What is BS EN 17232 about?
BS EN 17232 discusses water play equipment and features. BS EN 17232 specifies safety requirements, test methods and operational requirements for installed water play equipment, features and structures intended for playing, and in areas intended for water activities for public use (non-domestic), typically in swimming pool facilities, and where water is an integral part in the use of the play equipment/feature/structures.
Play provision should aim at managing the balance between the need to offer risk and the need to keep children safe from serious harm. BS EN 17232 also applies to spray parks.
Note: BS EN 17232 does not apply to floating leisure articles according to EN ISO 25649 series, artificial climbing walls according to EN 12572 series, toys according to EN 71 series, water slides according to EN 1069 series, climbing/bouldering walls used in the swimming pool surround according to EN 17164, water equipment/features (e.g., ornamental fountains) not intended for playing, water play equipment/features installed in swimming pools for domestic use, playground equipment according to EN 1176 series.
Who is BS EN 17232 for?
BS EN 17232 on water play equipment and features is useful for:
- Manufacturers of water play equipment
- Contractors responsible for installing water play equipment
- Waterpark and theme park management
- Swimming pool management
- Facility managers
Why should you use BS EN 17232?
Risk-taking is an essential feature of play provision and of all environments in which children legitimately spend time playing. Play provision aims to offer children the chance to encounter acceptable risks as part of a stimulating, challenging and controlled learning environment. BS EN 17232 ensures a proper level of safety when playing in, on or around water play equipment and at the same time promotes activities and features known to benefit children because they provide valuable experiences that will enable them to cope with situations outside the water play equipment/feature(s).
The way children benefit from playing in a water environment with regard to development, children need to learn to cope with risk and this can lead to bumps and bruises; and even occasionally a broken limb. BS EN 17232 aims to prevent accidents with a disabling or fatal consequence, and secondly to lessen serious consequences caused by the occasional mishap that inevitably will occur in children's pursuit of expanding their level of competence, be it socially, intellectually, or physically
