Hang Fast Vertical Playground Brochure online

HANG FAST CREATING ADVENTURE

2www.verticalplayground.co.uk

A NEW CONCEPT IN AFFORDABLE LEISURE

3 www.verticalplayground.co.uk

CONTENTS

Introduction 4

What is Vertical Playground? 5

Why Vertical Playground? 6 The Business Case 8 Capital Cost Sales Pricing Direct Operating Costs Maintenance and renewal

Flexible Design 10 Vertical Playground Elements Tower Elements Monolithic Elements Activ8 Elements Bespoke Elements Making best use of your space

Build, Maintenance and Aftercare 13 Engineering Construction time Peace of Mind

Trublue Auto Belay Systems 15 Operations 16 Staff numbers Climbing Equipment Onsite training by Hang Fast

Health and Social Benefits 18

Summary 19

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INTRODUCTION

Vertical PlaygroundTM is the next generation of indoor adventure structures, a fun and imaginative introduction to adventure play and climbing. With its bright colours and striking themes Vertical Playground attracts the attention of kids and adults alike.

Vertical Playground is designed to be multi-generational and inclusive, to create an adventure for all. The versatility of the Vertical Playground allows for installation in almost any facility - squash courts, shopping centres, climbing facilities and holiday resorts.

Our new technologies and systems have allowed us to create a fully immersive experience. Each individual element is a fully engineered, modular system. With a growing number of themed elements and the continuing development of new concepts, our Vertical Playground is evolving into one of the most versatile and customisable products to open up and expand your revenue streams.

Our unique elements present an exciting set of climbing based challenges that can be enjoyed by everyone. The climbs provide both a physical and mental challenge and provide a healthy, full body work out.

Vertical Playground is principally aimed at 5 to 15 year olds, but can be used regularly by anyone from 4 to 94!

Vertical playground will increase levels of physical activity amongst people from all backgrounds, whilst generating significant income.


WHAT IS VERTICAL PLAYGROUND?Vertical Playground is an exciting new concept in leisure which addresses head on two big concerns of leisure providers who ask;

How do we generate more revenue from our facilities?

How do we get more people physically active?

Vertical Playground is proven to generate a profit and offers an experience which appeals to people who are less likely to be doing other activity. It combines fun and social elements with a personal challenge.

A typical Vertical Playground will cost under £250,000 (314.875€) and generate more than £100,000 (125.950€) of net profit annually.

Vertical Playground is a thrilling adventure play experience in the vertical world open to all, an experience previously only available to rock athletes that have undergone considerable training in rock climbing gyms.

A typical Vertical Playground will attract 40,000 to 50,000 users a year, mostly young people.

We have developed over 25 unique, highly colourful, exciting challenges that bring the sport of climbing to everyone, irrespective of age or ability.

Vertical Playground increases participation as it appeals to people who do not ‘fit’ other sports.

Vertical Playground can be used in total safety by anyone and in any location, from schools, leisure centres, shopping malls, or as add-ons to existing climbing centres.

Vertical Playground is flexible, therefore can fill unused space, adding income to existing centres.

Vertical Playground delivers just what it says on the tin! It is ‘Vertical Play’, combining the challenge and achievement of climbing with the fun, social and learning aspects of play.


WHY VERTICAL PLAYGROUND?

Vertical Playground facilities offer a great combination of cost effectiveness, return on investment and accessibility.

There are a lot of factors to be weighed up when considering a leisure investment. Vertical Playground ticks all the boxes. How many other facility options can do that?

As well as these quantifiable aspects there is also that ‘wow’ factor that comes with having something new and truly innovative.

Vertical Playground is the best product of its type available on the market.

Over 30 themed elements to choose from with new and exciting elements being added regularly

Versatile modular system Unique finish to the panels and features The industry’s most cost effective solution Fully interactive experience Fully customisable, i.e. colour, logos, text,

height The industry’s most imaginative designs No franchise required No minimum order EN 12572 compliant Available for outdoor use


What makes a good leisure facility?

Vertical Playground Vertical Playground: Numbers and Evidence

Lots of people will use it Typically 40,000 to 50,000 user visits a year.

It is affordable and will pay back investment Typical cost of around £200,000-250,000 (250.000-315.000€) paid back within 24

months. There is no minimum order size and no franchise required.

It will generate money to support leisure services Operating profit typically at least £100,000 (125.000€).

It will get people into physical activity It is something different that anyone can do, with a sense of fun as well as

personal achievement.

It will fit space and budget Modular with each unit costing under £10,000 (12.500€). Over 30 different units

to choose from.

