Why is play so important in a child's life?
So how much does a playstructure cost?
What is our product made of?
Do you have what I want?
Does your playground equipment meet all required safety standards?
What is the warranty on your playground equipment?
What questions will be asked of me?
How will I place an order?

Why is play so important in a child's life?

Click to learn about Psychology of Play

So how much does a play structure cost?

Each and every structure we design is an original - no two are ever the same. It isn't like buying a car or truck, but similar to buying a house. However, to allow preliminary budgeting, play structure pricing can range widely from $5,000 to $50,000 or more. As a general guide, the majoritiy of the structures showcased in this catalogue for schools range from $15,000 - $20,000. Preschool structures range from, $7,000 - $15,000. Remember, this is strictly the cost of your play structure. Installation, surfacing, retaining walls and other necessary accessories are additional.



What is our product made of?

The entire structure of the playset is made of rigid steel. All steel used in the manufacturing of our equipment is galvanized, ensuring quality and durability for you years to come. After fabrication, all of our componenets receive a durable and bright ArmorCoat™ finish in your choice of colors.

Because of heavier traffic on stairs and decks, these components receive and ultra thick dipping of CushionGuard™ for extra strength and durability.

Our play panels are fabricated from extruded 3/4" thick poly panels, designed for fade resistance. There are scores of cutout options for highly imaginative play.

Our plastic slides, climbers, components and roofs are all made of durable, rotationally-moulded poly plastic.

(Also see: Safety and Durability)



Do you have what I want?

The possibilities with APE are endless. thanks to our computer-aided design system, we can quickly show you color renderings for any design layout. As well, we can custom tune your play structure directly to your needs and budgets.



Does your playground equipment meet all required safety standards?

At APE we are committed to safety. Our play structures meet and exceed the US ASM F-1487 standard for Consumer Safety Perfomance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use, and the strict CAN/CSA-Z614-98, the National Standard of Canada for Children's Play Spaces and Equipment



What is the warranty on your playground equipment?

Our warranty is simple, honest and straight forward. It includes no fine print. APE Inc. warrants all of our manufactured playground equipment to be in full compliance of the current US ASTM F-1487, and the Canadian CSA-Z614-98 standards for playground equipment at time of installation. We further warrant components as follows:

- Full installation by authorized APE installation team - 2 Years
- Polyethylene Comonents against structural failure - 5 Years
- Steel Components against structural failure - 10 Years
- ArmourCoat™ and CushionGuard™ against adhesion failure - 5 Years

Further to our Canadian Standards we recognize the following playground industry related documents in all our designing, manufacturing, and installation processes:

CAN/CSA-Z614-98, A Guideline on Children's Playspaces and Equipment (Canadian Standards Association, revised edition May 1998)

ASTM, F 1487 - 93, Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification
for Playground Equipment for Public Use
(American Society for Testing and Materials)

ASTM, F 1292 - 91, Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment
(American Society for Testing and Materials)

CFA, Report and Model Law on Public Play Equipment and Areas
(Consumer Federation of America)

CPSC, Handbook for Public Playground Safety (U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission)

ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act



What questions will be asked of me?

From your initial contact with APE, your dealer will develop a playground to fit your needs. Many questions will need to be answered. Such as:

- What is the intended age group?

- How many children are expected to use this equipment?

- What style of structure do you want (ie. slides, climbers, swings, panels)?

- Have you considered the ASTM or CSA required protective surfacing (fall protection)?

- What time do we have to work with?

- Does your school have a budget?

Answers to these questions will help us put together a "design solution" specific to your needs. Once established, we can present several scenarios that may work for you. Upon presentation and discussion, we can further fine tune your design. As a direct manufacturer, we flexible and changes are easily made.

How will I place an order?

As our structures are custom designed and built, we may need a deposit to proceed with your order (subject to dealership discretion). In all cases, we will require a written order confirmation (fax or email acceptable). As we typically go through many design changes in our sales process, this ensures the accuracy of your order.