Ask me to recall my carefree days as a young kid, and I will often travel back to the days spent combing through the tunnels of an indoor playground. Sliding down the slides or climbing the ladders, all in a frantic race through the mazes, while getting a few jolts of static electricity along the way. We may not have known it then, but cable ties are used extensively throughout indoor play structures. However, not just any ole’ zip tie can be used.
Traditional ties feature a rigid, rectangular head, positioned for a perpendicular (90°) tape section entry. The tape section is fitted with ridges, which lock into place when pulled through the head. Unfortunately, this 90° entry design can create safety hazards, especially for children. When the tie is locked, the head and protruding tape end (especially if cut!) is positioned in a way that could snag on a child’s clothing or skin, particularly if they are moving quickly, as in the case of a game of hide-and-seek around an indoor playground. As such, indoor play facilities use inline, low-profile cable ties in their structures to these address safety concerns.
Inline zip ties feature a parallel (180°) entry point, with a low profile to maintain a more streamlined clasp, eradicating a potentially dangerous protrusion. In play structures, these ties are often used to secure netting or post padding to steel poles, offering a cheaper and more maintenance-friendly solution than screws or bolts. Zip ties allow for easier deconstruction or modification as well. These ties are offered in a variety of colors for section or part identification, as well as contributing to a fun and colorful atmosphere.
Here at Nelco, we offer inline, low-profile ties in various tensile strengths and tape lengths, shipped in packages of 100. Indoor playgrounds are, more often than not, large-scale structures and we recommend a cable tie installation tool to reduce physical strain and installation time. In addition, if you are child-proofing your home and using cable ties, choose an inline, low-profile variation. As always, call us and we will be happy to give you more information on our cable ties.
