Why are Metal Slides Being Increasingly Installed in Playgrounds?
One of the most common complaints by parents about playgrounds is the increasing use of metal slides by councils.
There are a number of valid reasons why metal slides are preferred over plastic slides including:
- Metal slides last so much longer than plastic slides which discolour and crack and need to get replaced periodically. Metal can withstand constant use as well as all types of inclement weather.
- Over the life of a playground, a metal slide will generally be more cost effective than a plastic slide.
- Metal slides are much more resistant to graffiti and vandalism.
- Metal slides let people slide faster which creates a more exciting experience for the users.
- Metal slides have a much more modern and sporty feel which appeals to kids.
To get technical, plastic has a property, specific heat, that's more than 3x higher than steel. This means that it actually takes much more energy to warm up plastic than to warm up steel, and plastic holds far more energy than steel does. However, there is another important relevant property of materials, thermal conductivity. This is a measure of how fast a material can transfer heat. Steel has a much higher value for thermal conductivity than plastic which means that it much more rapidly transfers heat. A metal slide feels hotter to the touch because it can rapidly transfer that heat to your skin, much faster than plastic.
If you are at a playground and the slide is too hot but the kids are desperate to play, you could wear long pants or cool the slide down by spraying water onto the slide.
Instead of complaining about metal slides parents should complain about lack of shade sails at playgrounds. The number of shaded playgrounds (less than 10%) in Melbourne is pitiful.
