Tan bark beneath climbing structures must maintain sufficient depth to absorb impact from falls. When depth is insufficient, the surface no longer performs its safety function. EduMaintenance programs can restore playground surface conditions to support schools in meeting their duty-of-care obligations.
School playgrounds are among the highest-use environments on any campus. Without structured maintenance, surfaces compact, sandpits contaminate, tan bark disperses and surfaces degrade, creating safety risks and driving up long-term capital costs.
EduMaintenance provides schools with structured maintenance programs designed specifically for playground environments: scheduled, documented and aligned to Australian playground safety standards.
Essential Maintenance
Comprehensive Maintenance
Playground Rejuvenation Program
Regular safety checks that satisfy your duty-of-care baseline.
Proactive upkeep that extends surface life and eliminates reactive repair bills.
Full grounds reset. Bring any playground back to a like-new condition.
*Estimates based on a typical 1,000m² school playground. Actual costs vary by surface type and condition. Request a free assessment for a school-specific projection.
Sandpit requires full replacement ($3,000-$8,000)
Tan bark falls below safe depth, creates liability
Artificial turf deteriorates prematurely
Capital works triggered by deferred maintenance
Regular conditioning extends sandpit life by years
Scheduled top-ups maintain required depth at all times
Regular cleaning and sand top-ups double effective lifespan
Structured programs eliminate most unplanned capital costs
our team inspects all play surfaces and identifies priorities
a scheduled program is recommended based on playground usage and condition
works are completed with minimal disruption to school activities
regular visits keep all surfaces safe, clean and compliant
AS 4685 (Playground Equipment and Surfacing) and AS 4422 (Impact Attenuating Surfaces) set the requirements for playground safety in Australia. EduMaintenance programs are structured to keep your grounds compliant with both standards.
AS 4685 recommends routine visual inspections (weekly to fortnightly), operational inspections (monthly to 3-monthly) and annual inspections by a competent person. Our Essential Maintenance program covers the scheduled inspection requirements.
Yes. All EduMaintenance clients have access to our priority response service for urgent safety issues. Response times vary by state – ask your account manager for your region’s SLA.
Maintenance programs are generally classed as operating expenditure (OpEx), which may be fully deductible in the year incurred. We recommend confirming with your school’s finance team. We can provide detailed project invoicing to support your reporting.
EduMarking works with schools across Australia and internationally, with a strong focus on primary school environments.
