Adventure Playsets The Meridian 65009 Assembly instructions

Owner’s Manual
And
Assembly Instructions
The Meridian
Wooden Playcenter - 2009
Model: 65009
Made in China
INS-65009
Rev. 11/03/2008

Adventure Playsets
Thank you for purchasing an
Adventure Playsets
Playcenter. We hope it will
bring you and your children
many years of safe and
enjoyable backyard fun.
Table of Contents
Letter to Customer 2
Positioning Your Playcenter 3
Tools Required for Assembly 3
Helpful Installation Hints 4
Suggested Playground Surfacing 5
Operating Instructions 6
Maintenance Instructions 7
Disposal Instructions 7
CPSC Information Sheet 8
Assembly Instructions 9
Limited Warranty 47
Warranty Claim Procedure 48
Customer Registration Card 49
We recommend you
Attach your Sales
receipt here for
future reference
Your owner’s manual should be read carefully
before starting assembly.

STOP…PLEASE READ!!
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ARE
MISSING A PART, PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT
THE RETAILER THAT YOU PURCHASED THIS
PRODUCT FROM.
PLEASE CALL US DIRECTLY
AT THE FACTORY, 1-800-856-4445,
OUR TRAINED STAFF WILL ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS AND OR EXPEDITE PARTS
THAT YOU MAY NEED.
For the most efficient service, please log onto
our websites at
http://www.adventureplaysets.com or
http://www.by-leisure.com and register your
unit as well as make an order for any missing or
damaged parts.
For all international customers, please visit the following website for information on all warranty
issues including where to obtain replacement parts.
http://www.adventureplaysets.com/international
INS-65009 1Document Number 165-009 Rev. 11/03/2008

Dear Customer:
Please read this booklet completely before beginning the assembly process.
Thank you for purchasing an Adventure Playsets Playcenter. We hope it will bring you and
your children many years of safe and enjoyable backyard fun. Adventure Playsets
equipment is recommended for use by children 3 to 10 years of age. Adventure Playsets
structures are not intended for public use. Adventure Playsets does not warranty any
of its residential structures subjected to commercial use such as: Daycare, Preschool,
Nursery School, Recreational Park, or any similar Commercial Application.
WARNING: This Symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not
followed, could endanger the personal safety of yourself and your children
and/or damage your property. You MUST read and follow all instructions in
this manual before attempting to use this playcenter.
WARNING: Children must NOT use this playcenter until unit has been
completely assembled and inspected by an adult to insure set has been
properly installed and anchored.
Please follow all recommendations below. Failure to do so may result in the warranty
being void and/or safety violations that could result in serious injury. This manual has
been prepared to help you and your families achieve the full benefit of your Adventure
Playsets Playcenter. It contains helpful information concerning Assembly Preparation,
Installation Procedure, Required Maintenance, Replacement Parts, and should the situation
occur, the procedure for filing a warranty claim. Always keep the safety of your children in
mind as your play structure is being built and as your children play on the set. Before your
children play on the set please review the Operation Instructions with them to help ensure
their safety.
PLEASE RETAIN THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. KEEP THEM IN A SAFE PLACE
WHERE YOU CAN REFER TO THEM AS NEEDED. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE MOST
EFFICIENT SERVICE, IT IS REQUIRED THAT YOU PROVIDE US WITH THE PART NUMBERS WHEN
ORDERING PARTS.
Please do NOT return the playcenter to the retailer from which it was
purchased, without first contacting Customer Service.
For Your Records:
Please take time and fill out the information below. This information will be needed for
warranty issues.
Where Purchased: ______________ Date of Purchase:________________
Installation Date: _______________ Installed by:______________________
Manufacturer: Adventure Playsets
3001 North Rouse
Pittsburgh, KS 66762
Ph. #: 1-800-856-4445 Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Websites: http://www.by-leisure.com
http://www.adventureplaysets.com
International Website: http://www.adventureplaysets.com/international
Unit Type:
Unit Name: The Meridian – 2009 Revision Date: 08/08/08 Unit Model Number: 65009
Maximum Fall Height: 6’-11”
INS-65009 2Document Number 165-009 Rev. 11/03/2008

