A swing set should be how many feet from other equipment?

Question

a. 6

b.12

c.14

d.9

Answer 1

Zoning/Housing Association

While swing sets can be erected in many places, there are some areas where the building of swing sets is prohibited. These rules are typically dictated by zoning and housing association rules and bylaws. Before you buy your new swing set, do a little research and find out if your selected area allows a swing set to be erected.

Slide safety

Both slides and swing sets each require their own zoning laws, which try to regulate that surrounding surface areas are safe. Example: for a 4-foot slide, there must be 6 feet of suitable surfacing at the end and all around it. For longer slides, the use zone is the height of the platform plus 4 feet. Thus, for an 8-foot-high platform, there should be 12 feet of cushioning to break a child's fall at the end of the slide, and 6 feet all around it.

And swings

Swings are a bit different. A correct zone of twice the height of the swing set will keep a child safe should he or she decide to jump off it. Thus, if the swing set is 7 feet high, the use zone would be 14 feet both in front and back. It needs to be covered with 12 inches of loose fill, like pea gravel or sand, as they break a child's fall with less impact.

When it comes to housing and neighborhood associations, you will have to check on a specific basis. Some associations have rules regulating swing sets and slides, while others don't. Still, it's best to check first rather than be met with a steep fine later on, or worse, being forced to tear down your new swing set.