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Free playground inspection checklist
A printable checklist for the routine visual and operational inspection of your playground: common points for the whole site, points per equipment type, and space for defects, date and signature. Built on the structure of EN 1176 and EN 1177 – the same one Lekko uses.
Formatted for A4 – print it, or download the file and pass it on. · Last updated 16 August 2026
How to use the checklist
- 1Print the sheet – or save it as a PDF from the print dialog.
- 2Walk a fixed route and tick point by point while you stand at the equipment. Points your playground does not have are ticked as not applicable.
- 3Note defects with the corrective action, deadline and person responsible in the table at the back. Critical defects: close the equipment off first.
- 4Sign and date – then file the sheet with your inspection records.
The checklist
What you see here is what prints – with the Lekko header, tick boxes, a defect table and signature lines.
www.lekko.tech
Playground inspection checklist
Routine visual and operational inspection – built on the structure of EN 1176 and EN 1177
How to tick
- OK – The point has been checked and is in order.
- Observation – Not a defect yet, but heading that way – watch it until the next round.
- Defect – Needs fixing. Note the corrective action, deadline and person responsible at the back.
- Not applicable – The point does not exist on your playground.
If a defect is critical, the equipment is closed off or taken out of use until it is fixed.
V = routine visual inspection · O = operational inspection
Part 1 · The whole site
| Inspection point | OK | Observation | Defect | Not applicable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VLitter, glass and sharp objects across the whole site | ||||
| VAnimal faeces or other contamination | ||||
| OFences and gatesThe fences are intact and the gates close and latch – particularly towards traffic and water.EN 1176-1 | ||||
| OVegetationNo poisonous plants, not overgrown, no hidden obstacles. | ||||
| OLighting and visibility (where relevant) | ||||
| OBenches, tables and fixed furnitureStability and condition. | ||||
| OAccess and surfacingPaving slabs, kerbs and trip hazards. |
Part 2 · Common points – for every piece of equipment
| Inspection point | OK | Observation | Defect | Not applicable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VForeign objects in the impact areaGlass, litter, needles, twigs or other sharp or hard objects. | ||||
| VSharp edges, points or protrusionsNew damage, cracks or parts that have become sharp.EN 1176-1 | ||||
| VMissing or loose partsBolts, nuts, caps, covers and fixings that are visibly missing or have worked loose.EN 1176-1 | ||||
| VCondition of the impact attenuating surfacingSufficient depth and even distribution, no hard objects, not compacted or displaced in the landing area.EN 1177 | ||||
| VVisible crushing and entrapment pointsLoose ropes, broken parts or openings that could trap the head, neck, fingers or clothing.EN 1176-1 | ||||
| VSigns of vandalism, fire or graffiti | ||||
| VGeneral cleanliness and tidiness of the area | ||||
| OStability and anchoringThe equipment stands firm and is properly fixed, with no movement in the foundation.EN 1176-1 | ||||
| OFoundations and fixingsFoundations are not exposed, loose or cracked.EN 1176-1 | ||||
| OCorrosion, rot and material fatigueRust on metal, rot or cracks in timber, brittleness or discolouration in plastic.EN 1176-1 | ||||
| OTightening of fastenersBolts, nuts and screws are tightened and secured.EN 1176-1 | ||||
| ODrainage in the impact areaNo standing water or ice that reduces the impact attenuation.EN 1177 | ||||
| OSignage and markingThe manufacturer's plate, age marking and any instructions for use are legible.EN 1176-1 |
Part 3 · Points per equipment type
Tick per equipment type. If you have several of the same type, the row covers them all – note defects per item in the table at the back.
