that come into play with a single-family home. On the other hand, the manager and staff must be concerned with these items to ensure a correctly working building. However, maintenance awareness from both managers and residents leads to an improved high-rise experience for everyone.
Evelyn Saavedra is the Community Association Manager for the Residences at Penterra Plaza, a community managed by Hammersmith Management, Inc. Hammersmith Management provides a full range of management services for condominiums, single family homes, townhouse, high-rises and large-scale properties in Colorado.
By Nicole Stone, LMI Landscapes Inc.
Snow removal may sound simple, however finding a contractor to meet your needs can be more challenging than expected. To understand snow removal you must first know your property’s needs, the capacity of your snow removal contractor, and the art of communicating your snow removal needs to your contractor. Finding a balance of the above is critical for the success of your snow removal.
In order to set the stage for success, one must first determine the needs of your property. What are the expectations of the community, what are the trigger depths, what services do you want to have done, and do you have time sensitive needs? When determining your needs, budgets should also be taken into consideration. When you have a clear picture of the expectations of the community, talk to your contractor relay the information so they can also understand what you are looking for. These expectations will help determine what type and the amount of equipment needed. Create a property map that shows where you would like to have the snow piled, where are your critical points, and any other detailed items that your contractor may need.
Once the needs have been established, the next step is to search for the right contractor to meet those needs. Finding a snow removal service might sound like a simple task, however this might be the most difficult task of all. Here are some guidelines to assist when searching for a snow removal contractor:
Snow storms do not operate under regular scheduled hours, so many storms take place throughout the evening when you’re fast asleep. This is when knowing your contractor’s reputation becomes crucial.
After the storm has passed, walk with your contractor see what was done well and look at what could be done better or more efficiently on future storms. These walks are critical at the beginning of the snow season. If this is your contractor’s first storm, understand that changes might be necessary moving forward. While a plan might be in place, many obstacles could change the direction of that plan. Having a plan to start with is important, understanding that it might change is just as imperative.
Remember, this is not a game of the Price is Right. This is finding the right contractor who can handle your community needs along with the ability to perform the services requested. Providing a clear picture to your contractor of your needs will help result in a successful snow removal season for all parties involved. This sets the stage for the art of snow removal.
LMI Landscapes Inc. has been successfully servicing the green industry in Dallas, Austin, and Denver since 1987. We are comprised of three divisions; Construction and Irrigation Installation, Maintenance, Enhancements, and Irrigation, and Snow Removal Services.
By Justin Foy, RS, Senior Vice President, SBSA
Ready or not, community associations and all other occupancies within Denver will be required to construct green roofs, install a combination of green roof/solar energy collection, or pay a fee to be exempt from this requirement. Following in the footsteps of cities like San Francisco and Toronto, Denver voters recently approved Initiative 300. This environmental measure aims to reduce the heat island effect, naturally drain and filter stormwater, and reduce greenhouse emissions. This Amendment to the Denver Building Code will go into effect January 1, 2018.
The law will apply to every building in the City and County of Denver that has a height equal to or greater than four stories or 50-feet and a gross floor area of 25,000-square-feet or more. The adjacent diagram shows how the green roof coverage requirement ratchets up with incremental increases in floor area.
The law will allow a combination of green roof and solar energy collection as long as the combination is no less than 30-percent green roof and retains or collects for reuse at least the first 1/4-inch from each rainfall or 50-percent of annual rainfall volume.
At a minimum, the law will require every green roof to be constructed with the following assembly (in order from roof deck up): an appropriate waterproof membrane for a green roof system, root repellent system, drainage system, filtering layer, growing medium, and plants, as shown in the diagram to the left.
Because the City wants to ensure that each building’s structure can handle a green roof system, the weight of the green roof and solar panels may require building modifications to the structural components. Consideration from the foundation to the roof will have to be made, including deflection and ponding due to permanent loads now affixed to the building. Without the original structural drawings, your community may have to deconstruct the interior finishes to determine the structural systems used.
If the vegetation areas are not uniform in loading, the effects of non-uniform or unbalanced loads, including drift loading against the sides of the beds, may have major impacts on the existing structural systems.
A wind uplift pressure and scour report will need to be prepared and stamped by a Professional Engineer when applying for a permit. Although the overall weight of the green roof system may account for the vertical loads, individual layers must be evaluated for their ability to resist both uplift and wind scouring forces. The report will need to show how the green roof design addresses these forces.
