What should a playground technical specification contain?

Typically, equipment functions and dimensions, materials and protective coatings, safety requirements and the expected proof of compliance (third-party certificates, not just a manufacturer's declaration), surfacing requirements, installation, documentation, warranties and maintenance. A good specification is verifiable and function-focused, rather than copied from one product's catalogue description, so different suppliers can offer genuinely comparable solutions.

How do you fairly compare playground bids?

Compare like with like: the full scope, meaning equipment, surfacing, site works, installation and documentation, together with materials, warranties, references and lifecycle cost, not just the headline price. Bids that look similar on paper can differ substantially in scope, so structuring the comparison around your own specification makes real differences visible.

What documentation typically accompanies a playground project?

Depending on the project, this can include a project brief and specification, concept and site plans, safety documentation and material data (including third-party certificates), installation records, and an inspection and maintenance plan. The exact set of documents varies by country, investor and procurement procedure, so it should be confirmed for each project.

How do the needs of public and private investors differ?

Public investors typically operate under formal public procurement and transparency requirements, which makes documentation and bid comparability particularly important. Private investors often have more flexibility, but still benefit from a clear specification. In both cases, good preparation leads to safer, more comparable and more predictable outcomes.

Guide

What Should Public Investors Prepare Before Starting a Playground Project?

REDOX teamJuly 3, 2026

What should be prepared before a playground project?

Before starting a playground project, public investors should prepare a clear goal, site data, expected user groups and age ranges, an approximate budget, and safety expectations. A clear technical specification and organised documentation allow supplier bids to be compared fairly and support transparency throughout the procurement process. Exact requirements vary by country, project type and procurement procedure.

Introduction

The quality of a playground project is often decided in the documentation, long before any equipment is selected. A clear project brief, complete site data and a well-structured technical specification allow supplier bids to be meaningfully compared and keep the project transparent throughout procurement and delivery.

This guide focuses on project preparation, not on running a specific public procurement procedure. It is written for cities, municipalities, public investors, architects and developers who want a transparent, well-prepared foundation. Procurement rules and documentation requirements vary by country, project type and buyer, so the specifics should always be confirmed with the relevant local experts and authorities.

What to prepare before a playground project

A clear project goal and the type of space involved (nursery, school, public park, residential development).

The site and its dimensions, along with data on existing surfacing, access and infrastructure.

Expected user groups and age ranges.

An approximate budget, even if only a rough figure.

Safety expectations, including alignment with EN 1176 and EN 1177.

Evaluation criteria to be used when comparing bids.

An internal approval process, and clarity on who signs off on documentation.

Can a public playground project start without a completed site survey?

Starting a playground project without a completed site survey is a common cause of budget overruns and installation delays. Ground conditions, drainage, utilities, access routes and existing installations all affect the design, foundation requirements and installation planning. A basic site survey, even a simple walk-through by a competent person, should be carried out before any specification work or requests for quotations begin.

What a useful technical specification contains

A specification that supports a fair comparison describes equipment functions and dimensions, materials and protective coatings, safety requirements and the evidence expected to demonstrate them, surfacing requirements, installation scope, documentation, warranties and maintenance expectations. A good specification is written to be verifiable and function-focused, describing what the equipment must achieve rather than reproducing one supplier's catalogue.

When defining the evidence required for compliance, it helps to distinguish upfront between a manufacturer's declaration and a certificate issued by an independent accredited body. For compliance with EN 1176, a third-party certificate is what matters, since a manufacturer's own declaration does not fulfil that role.

Exactly what is needed can vary depending on the procurement procedure and buyer, so requirements should always be confirmed for the specific project.

Comparing bids fairly

Bids that look similar in price at first glance can differ substantially in scope. A fair comparison takes the full scope into account, meaning equipment, surfacing, site works, installation and documentation, together with materials and protective coatings, warranties, references and expected lifecycle cost, not just the headline price. Structuring the comparison around your own specification makes real differences in scope and quality visible before a decision is made.

Documentation that typically accompanies a project

Depending on the project, this can include a project brief and specification, concept and site plans, safety documentation and material data (including third-party certificates for equipment and surfacing), installation records, and an inspection and maintenance plan. Clear documentation makes comparison easier during procurement, supports transparency once the project is complete, and makes maintenance easier once the playground is in use.

The exact set of documents varies by country, buyer type and procurement procedure, so it should be confirmed for each project rather than assumed from a default template.

Public and private investors have different priorities

Public investors, including cities, municipalities and public institutions, typically operate under formal public procurement and transparency requirements, which gives documentation and bid comparability particular weight. Private investors, such as hotels or developers, often have more flexibility, but a clear specification and a structured comparison still benefit them. In both cases, thorough preparation tends to produce a safer, more comparable and more predictable project outcome.

This guide does not provide legal or procurement advice and does not prescribe how to run a specific tender; the actual procedure should be confirmed with the relevant local experts and authorities.

What to prepare before launching a public playground project

A clearly defined project goal and expected scope (number of users, type of space).
Site data: dimensions, terrain, existing infrastructure and constraints.
Expected user groups and their age ranges.
An indicative budget for equipment, installation, safety surfacing and future maintenance.
Safety expectations and the applicable regulatory framework for the project's market.
A decision on the procurement model appropriate to the rules governing the investor.
A project timeline, including the time needed to develop and approve the concept design.

How REDOX supports project preparation

REDOX works with public investors from the preparation stage onwards, helping translate a project's goal and site conditions into a specification that supports fair, comparable procurement. As a manufacturer that also designs and installs playgrounds, REDOX can flag feasibility and realistic project scope early, before documentation is finalised.

Cities, municipalities and public investors can send site data and project goals for an initial preparation conversation.

Frequently asked questions

What should a playground technical specification contain?: Typically, equipment functions and dimensions, materials and protective coatings, safety requirements and the expected proof of compliance (third-party certificates, not just a manufacturer's declaration), surfacing requirements, installation, documentation, warranties and maintenance. A good specification is verifiable and function-focused, rather than copied from one product's catalogue description, so different suppliers can offer genuinely comparable solutions.
How do you fairly compare playground bids?: Compare like with like: the full scope, meaning equipment, surfacing, site works, installation and documentation, together with materials, warranties, references and lifecycle cost, not just the headline price. Bids that look similar on paper can differ substantially in scope, so structuring the comparison around your own specification makes real differences visible.
What documentation typically accompanies a playground project?: Depending on the project, this can include a project brief and specification, concept and site plans, safety documentation and material data (including third-party certificates), installation records, and an inspection and maintenance plan. The exact set of documents varies by country, investor and procurement procedure, so it should be confirmed for each project.
How do the needs of public and private investors differ?: Public investors typically operate under formal public procurement and transparency requirements, which makes documentation and bid comparability particularly important. Private investors often have more flexibility, but still benefit from a clear specification. In both cases, good preparation leads to safer, more comparable and more predictable outcomes.
Does this guide explain how to run a specific tender?: No. This guide helps investors prepare a project and understand documentation and bid comparison. It does not provide legal or procurement advice and does not prescribe how to run a specific tender, since procurement rules vary by country and project. The actual procedure should be confirmed with the relevant local experts and authorities.

TALK TO AN EXPERT

Have a question about your playground project?

Our team can help you apply what you have learned here, from safety standards to material choices, to your own kindergarten, school, park or public space project.

Contact our team