| Equipment | OK | Observation | Defect | Not applicable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SwingEN 1176-2Chains and suspension, seat, closed S-hooks, bearings in the support beam, clearance to the ground and between seats, clear impact area in front and behind. | ||||
| Nest swingEN 1176-2Net and ropes in the nest, ring and rope attachments, clearance to the ground and to the frame (measured from the ring), impact area all round the nest. | ||||
| SlideEN 1176-3Sliding surface free of cracks and sharp joints, side edges, access and starting section, length and height of the run-out, fixing of sections, sun-heated metal slides. | ||||
| Climbing frame and climbing wallEN 1176-1Grips and rungs, welds and joints, free height of fall and clear impact area, finger traps, fixing of panels and bolts. | ||||
| Climbing nets and ropesEN 1176-1Fraying and exposed core, knots and splices, rope clamps and end fixings, net tension, anchor points at the top and bottom. | ||||
| Roundabout / spinnerEN 1176-5Platform and guardrails, smooth rotation without play or unusual noise, clearance under and around the platform, centre fixing and brake where fitted. | ||||
| Spring riderEN 1176-6Seat, handles and footrests, spring and spring fixing, crushing point at the spring, anchoring in the ground. | ||||
| SeesawEN 1176-6Seats and handles, pivot and bearings, impact attenuation under the seats, crushing points at the pivot. | ||||
| Jumping mushroomEN 1176-1The cap and the standing surface: cracks, slippery surface, secure on the post. Impact attenuating surfacing around and between the mushrooms – the free height of fall is taken from the tallest. | ||||
| Balance equipmentEN 1176-1Walking surface, fixing and stability, impact area along the full length, wire rope or chain on suspended balance equipment. | ||||
| Zip wire / cablewayEN 1176-4Seat or grip on the traveller, wire rope (wear and tension), traveller and suspension, braking and end stop, clear run along the full length, clearance under the seat with a user on it. | ||||
| SandpitEN 1176-1Condition and cleanliness of the sand, edge protection free of sharp edges and splinters, drainage, canopy and cover where provided. | ||||
| Trampoline (in-ground)EN 1176-1Jumping mat, edge protection over the springs, springs or bungees, frame level with the ground and secure, clearance and impact area around the mat. | ||||
| Multi-play units, towers and playhousesEN 1176-1Floors, walls and roof, guardrails and barriers at height, stairs and ladders, elevated platforms, enclosed spaces, transitions between modules. | ||||
| Themed play and play vehiclesEN 1176-1Body and decoration, moving parts (steering wheels, hatches, levers), fixing and stability, internal spaces with an unobstructed exit. | ||||
| Other play equipmentEN 1176-1 and -7Moving parts, free height of fall and extent of the impact area, openings that could trap, the manufacturer's own inspection instructions. |
Part 4 · Defects and follow-up
One defect per line. Critical defects: close the equipment off or take it out of use first, before anything else.
| Equipment or place | Defect | Corrective action | Deadline | Responsible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign-off
Signed by the person who carried out the inspection, and by the person responsible for the follow-up. File the sheet with your inspection records.
The checklist is built on the structure of EN 1176 (playground equipment) and EN 1177 (impact attenuating surfacing) without reproducing the standards. It does not replace the annual main inspection, which is carried out by a competent person. Points marked «where fitted», «where provided» or «where relevant» are ticked as not applicable when they do not apply.
The three levels of inspection in EN 1176-7
EN 1176-7 describes three levels of inspection. The checklist covers the first two – the ones you carry out yourselves. How often each round is walked is the owner's call, set by how hard the playground is used.
The quick, frequent round
Routine visual inspection
Foreign objects, damage, vandalism and the state of the impact attenuating surfacing. No tools – just eyes and a fixed route.
Covered by the checklist
The closer look
Operational inspection
The more thorough round with a spanner and a measuring stick: stability, foundations, wear, fixings and drainage.
Covered by the checklist
The full going-over
Annual main inspection
A complete assessment of structure, load-bearing parts and foundations, carried out by a competent person. The checklist does not replace this level.
Work for a competent person
Who is the checklist for?
Responsibility for a playground follows ownership – whether it belongs to an owners' association, a kindergarten, a school, a municipality or a holiday park. Whoever runs the site usually walks the round. The list is general on purpose: it covers the most common equipment types, and points that do not apply to your playground are ticked as not applicable.