Positioning Your Playcenter
1. The Playcenter is designed to be installed on a level surface by an Adult with an
Adult helper. Place in a flat area of your yard to minimize ground preparation.
2. Choose a level location for the equipment. This can reduce the likelihood of the
play set tipping over and loose-fill surfacing material washing away during heavy
rains.
3. Place the equipment not less than 6 ft from any structure or obstruction such as a
fence, garage, house, overhanging branches, laundry lines, or electrical wires.
4. Provide enough room so that the children can use the equipment safely. For
example, for structures with multiple play activities, a slide should not exit in front of
a swing.
5. It is a good idea to place your Playcenter in an area that is convenient for adults to
watch children at play.
6. Create a site free of obstacles that could cause injuries – such as low overhanging
tree branches, overhead wires, tree stumps and/or roots, large rocks, bricks and
concrete. We have additional suggestions in the Suggested Playground Surfacing
Section.
7. Do not build your playset on top of surfacing material.
8. Locate bare metal platforms and slides out of direct sunlight to reduce the likelihood
of serious burns. A slide that faces north will receive the least direct sunlight.
9. Separate active and quiet activities from each other. For example, locate sandboxes
away from swings or use a guardrail or barrier to separate the sandbox from the
movement of the swings.
Tools Required for Installation:
(These are the tools that are generally required for assembly of our playsets. These tools are not included in the playset
purchase.)
(Level 24”) (Open end Wrenches (Nut drivers
½” & 7/16” ) ½” & 9/16” )
(Tape Measure) (3/8” Drive Ratchet, ½”& 9/16” std sockets (Claw Hammer)
½” & 9/16 deep sockets)
( 3/8” Cordless Drill or Electric drill) (1/8”, 5/16” & (Drill attachments:
3/8” drill bits) Phillips head screw
3/8”SocketDriver
Torqueheadscrew)
(An Adult w/an (Phillips & Straight Blade (Rubber Mallet –Optional)
Adult helper) screw drivers)
INS-65009 3Document Number 165-009 Rev. 11/03/2008

Helpful Installation Hints
1. Depending on your experience, assembly of this Play set should take
approximately 6 to 12 hours after inventory of parts. Therefore, we recommend
you set aside a full day for assembly.
2. Identify all of the parts for your Playcenter. Empty each box and lay out boards
so you can see each part. Your instruction book will have detailed drawings that
will make it easy for you to recognize individual parts. Keep all hardware and
metal parts separate from wooden pieces.
3. After everything is laid out, check carefully to ensure all parts are present. Make
sure there are no broken boards.
4. Find an area to sort your hardware. It is best to open the hardware on a solid
surface so that you do not lose any pieces in the grass. This will save time and
familiarize you with all the different pieces in the hardware bag.
5. Important note: Wood has some natural defects such as knots, surface cracks,
etc… We reject parts that are structurally defective. We use a high quality
lumber in our structures; however, you should inspect each part for splinters or
rough spots and sand them smooth to prevent injury.
6. After steps 1 thru 4 have been completed, read all the way through the
instructions completely. Reading instructions after you have studied the parts
will help you understand more clearly the installation process, and help to
eliminate unnecessary mistakes.
7. Pay close attention to the diameter and length of each bolt and screw.
8. Swing hangers should be buried past the threads, so that the loop is against the
swing beam. Adventure Playsets is not responsible for incorrect installations of
swing hangers. Failure to properly install swing hangers may cause severe
injury.
9. Never tighten hardware completely at first. It helps to have some adjustment for
bolt alignment while you are attaching parts together. After everything is square,
tighten each joint.
10. After the main unit is assembled it is critical that the floor is level and square. If
the main frame is not level, the walls and floor will be out of square.
11. After you complete installation, make sure every bolt, screw, and nut is tight, and
every board is secure. Wood will expand and contract with the seasons. Check
all bolt connections and swing hangers every two weeks.
12. Place the set on level ground, not less than 6ft from any structure or obstruction
such as a fence, garage, house, overhanging branches, laundry lines, or
electrical wires.
READ! VERY IMPORTANT!
If you are missing parts or have questions regarding the installation of our quality product
PLEASE call us directly at the factory (1-800-856-4445). Our trained staff will be happy to assist
you.
Customer service hours:
Monday thru Friday 9am to 5pm
Saturday 9am to 2pm (During Season)
Central Standard Time.
E-mail: [email protected]
INS-65009 4Document Number 165-009 Rev. 11/03/2008

