Navigating Product Warranties

Navigating through various product warranties can be
a confusing process, but asking the right questions
can help to ensure you are protected from expensive
out of pocket costs if a claim is required.

 

When evaluating product warranties, it is important to
recognize that playground surfacing represents a small
niche industry, and as a result many of the companies
engaged in the supply of playground surfacing are relatively
small, privately held companies. As such, the quality of a
product warranty may be more dependent on the reliability
of the issuing company as opposed to the actual content
contained within the warranty document.

 

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the questions
that should form an integral part of your product warranty
evaluation:

Who Are You Dealing With?

 

Evaluation of playground surfacing should extend beyond
the product itself to include the company manufacturing and
installing the product.

Ask about the company’s history. How long have they been
in business? Have they always operated under the same
company name?

 

Ask for references, but be specific in requesting references
for problem projects. No company is perfect, and chances
are that if the manufacturer has been in business for a
reasonable period of time, they have encountered some
challenges along the way. By speaking with customers that
have worked through a warranty claim, you will gain a much
better understanding as to how the manufacture responds
to warranty related issues.

What is the Scope of the Warranty?

 

Does the warranty include long-term compliance to the
ASTM F1292 safety standard? Many warranties within the
playground surfacing industry cover materials and work-
manship to the exclusion of safety compliance. This means

that although the surface may be guaranteed to meet the
required safety performance at the time of installation,
compliance is not covered beyond the initial installation date.
In the absence of specific coverage that includes compliance
to ASTM F1292, the warranty is of little value.

What is the Length of the Warranty?

 

Many warranties, particularly with regard to poured-in-place
surfaces, have been standardized to provide coverage
between 3-5 years. Surprisingly, some products still carry
a 1 year warranty. A number of manufacturers will offer
extended warranties, however the extension typically
comes with considerable cost.

Exercise caution if a company is willing to “match” another
manufacturer’s warranty. More often than not, this is done
in haste with a short-sighted focus on securing the immediate
business. Generally speaking, a product that carries a 5 year
warranty, is not capable of supporting a 10 year life cycle.
Look for companies that carry a minimum 10 year, warranty
that includes compliance to ASTM F1292.

Does the Warranty Cover Ancillary
Costs Such as Freight & Installation?

 

Playground surfacing is a heavy, bulky material which is
typically manufactured in one location and shipped across
North America. Since many warranties do not include
ancillary items, such as freight, the out-of-pocket cost to
replace a few square feet of surfacing could cost hundreds
of dollars.

Additionally, since installation of playground surfacing is
often a technical process that involves specialized knowledge,
the out-of-pocket cost to replace even a small section of
surfacing can be significant if the installation component is
not included in the warranty schedule.

What is Required to Validate the Warranty?

 

Understand what is required of the owner in order to validate
the warranty. Some warranties require ongoing, costly main-
tenance schedules in order to maintain continued coverage.