Supply-Only Playground Equipment: How It Works

Supply-Only Playground Equipment: How It Works in the UK

For many UK schools, councils and developers, full installation isn’t always required.

You may already have:

• A trusted contractor
• An in-house site team
• A framework installer
• Groundworks underway as part of a wider project

In these cases, supply-only playground equipment can offer significant cost savings — while still ensuring commercial-grade, compliant equipment.

At Morti Sport & Play, we regularly supply equipment across the UK without installation. Here’s how it works.

What Is Supply-Only Playground Equipment?

Supply-only means:

✔ We provide the equipment
✔ We provide technical drawings and installation guidance
✔ We deliver to your site
✔ You arrange installation

It’s ideal when:

• A main contractor is managing works
• You are upgrading part of a playground
• Budget is tight but compliance still matters
• Installation is being handled locally

Is Supply-Only Cheaper?

Yes — but it depends.

When you remove installation, you remove:

• Labour
• Plant hire
• Waste removal
• Concrete supply
• Installer travel costs

However, you must factor in:

• Groundworks
• Safety surfacing reinstatement
• Correct anchoring and foundations
• Compliance with impact attenuation standards

Done correctly, supply-only can reduce overall project cost while maintaining quality.

What We Provide

When supplying equipment only, we provide:

• Technical installation drawings
• Foundation specifications
• Recommended surfacing depths
• Fixing and anchor details
• Delivery coordination

All equipment remains fully compliant with relevant British and European standards.

What You Are Responsible For

As the client or contractor, you would arrange:

• Excavation
• Concrete footings
• Setting out
• Surface reinstatement
• Impact area compliance
• Final inspection

We strongly recommend ensuring your installer has experience with playground installations — especially for items like swings, trampolines or zip lines.

Lead Times for Supply-Only Equipment

Most commercial playground equipment is manufactured to order.

Typical UK lead times:

• 4–8 weeks for standard equipment
• 8–12 weeks for larger structures
• Custom Robinia structures may vary

We confirm manufacturing slots before accepting orders so timelines remain controlled.

When Supply-Only Makes the Most Sense

Supply-only is often the right choice when:

• A school has a facilities team capable of installation
• A housing developer is coordinating landscaping
• Budget is constrained
• You are replacing individual items rather than refurbishing the full site

It offers flexibility without compromising on specification.

When Full Installation Is Better

Full installation is usually recommended when:

• Ground conditions are unknown
• Impact surfacing needs full design
• You want a single point of responsibility
• The project involves multiple equipment zones

In these cases, a turnkey approach reduces risk.

Compliance & Safety Considerations

All UK playground installations must meet:

• BS EN 1176 (equipment safety)
• BS EN 1177 (impact surfacing)

Even with supply-only projects, compliance responsibility ultimately sits with the site operator.

If required, we can advise on surfacing and impact requirements.

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