Attracts young people who do not enjoy team sports

Climbing is a counter-cultural ‘cool’ sport that has been shown to attract people not into traditional activities.

Attracts all parts of the community and brings people together

Climbing attracts all demographics. It is certainly not seen as an exclusive sport and is equally attractive to girls and boys.

Really good for people with disabilities or mental health issues

It is a personal challenge and so works for all physical abilities. Equipment for disabled climbers is well developed. Has strong confidence building aspects.

No expensive equipment, so it’s easy to have a go

People can enjoy Vertical Playground in their ‘street‘ clothes and trainers if they want to.

Safe More than 800,000 people have enjoyed climbing at facilities of this type without there being a single accident.


THE BUSINESS CASE

The following pages will detail how a Vertical Playground facility is built, maintained and operated. But first let us look at the headline numbers that show why Vertical Playground is such a good investment.

Capital CostThe optimal size for a Vertical Playground is 18-24 units. The cost of building and installing such a facility will be in the region of £200,000-£250,000 (250.000-315.000€).

SalesA facility with 25 units could expect to attract around 50,000 user visits a year. This will of course vary and the key factors are:

Catchment: the number of people within a reasonable drive time (c40minutes).

Capacity: Number of units.

Promotion: How well the marketing is managed and how well the visitor experience drives word of mouth. Hang Fast can help with this.

PricingThis is likely to be location specific and operators will also want to balance accessibility with return on investment. Typically prices will be kept low for the younger age groups with strong off peak incentives. For modelling purposes we use average prices of £5 (6,3€) for 4-5 year olds, £10 (12,6€) for ages 6 to 16, and £15 (18,9€) for 17+.

A typical Vertical Playground will pay back capital costs in 3-4 years and then generate £100k+ (125.950€) a year in profit.


Direct Operating CostsThe operating margin for a Vertical Playground facility will be around 55%. This average is based on actual figures from existing facilities, and assumes the Vertical Playground is within a larger facility.

Maintenance and renewalWe would recommend that a sinking fund of 7.5% of capital cost be created to allow for repair and renewal.

Simple Financial Model for a 25 Unit Facility Year 1(Opening)

Year 2(Stable)

Sales to Individuals £380,000 (478.610€) £430,000 (541.585€)

Sales to Parties £15,000 (18.892€) £20,000 (25.190€)

Operating Costs £210,000 (264.495€) £230,000 (289.685€)

Sinking Fund £20,000 (25.190€) £20,000 (25.190€)

Operating Profit £165,000 (207.817€) £200,000 (251.900€)

Overheads Contribution/Migration £100,000 (125.950€) £100,000 (125.950€)

Net Surplus £65,000 (81.867€) £100,000 (125.950€)

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FLEXIBLE DESIGNVertical Playground ElementsAre made from a variety of materials. Many elements are plywood based with added bespoke fibreglass and plastic features added.

All elements have been designed to meet the European Standards for Artificial Climbing Structures EN12572 and important elements of the Playground Standard EN1176 - for instance the radius of edges, roundness of holds and lack of finger traps etc. Vertical Playground has over 25 different elements that are detailed on our website, and more are being added all the time. Our Vertical Playground elements are split into 4 categories:

Tower Elements These are ‘standard’ climbing elements with funky and colourful designs. There’s an exciting challenge for everyone!

Monolithic ElementsThese are free standing elements that add an extra dimension to the experience.

Activ8 Elements What makes Vertical Playground different is the option to have an interactive side to the climbing elements. With the use of motion sensors, lights and sounds, our climbing elements come to life.

Bespoke Elements Fully exclusive themed elements are available to clients. You give us the idea, we make it possible with bespoke, made to measure, unique challenges.

A Vertical Playground facility is fully modular and consists of anything from 5 to 30+ individual elements. Installation is efficient and can be made to fit the space you have as long as sufficient height is available.


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Making best use of your space

Vertical Playground is a very flexible way of using space. Hang Fast will work with you to make sure that you get the best value from the rooms you have available. We will help you visualise how the facility will look and help make sure that it integrates with other aspects of your operation. We also supply the safety flooring and can provide annual maintenance on a fixed fee.

Room Height Vertical Playground Elements are 1.5m wide and usually between 5m and 10.5m high (and bespoke heights are available). That said 5m is really a little too short to give a good experience and over 10m is probably too high and intimidating for many. Our standard height therefore is 7.5m. The height can be adjusted to suit your building.