To ensure structural and waterproofing integrity, test protocols that can be used to validate each component prior to application of the overlying component should be conducted. These include the use of sensors or other means to document pre- and post-conditions, such as:
The new law will dictate the vegetation performance and specify that the growing media be a minimum of 4-inches. No noxious weeds can be used. The plant selection and design will need to be used for urban agriculture or, within three (3) years of planting, the plantings will need to cover no less than 80-percent of the vegetated roof area. It is suggested that a landscape architect be engaged to provide recommendations and maintenance to ensure plant viability, particularly during droughts or winter.
A plan that defines the routine maintenance and necessary inspections for the green roof media and plantings to perform their required function will be required to be submitted with the permit application. Community associations will need to be aware of the operating and reserve budget impacts with the new roof system and as a new common element will require a change to the declarations under the procedures outlined by Colorado law.
The new law provides exemptions or variances when it is proven that a community is unable to meet the green roof requirements. If two or more of the following circumstances are met, then an exemption may be permitted:
A community can also make a payment of “cash-in-lieu” of construction of a green roof for the reduced or exempted area based on the average actual cost of construction of a green roof, which at this time is $25.00 per square foot. Denver will recommend changes to the cost bi-annually.
Regardless of whether a community association chooses to comply with the new law or make a cash-in-lieu payment, the impact of the new requirements will be far reaching if not impossible to meet. Communities will now need to carefully consider factors such as how to afford a new green roof system, the structure to accommodate a green roof, how it will be accessed, how it will be maintained, insurance policy updates, and reserve study updates.
Justin has project managed over $120 million in construction repair and rehabilitation projects for community associations across the United States. He has conducted over 1000 property investigations, property condition assessments, and capital reserve studies. Justin was designated the 59th Reserve Specialist (RS) in the United States in 2001.
By Elina B. Gilbert, Esq., HindmanSanchez
Associations are oftentimes confused with the police. After all, it is not atypical for community managers or board members to receive calls from owners complaining about crime in their communities and demanding the associations do something about it. Whether it’s alleged drug use, car theft, or domestic violence, associations seem to be the first place owners turn to for help.
Although many boards try to do the right thing and take steps to provide some levels of security in the communities, no good deed goes unpunished. Oftentimes, such boards end up in court trying to defend themselves against claims alleging a failure to protect. In other words, crime victims in the community allege the security measures were not enough to protect them, and blame the associations for not providing enough security or good security.
So what is an association to do? To minimize an association’s exposure to liability pertaining to security measures, consider the following tips:
Elina Gilbert is a shareholder at HindmanSanchez P.C. and specializes in representation of Homeowners Associations and Community Association law. Please visit www.hindmansanchez.com for more information.
Sheriff's Office Behind the Badge Newsletter Topic: Is Your Home Secure?
Put it to the Test!
Is your home ready to resist crime? Our crime prevention deputies are offering a short quiz on home security that can be taken in just a few minutes. A ‘no’ answer signifies the areas where you can improve upon your home’s security. Take the complete 75-question home security survey http://jeffco.us/sheriff/crime-prevention-safety/residential-security/
Home Exterior
The way a house’s exterior looks, and even how it sounds, can discourage a would-be thief from approaching. Crime prevention experts recommend a well-lit exterior with a bit of stone or gravel at points around the home. Landscaping plants should not be so thick that they can conceal a person approaching. Tree limbs should not provide access to upper floors.
•Are your house numbers at least 4 inches tall (preferably 6 inches) and clearly visible from the street both day and night?
•Are trees located so they cannot be used to climb to an upper level of the home?
•Is there decorative stone or rock that makes noise when someone walks on it near the home?
•Do household members routinely secure items of value such as bicycles, lawn mowers, ladders, etc. when not in use?
•If there are detached buildings on the property (garage, shed, barn, etc.), are the doors and windows kept locked?
•Are vehicles locked and garage door opener remotes removed from them?
Doors & Windows
Structurally sound and locked doors and windows are critical components of a secure building. Doors and windows can provide false comfort if they’re cheaply made, easily compromised or often kept unlocked.
•Are exterior door strike plates secured to the frame of the house with screws at least three inches in length?
•Have locking “Charlie” bars been installed in the center of sliding glass doors in lieu of wooden dowels in the bottom track?
