Technical inspection of Parkour equipment

Vertic’Alps Expertise carries out acceptance inspections and annual principal inspections of Parkour equipment in accordance with NF EN 16899.

Our work takes account of the equipment, its layout, foundations and surfacing, together with the manufacturer's manual. Applicable provisions are examined in light of intended conditions of use, including supervised use where provided for by the standard.

The acceptance inspection takes place after construction of a new installation or following modifications to equipment or surfacing.

Our work includes a documentary examination and a visual inspection, together with the necessary dimensional checks. The points examined are adapted to the installation's configuration and the manufacturer's manual.

We check in particular:

• Structures and their connections: visible condition of accessible load-bearing components, fixings, anchors and foundations; identification of cracks, deformation, corrosion, rot or deterioration.

• Accessible surfaces: condition of platforms, walls, bars and rails; presence of sharp edges, projections or damage liable to cause injury.

• Equipment layout: heights, access arrangements, clearances, falling spaces and separation from other installations and activities.

• Entrapment risks: configuration and dimensions of openings, passages and gaps between components.

• Impact-attenuating surfacing: visible condition, layout, extent and level of materials, with examination of the applicable performance evidence.

• Signs and markings: equipment identification, information signs, instructions and level markers.

The documentary examination also covers equipment-strength substantiation, previous inspections, maintenance operations and modifications carried out.

A debriefing at the end of the assignment explains the observations and priority corrective actions.

We also share our analysis of the activity's risks on the inspected site, based on field experience and lessons from varied installations and settings.

This discussion focuses in particular on situations and risks not explicitly covered by standards, so that we can discuss areas requiring attention and improvement measures suited to the site.

Following our assignment, we provide:

• An inspection certificate.

• A summary of priority findings.

• A detailed inspection report in PDF format.

A favourable safety opinion is subject to resolving findings that compromise safety and providing the substantiation needed to reach a conclusion.

To enable the documentary examination, the following documents should be prepared according to the installation's characteristics:

• The manufacturer's documentation: drawings, layout, and installation, operating, inspection and maintenance instructions.

• The design documents and the contract's technical documents concerning equipment and surfacing.

• Equipment-strength substantiation: structural calculation reports and/or test reports, depending on the substantiation method selected in accordance with the standard.

• The properties and performance evidence for impact-attenuating surfacing, where required.

• Previous inspection and test reports, with follow-up of corrective actions.

• The inspection and maintenance register, as well as inspection and maintenance programmes.

• Written procedures for incidents or accidents and records of accidents that have occurred.

• Documents relating to alterations to the installation, with updates to the relevant drawings and instructions.

Work must be complete. Equipment and structural parts to be examined must be accessible.

Any clearance, dismantling or exposure of concealed components needed for inspection must be arranged in advance.

A person familiar with the installation accompanies the inspector during the assignment.