Room Size A small facility may have 8 to 12 elements and would require approximately 60 - 80m2. An average medium sized facility may have an area of 100 -120m2 and may contain 15 to 20 elements, with a mixture of Tower and Monolithic elements. The ideal facility would have 20+ elements and requires 175 - 225m2. A facility of this size can accommodate 30 to 36 users an hour and maximises revenue.

Room Shape Vertical Playground can be built in any shape room of the right size, with ideally one side left totally open to allow good viewing.

Safety Flooring All Vertical Playgrounds are supplied with rubber crumb safety floor tiles, to provide the highest levels of safety for users.Our safety flooring is typically 75mm thick, providing for a fall from up to 2.8m. Tiles are 1m2 and are black in colour, although other colours are available on request.Worn tiles can be quickly and easily lifted out and replaced if necessary. All of our safety flooring is guaranteed for two years when linked to our annual maintenance agreement.

Ancillary Facilities A café area in or near the viewing area is also ideal, especially one that can cater for birthday parties.

Changing and Waiting Areas

A 25 element Vertical Playground can accommodate up to 36 users, so an area big enough for such a group is required (20 - 30m2). A small equipment store of approximately 5m2 is also recommended in the changing and preparation area.


Build, Maintenance and Aftercare

EngineeringAll elements of Vertical Playground are engineered to the European Artificial Climbing Structures Standard EN12572. That is each individual element and the overall stability of the structure.

Generally we can attach directly to structurally supporting walls and can bolt into the concrete floor slab.

Once we have completed the engineering study for a project it will be forwarded for approval by site engineers. The study will detail the loads which will be applied to the building (floor and walls), through the dead weight of the structure and the live loads of the users.

Construction timeA typical 25 element Vertical Playground would take 6 to 8 weeks to manufacture and 2 to 3 weeks to install. Therefore including the initial visit, the design and order process, engineering and approvals, the project from first contact to installed and ready to use would normally be 3 to 6 months.

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Vertical Playground is easy to construct and efficient to operate with low maintenance costs. Construction is quick with minimal disruption to your facility and operations.

We support clients long term and help ensure compliance with all relevant legislation.Hang Fast are specialists in maintenance and inspection. Hang Fast will supply all manuals and can support clients with inspection, staff training and maintenance.


Peace of MindAdventure structure inspections and maintenance are a core area of Hang Fast’s business. A recordable inspection regime is needed to ensure compliance with health and safety law. The frequency of the inspections depends upon the number of users, amount of use, and the environment the structure is in. Operators will generally organise their own daily, weekly and monthly checks, but a detailed annual inspection requires specialist knowledge and Hang Fast can carry out this inspection and follow up on any maintenance on your behalf.

Manuals On completion of the installation of a Vertical Playground, Hang Fast will supply detailed manuals that specify the types of maintenance required at different time periods and the key things to look for.

Full Inspection to relevant British and European Standard

The condition and integrity of all structural components – primary and secondary frame.The condition and security of all surfaces, holds and other features. The condition and security of all anchor systems and auto belay attachments.The condition and security of safety matting Compliance to EN regulations.

Maintenance and Repairs If required, maintenance and repairs will be conducted by our team. Upon completion of the inspection, a comprehensive report will be prepared detailing our findings, highlighting any recommendations for further action or which may improve the quality and lifespan of your facility.

Certification After inspection and any necessary maintenance work, a certificate from Hang Fast will be issued that details the date of the inspection, continued compliance with EN 12572, and the date when a further inspection is recommended (usually after a 12 month interval).

Two Year Warranty Every Vertical Playground is covered for a warranty period of two years by Hang Fast. The warranty covers all elements manufactured and installed by our team, including the safety flooring. Longer term maintenance contracts are also available.

Climbing Equipment Warranty Individual items of climbing equipment supplied with your Vertical Playground are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty for one year. Full details are supplied with all equipment supplied.

Insurance Hang Fast Limited is fully insured. We carry £5,000,000 (6.297.500€) Public and Product Liability insurance and £10,000,000 (12.595.000€) Employers Liability insurance. We also carry a comprehensive contractor All Risks insurance policy.

We are the only climbing wall company that employs a dedicated full time

inspection team that can deal with any issues immediately.


Trublue Auto Belay Systems

All Vertical Playground elements are equipped with a Trublue auto belay system which eliminates the need for as many ‘instructor belayers’. Trublue takes up the slack as a climber ascends, and controls their descent when the climber reaches the top or in the event of a fall.

Trublue auto belays are designed specifically for the climbing industry, and the unit gives unique benefits over other auto belays, including a patented self-regulating braking system enabled by non-contacting magnetic braking technology, resulting from over four years of research and development.

