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Handbook for Playground Safety <br />5.3.2.2 Arch climbers <br />Arch climbers consist of rungs attached to convex side sup- <br />ports. They may be free standing (Figure 10) or be provided <br />as a more challenging means of access to other equipment <br />(Figure 11). <br />• Arch climbers should not be used as the sole means of <br />access to other equipment for preschoolers. <br />• Free standing arch climbers are not recommended for tod- <br />dlers or preschool -age children. <br />• The rung diameter and spacing of rungs on arch climbers <br />should follow the recommendations for rung ladders in <br />Table 6. <br />Figure 10. Freestanding arch climber <br />iAJltf�' <br />211:1: <br />ml®®7➢1 Ol 1@® <br />ms�ati d, <br />Figure 12. Examples of two- and three-dimensional <br />flexible climbers <br />5.3.2.3 Flexible climbers <br />Flexible climbers use a grid of ropes, chains, cables, or tires <br />for climbing. Since the flexible parts do not provide a steady <br />means of support, flexible climbers require more advanced <br />balance abilities than rigid climbers. <br />Rope, chain, and cable generally form a net -like structure <br />that may be either two or three dimensional. See Figure 12. <br />Tire climbers may have the tires secured tread -to -tread to <br />form a sloping grid, or the tires may be suspended individual- <br />ly by chains or other means. <br />• Flexible climbers that provide access to platforms should <br />be securely anchored at both ends. <br />• When connected to the ground, the anchoring devices <br />should be installed below ground level and beneath the <br />base of the protective surfacing material. <br />• Connections between ropes, cables, chains, or between <br />tires should be securely fixed. <br />• Flexible climbers are not recommended as the sole means <br />of access to equipment intended for toddlers and <br />preschool -age children. <br />• Free-standing flexible climbers are not recommended on <br />playgrounds intended for toddlers and preschool children. <br />• Spacing between the horizontal and vertical components <br />of a climbing grid should not form entrapment hazards. <br />• The perimeter of any opening in a net structure should be <br />less than 17 inches or greater than 28 inches (see Figure <br />13). <br />26 <br />