Some ideas on creating a checklist and schedule for regular maintenance of Commercial Site Furnishings such as picnic tables that must withstand constant use by the public
Commercial site furnishings such as picnic tables, park benches, outdoor bike racks and aluminum bleachers should be inspected on a regular basis to be safe and kept in prime condition.
After all these products are usually located in public places where they are subjected to heavy usage and wear.
It's smart to be safe rather than sorry.
Here is a checklist of some of the typical issues to check.
Note: This is not a complete list because the manufacturer might have some specific requirements for certain products.
(For further information, contact the knowledgeable staff at The Park and Facilities Catalog for additional answers to your questions about maintaining and repairing commercial site furnishings).
Checklist for commercial site furnishings
- Bolts, fasteners, screws and other parts that you see on picnic tables, for example, should be inspected on a regular basis. Tighten or replace as needed. Be sure not to strip threads.
- Check for any missing hardware.
- Damaged commercial site furnishings should be removed and placed in storage until the necessary repairs can be made.
- Any parts that require lubrication should be done on a regular basis and according to specifications. Be sure to avoid spilling oil or grease on other parts or materials such as plastic, wood, etc.
- Any welds or joints that are cracked or broken need to be fixed. The entire commercial site furnishing needs to be removed and may have to be replaced.
- Repair loose parts, seats, planks, armrests, legs, cross-pieces on picnic tables, braces, frames, etc.
- Fix cracked or chipped coatings or laminates.
- For wood products such as wooden park benches or picnic tables, look for splintering. Repair by sanding to a smooth touch or replacing. Check manufacturing specifications.
- Keep the products clean and free of dirt, grime and grease to avoid slippage, and a bad experience for users in general. Plus, keeping these commercial site furnishings clean allows you to spot problem areas quickly. Be sure to check with the manufacturer on recommended cleaning products.
- A little bit of touch-up paint or thermoplastic coating can not only make a picnic table, bench or bike rack look new, but it can also prevent further corrosion and chipping. Talk to the manufacturer about obtaining the right touch-up paint or thermoplastic repair powder. Thoroughly clean the area first before applying the paint.
- Some repairs can be completed by the facility maintenance crew or handy person. However, for more complex issues such as structural problems, it might be best to send the product off to a professional service for certain types of repairs that require specialized tools.
A simple heat gun can be used for repairs to thermoplastic coated metal picnic tables
Set up an inspection process
Obviously, the key to any program to keep your commercial site furnishings in tip-top shape is to have a regular program for inspection.
- Create a schedule for inspection and maintenance.
- Document the steps, who is accountable and include a sign-off process.
- Establish a detailed checklist for the commercial site furnishings that need to be cleaned and maintained including the parts and processes.
- Date stamp all activity. This is helpful for warranty claims or other issues.
- Instruct your staff to be on the lookout for any problems or signs of wear and tear.
- Be especially vigilant for signs of vandalism. A picnic table, bench or other item that is safe and secure one day, can become an issue overnight.
- Remove any item that cannot be repaired or fixed. Don't let a damaged picnic table or bench sit out in the open, even if you mark or tape off the area.
- Remove any commercial site furnishings immediately that have been damaged with offensive graffiti. In many cases, families use these products and you certainly don't want them to be offended and in a worst-case scenario, writing to complain to the local media or on social sites such as Facebook, Google or Yelp. Remember, in this day and age, someone can take out their cellphone and immediately post a negative review in just minutes.
Here is a link to a National Recreation and Park Association article on providing safe park and outdoor environments.
Remember those famous words from Benjamin Franklin, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!"
The same applies to picnic tables, park benches, bike racks, trash receptacles, aluminum bleachers and all those outdoor furnishings on your grounds.
Inspect, fix, possibly remove, tighten and clean those commercial site furnishings now, to avoid any messy maintenance problems later that require more of your time and resources to resolve.