Features and BenefitsAdvanced Technology Reliability with no sacrificial wear parts.

Smooth descent with minimal variation in descent rate between a child and an adult.

Safety Extensive safety testing. No clutch bearing, eliminating a key point of failure present in other auto belay designs. Gentle whirring noise alerts those below of descending climber.

Flexibility Simple to install and easy to move to accommodate group programming. Descent height of up to 12.5 meters is ideal for Vertical Playground. Accommodates a wide range of climber weights from 10 to 150 kg.

Minimal maintenance requirements and costs

The webbing based system will not damage the Vertical Playground elements and is more natural for climbing than the steel wire rope used on other auto belay devices.Reduced webbing wear with unique delivery nozzle and field replaceable webbing kit. Lower maintenance and servicing costs.

International Certification Trublue auto belay systems meet the same standards for safety as any other fall arrest devices.Designed to meet and exceed European Union Directive EN 341 “Personal protection equipment against falls from a height – Descender devices”. Trublue auto belays have undergone extensive testing by an ISO 17025 certified lab specialising in product safety testing.

Trublue is the world’s leading auto belay system. Over 800,000 people have enjoyed Vertical Playground type facilities without there being a single accident.


Operations

Staff numbersOperating a Vertical Playground with Trublue auto belays is basically a pretty easy task. There is little that can go wrong and it very rarely does. In over 800,000 uses of similar type facilities there has never been a serious accident.

• Vertical Playground usually requires one member of staff for every 6 users.

• In certain circumstances, an instructor could manage up to 10 climbers, with other adult support.

• One qualified member of staff should be on site at all times.

• Other staff can be trained on site by the manager and Hang Fast.

• Details of staff qualifications and training can be found at www.mountain-training.org

Climbing EquipmentMinimal equipment is required to use Vertical Playground; a safety harness and you’re ready to go, with a helmet needed for a few elements. Hang Fast can supply all necessary equipment at very competitive prices as part of the Vertical Playground package.

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Vertical Playground is efficient to operate with low direct costs. Hang Fast can support any staff training required.


Onsite training by Hang Fast

Hang Fast offer clients the option of having their staff trained on site for the specific equipment they have. Training would include:

• Staff/student ratios• General operations procedures – time, numbers

etc.• Safe use of the auto belays• How to help struggling climbers• The types of common minor accidents – bumps

and scrapes• More serious accident procedures • Simple rescue techniques• Daily, weekly and monthly maintenance and

inspection procedures

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Health and Social Benefits

Vertical Playground will get more young people into physical activity and it will bring people together from across the community. It is accessible to all, no specialist equipment is required, and it works equally well for people with mental and physical disabilities.

• We surveyed 800 secondary school pupils - 47% said they would like to try climbing. Many were not doing other sport.

• Climbing is enjoyed by people of all sexes, ages and body shapes. It also has a counter cultural aspect. In short it’s for everyone and it’s pretty cool!

• Vertical Playground is part of a progression into long-term participation. People who get into climbing stick with it.

• Vertical Playground is a social activity and something that groups of young people are going to want to do together.

• Vertical Playground elements can be upgraded, refreshed or replaced on a regular basis and so there is always a new challenge round the corner.

• Vertical playground works for people with physical disabilities and has been shown to increase spacial perception, hand-eye coordination and balance.

• Climbing can be therapy disguised as play. It is great for people with mental health issues.

Vertical Playground will get more young people into physical activity. It appeals equally to girls and boys.

Vertical Playground is accessible and affordable. It will bring people

together from all parts of the community.

Climbing is an excellent activity for people of all ages with mental or physical disabilities.


Summary

Vertical Playground is an exciting new concept with a real ‘wow’ factor that will create a buzz amongst your customers.Vertical Playground will quickly pay back investment whilst bringing in money to support your leisure costs. It will get more people to take part in physical activity and allow you to reach out to groups not interested in other sports. Vertical Playground will fit the space you have available, so turning dead space into revenue. It is easy to construct and operate with a great safety record. Vertical Playground comes with peace of mind. Hang Fast offer training and maintenance support. And everything we deliver - from construction to staff training - is done to meet the highest standards. Vertical Playground is a leisure investment you can make with confidence. Come and talk to us and we will help you make it happen.

Contact Us

Vertical PlaygroundUnit 18/19Castlefields Industrial EstateCrossflattsBingley BD16 2AGTel : +44 01274 [email protected]/VerticalPlaygroundwww.twitter.com/VerticalPlay

European AssociateFrançois [email protected]

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www.verticalplayground.co.uk

Documents

Hang Fast Vertical Playground Brochure online