•Are exterior doors kept locked, even when someone is home?
•Are door locks in good repair?
•Do occupants of the home avoid hiding keys outside the residence (other than in a lockbox secured to the structure)?
•Do basement windows have security bars, grills, or other locking covers?
Garage
The garage is all too often an easy entry point for thieves. Many people do not secure their garage doors as well as other exterior doors.
•Is the overhead garage door kept closed when not in use?
•Is the pedestrian door between the garage and the home kept locked?
•Are windows into the garage covered or frosted to prevent visual inspection of valuables from the exterior?
Miscellaneous
Recording an inventory of valuables and securing important documents today can prevent future headaches if your home is burglarized.
•Have valuable papers (birth certificates, titles, deeds, social security cards, checks, tax records, passports, etc.) been secured in a fire resistant safe or in a safe deposit box?
•Do you have an accurate inventory of your valuables that includes make, model, and serial numbers?
•Does the home have a safe for storage of firearms and other valuables?
Simple steps are often the best crime deterrents, and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to educating residents about how to prevent themselves from becoming crime victims. We strongly encourage residents to be proactive about crime prevention.
Sheriff's Office Behind the Badge Newsletter Topic: The Power of Crime Prevention
Did you know about two thirds of car “break-ins” in Jefferson County happen to cars left unlocked? Meaning there’s no “break-in” at all. As of the first of October, 634 car trespasses were reported in JeffCo. Of those, 66 percent were unforced. Clearly, criminals take the path of least resistance.
Unfortunately, minor crimes like car trespasses often involve the theft of identifying materials like credit cards, licenses, or registrations – allowing thieves to commit much bigger identity theft crimes soon after.
Since criminals usually look for the lowest-hanging fruit, prevention methods are effective in keeping crime rates low. Yes, there will always be unpredictable and unpreventable crimes. But we know many of the crimes in our county can be prevented.
The Sheriff’s Office has a dedicated team of certified crime prevention deputies whose sole purpose is to work with citizens to prevent crime. Through on-site visits, phone calls, special events, child safety activities, and other opportunities, these deputies share vital information with the public on how to keep crime at bay.
Source and additional resources http://jeffco.us/sheriff/crime-prevention-safety/
Jefferson County
Crime Prevention deputies are available to attend community meetings and events to educate on various timely topics and address safety concerns. To learn more about crime prevention contact our crime prevention deputies at 303-271-5807 or email: crimeprevention@jeffco.us.
Douglas County
The DCSO Community Resources Unit offers free surveys of your home or business to help keep you, your family, and/or your employees, customers, or co-workers safe. A DCSO staff member will come to your home or business and walk through the facility and evaluate security. They’ll give you a written assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the physical security of the facility, along with recommendations to improve it. For a security survey please call 303-660-7544.
Arapahoe County
Two deputies are assigned as Crime Prevention Specialists providing educational programs and safety information to local businesses and homeowner associations. Crime Prevention is a top priority for the Sheriff's Office, requiring the cooperation of law enforcement and the community, working together toward a common goal. Contact Deputy Brian McKnight 720-874-3750 or bmcknight@arapahoegov.com.
Sources:
http://jeffco.us/sheriff/behind-the-badge-newsletter/2016/is-your-home-secure--(october-2016)/
http://jeffco.us/sheriff/behind-the-badge-newsletter/2016/the-power-of-crime-prevention-(november-2016)/
By Chris Vetter, Transcend Security Solutions
A Community Association Board has many responsibilities including, but not limited to, setting goals and approving budgets, developing and enforcing CC&R’s, and hiring quality vendors such as landscapers, security providers, janitorial companies, pool companies, etc. While the Community Manager’s responsibilities include many areas of service, providing the board with guidance in making important decisions is certainly one of the most important.
Crime within or against a community not only has an emotional impact on the community; it has a financial impact as well. In-the-end, Community Association Boards have a responsibility to protect the investments of their community members, because a home is typically a person’s largest financial investment. Consequently, protecting property values should be a core concern of any Community Association Board.
In that vein, one of the toughest decisions for any Community Association Board is the selection of a contract security provider. Community Association Boards that make this decision based solely on price often find themselves dissatisfied with the services provided and end up moving from security company to security company, which can create a lack of confidence between the Community Association Board, the residents, and ultimately the Community Manager. This is where the expertise of a Community Manager is of vital importance.