- Owners' and residents' associations
- Kindergartens and day-care centres
- Schools
- Municipalities
- Campsites and holiday parks
- Facility and property managers
What EN 1176 and EN 1177 describe
The checklist follows the structure of EN 1176 (playground equipment) and EN 1177 (impact attenuating surfacing). That is where the three levels come from: the routine visual inspection, the operational inspection and the annual main inspection are described in EN 1176-7.
A standard is not a law. What makes any of it binding is national law, and that varies across the countries this market covers – we do not know which country you are in, so we do not tell you what your law says. The guides go through what the standards ask for, with sources.
Read on in the guides: Playground safety standards in Europe: what EN 1176 is, and what it is not · Playground inspection records: what belongs in the logbook
What can you do yourselves?
The routine visual inspection and the operational inspection can stay in-house – the board, the caretaker or a member of staff. Those are the two levels this list covers, and whoever walks the round does not need to be a specialist: the points say what to look for.
The annual main inspection is different. It is a complete assessment of structure, load-bearing parts and foundations, and it is work for a competent person. The rest of the year, the inspecting is yours – and that is what this list is for.
Want the reasoning behind the points? These guides go deeper: Playground inspection checklist: the points to walk with today · How often should a playground be inspected? The three levels in EN 1176-7
Questions and answers about playground inspection
How often should the checklist be walked?
EN 1176-7 describes three levels – the routine visual inspection, the operational inspection and the annual main inspection – and leaves the rhythm to the owner: a busy schoolyard needs the quick round far more often than a quiet courtyard. Set the pace from how hard your playground is used, and adjust it with wear and season.
Who can carry out the inspection?
The routine visual inspection and the operational inspection can stay in-house: the board, the caretaker or a member of staff. The annual main inspection is work for a competent person. This checklist covers the first two levels.
Is playground inspection a rule or a recommendation?
EN 1176 is a European standard, not a law. What makes any of it binding is national law, and that varies across the countries this market covers – in some there is an explicit duty, in others the authority says in writing that the standard is voluntary. If you need the legal answer for your country, ask your national product safety authority.
Does the checklist need to be signed?
A dated, signed sheet shows who checked what, and when – that is what the signature lines are for, and it is what makes the sheet worth keeping. File the completed sheets with your other inspection records.
What do we do when we find a defect?
Note it in the table at the back: the defect, the corrective action, the deadline and the person responsible. If the defect is critical – something that could hurt a child today – the equipment is closed off or taken out of use at once, and stays out of use until the defect is fixed.
Does this checklist cover the annual main inspection?
No. The annual main inspection is a complete assessment of structure, load-bearing parts and foundations, and it is work for a competent person. The checklist covers the two levels you do yourselves: the routine visual inspection and the operational inspection.
What does “not applicable” mean?
The checklist is general and covers the most common equipment types. Points your playground does not have – the sandpit cover, say, or lighting – are ticked as not applicable. The tick shows the point was considered, not skipped.
Can we save the checklist as a PDF?
Yes – «Download PDF» gives you the file directly, ready to keep or to pass on to whoever walks the round. The print button is there if you would rather go straight to paper.
From a paper sheet to a living record
A paper sheet answers what to look for. It does not answer when the next inspection is due, whether March's defect was closed, or where the report is when somebody asks for your records.
Lekko has the same points set up per equipment type, with a reference to EN 1176 and 1177 on each one. You tick on your phone at the equipment, defects get a photo, a corrective action and a deadline – and the report is one click away, ready to hand over.
- Reminders before every inspection – nothing gets forgotten
- Defects with a photo, corrective action, deadline and responsible person
- History, and a report you can hand over as a PDF
- The free plan lets you try the whole flow: 2 items of equipment, 1 inspection, 1 user and 3 defects
Set up in a quarter of an hour – on your own.