Serpent playground climbing structure with polyamide rope nets

The Serpent is a linear climbing structure built around a single hot dip galvanised steel tube of 273 mm diameter that runs the length of the play area and carries the rope work. Its snaking form gives a long, low play line rather than a tall tower, which suits sites where sight lines have to stay open across the park.

The main tube is protected by hot dip galvanising and a resistant paint finish, the usual combination where a play structure is exposed to weather and to salt in coastal or de iced environments. Reinforced concrete footings anchor the structure. The nets are braided and bonded polyamide rope reinforced with galvanised steel strands, a construction that keeps the rope working even if the outer braid is damaged. A stork nest seat of 1000 mm diameter provides a rest and swing point along the run, and 28 climbing ropes fitted with two types of moulded knot vary the grip and the difficulty from one section to the next. Rubber mats of 8 mm thickness, reinforced with four layers of polyamide mesh, are fitted where children step across.

Technical specification

Using the structure on a public site

A long low structure spreads children along its length instead of concentrating them at one access point, which is useful in school grounds and in municipal parks where supervision is at a distance. The 28 climbing ropes give a wide range of difficulty on the same piece of equipment, so younger children stay on the lower knotted sections while older ones work the full length.

Playground equipment installed permanently in a public area falls under EN 1176, and the impact attenuating surfacing under EN 1177. The critical fall height required from the surfacing follows the measured free height of fall on the installed structure, so the surfacing is chosen after the layout is fixed. Overall length and safety area are confirmed on the implantation drawing for your site, since the structure is set out to follow the shape of the plot.

Frequently asked questions

How much space does the Serpent need?

The footprint and the impact area are issued with the implantation study. They depend on how the structure is curved across your plot, so we confirm them against your site plan rather than publishing a single figure.

What maintenance do the ropes need?

Visual inspection of the braid, the knots and the connections during the routine and annual inspections required by EN 1176. The galvanised steel strands inside the polyamide braid are what keep the rope safe if the outer sheath is cut.

Is the structure suitable for coastal sites?

The steel is hot dip galvanised and painted, which is the specification normally used for exposed outdoor sites. Tell us the location when you request a quotation so the finish can be confirmed for the exposure class.