The general goal of this article is to provide Community Managers with some guidance, useful tips, and practical tools for themselves and the community they represent before, during, and after a security program is put into place.
Prevention is the most effective action against crime. And the only way to accomplish “prevention” is to put into place an effective security program, targeted specifically for the community it is being put into practice for. Factors to consider before establishing a security program or selecting a new contract security provider:
If the determination has been made to implement a security program, it’s now time to select a capable security provider. In order to ensure that all efforts are made in selecting a capable security provider, and to make certain that their Community Association Board is obtaining all of the information and experience they require and deserve, here are some relevant questions for Community Managers to ask those security providers who enter the bidding process to provide community security services:
Hiring:
Training:
Reporting & Verification Process:
Equipment & Technology:
Insurance:
After a security program has been implemented, it now becomes essential to determine if the security program is actually working. The security provider, together with the Community Association Board, should be able to answer the following on an ongoing basis:
The bottom-line is simple, contracting with a competent security provider is not only beneficial to the community, it is essential to provide a safe environment for the community residents.
Chris Vetter is chief executive officer and co-founder of Transcend Security Solutions. Chris brings more than 20 years of leadership, expertise, and executive management experience to the company. Through Chris' leadership, the company has experienced rapid growth since inception, allowing Transcend Security Solutions to be recognized as one of the premiere contract security providers in Arizona.
By Richard Halberg, CEO, Kidstuff Playsystems, Inc.
A large part of my job as CEO of Kidstuff Playsystems, Inc. is answering questions about playgrounds, playground safety and playground safety surfacing.
Playground Safety at Your Community Association
First, there are a couple of documents that pertain. ASTM is a quasi-governmental agency that writes standards for a wide range of manufactured products in the US. ASTM F-1487 is the playground standard that we adhere to in order to provide International Plan Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) certified equipment.
It covers such possible safety hazards as sharp points and edges, protrusions, inadequate use zones around the equipment, heights of barrier walls, sizes of openings where a climber meets a deck, heights of slide side rails, and on and on. So look for an IPEMA-certified playground manufacturer when you are ready to make a playground purchase. A document available for purchase that is more consumer-oriented is the US Consumer Product Safety Commission publication #325 Public Playground Safety Handbook. It is a great resource for the lay person who wants to gain some general knowledge about safe playground design and practices.
The number one cause of accidents on playgrounds is a fall to a hard surface under and around the playground. Adequate safety surfacing is a must to protect your association from a lawsuit. If you use wood chips, the most affordable of the approved options, you must maintain a depth of 9-10” to remain safe. This will require periodic raking and replenishing, and eventual replacement of the wood chips. Other surfaces such as poured in place rubber and artificial turf require less maintenance but are up to 5 times more expensive.
The average life of a playground is about 15 years. After that time parts begin to deteriorate, maintenance becomes more extensive and expensive, and aesthetically the assets appear “old”. While not the typical case, a few well maintained playgrounds can last as long as 20 years. Maintenance is important, because as an example surface rust must be treated or it will eventually lead to structural failure.
Playground Safety for Children of All Ages
Another consideration is the ages of the children that will be using the playground. There are a different set of ASTM standards for ages 2-5 and ages 5-12. It is possible to provide a playground set for ages 2-12 but it has to be designed to the 2-5 standard. This results in a playground that is quite boring for the older age group. Ideally, your association should provide a separate playground for ages 2-5 and one for ages 5-12. Each playground should be clearly marked with a sign or a sticker on the equipment as to the appropriate age group of the users.
Playground safety is paramount. Regular routine maintenance is time well spent. See a playground professional to help you plan a playground that is appropriate for your situation and your budget.
Richard Hagelberg, CPSI, co-founded Kidstuff Playsystems, Inc. with George McGuan in Gary, IN in 1982. Richard has a masters’ degree in early childhood education and operated child care centers, leading him into the playground field.
By CAI Editorial Staff, CAI Rocky Mountain Chapter
As members of the Community Association Management industry, most of us would probably assert that, all in all, we feel relatively safe at work doing our jobs. Unlike firefighters, police officers, and others who are intentionally put in the way of danger in their line of work, as members of our industry, the fires we put out and the bullets we dodge are (hopefully!) figurative instead of literal.
However, it is still important to take your safety and security and that of your co-workers seriously, and to do what you can to minimize risks within the workplace. Below are some suggestions.