ATTENTION: INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS
We thank you for purchasing our excellent quality play equipment.
We are sure that you will be satisfied with your selection. However, should you experience any
problems or require any advice, do not return the item to the store, please visit the following
website for information on all warranty issues including where to obtain replacement parts.
http://www.adventureplaysets.com/international
Suggested Playground Surfacing
 Playground equipment should never be placed on hard surfaces such as
concrete or asphalt.
 Do not install loose fill surfacing over hard surfaces such as concrete or
asphalt.
 Shredded bark mulch, wood chips, fine sand and fine gravel, are added
as shock absorbing materials after assembly. If used properly these
materials can absorb some of the impact of a child’s fall.
 All surface material should extend a minimum of 6 feet in all directions
around the play area.
 Do not apply playground surfacing until after the unit is completely
constructed. Playset should not be built on top of surfacing.
 Use containment, such as digging out around the perimeter and/or lining
the perimeter with landscape edging.
 Installation of rubber tiles or poured-in-place surfaces (other than loose-fill
materials) generally require a professional and are not “do-it-yourself”
projects.
 Shall use Playground Surfacing Materials (other than loose-fill material)
which comply to the safety standard ASTM F1292 Standard Specification
of Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials within the Use Zone of
Playground Equipment.
The following chart explains the fall height in feet from which a life
threatening head injury would not be expected
Critical Heights in feet (m) of Tested Materials
Material Uncompressed Depth Compressed Depth
6" (152mm) 9" (228mm) 12" (304mm) to 9" (228mm)
Wood Chips 7' (2.13m) 10' (3.05m) 11' (3.35m) 10' (3.05m)
Double-Shredded bark mulch 6' (1.83m) 10' (3.05m) 11' (3.35m) 7' (2.13m)
Engineered Wood Fibers 6' (1.83m) 7' (2.13m) >12' (3.66m) 6' (1.83m)
Fine Sand 5' (1.52m) 5' (1.52m) 9' (2.74m) 5' (1.52m)
Coarse Sand 5' (1.52m) 5' (1.52m) 6' (1.83m) 4' (1.22m)
Fine Gravel 5' (1.52m) 7' (2.13m) 10' (3.05m) 6' (1.83m)
Medium Gravel 5' (1.52m) 5' (1.52m) 6' (1.83m) 5' (1.52m)
Shredded Tires* 10-12' (3.0-3.6m) N/A N/A N/A
*This data is from tests conducted by independent testing laboratories on a 6-inch depth of uncompressed shredded tire samples
produced by four manufacturers. The tests reported critical heights, which varied from 10 feet to greater than 12 feet. It is recommended that
persons seeking to install shredded tires as a protective surface request test data from the supplier showing the critical height of the material
when it was tested in accordance with ASTM F1292.
INS-65009 5Document Number 165-009 Rev. 11/03/2008

Operating Instructions:
NOTE: Your children’s safety is our #1 concern. Observing the
following statements and warnings reduces the likelihood of
serious or fatal injury. Please review these safety rules regularly
with your children.
1. This Playcenter is designed for the use of 4 occupants who have a combined
weight not exceeding 347 pounds on the elevated floor, 4 occupants who
have a combined weight of 420 pounds on the swing area, for a total Unit
capacity of 8 occupants who have a combined weight of 767. (this weight is
not including the picnic table area)
2. On-site adult supervision is required.
3. Instruct children not to walk close to, in front of, behind, or between moving
swings or other moving playground equipment.
4. Instruct children to sit in and never stand on swings
5. Instruct children not to twist the chains and ropes and not to loop them over
the top support bar, since this may reduce the strength of the chain or rope.
6. Instruct children not to jump from swings or other playground equipment in
motion.
7. Instruct children to not to push empty seats. The seat may hit them and
cause serious injury.
8. Instruct and teach children to sit in the center of the swings with their full
weight on the seats.
9. Instruct children not to use the equipment in a manner other than intended.
10. Instruct children to always go down slides feet first. Never slide head first.
11. Instruct children to look before they slide to make sure no one is at the
bottom.
12. Instruct children to never run up a slide, as this increases their chances of
falling.
13. The parents should have the children dress appropriately with well-fitting
shoes. Loose clothing such as scarves and ponchos should not be worn.
Always take off, tie up or tuck in cords and drawstrings on children’s
clothing. These things can get caught on playground equipment and
strangle a child.
14. Instruct children not to climb when the equipment is wet.
15. Instruct children to never jump from a fort deck. They should always use the
ladder, ramp or slide.
16. Instruct children to never crawl or walk across the top of monkey bars.
17. Instruct children to never crawl on top of a fort roof.
18. Verify that any suspended climbing ropes, chain, or cable are secured at
both ends and that they cannot be looped back on it.
19. Instruct children not to attach items to the playground equipment that are not
specifically designed for use with the equipment, such as, but not limited to,
jump ropes, clothesline, pet leashes, cables and chain as they may cause a
strangulation hazard.
20. Instruct children to never wrap their legs around swing chain.
21. Instruct children to never slide down the swing chain.
INS-65009 6Document Number 165-009 Rev. 11/03/2008

Maintenance Instructions:
1. Check all nuts and bolts twice monthly during the usage season and tighten as
required. (But not so tight that you crack the wood) We recommend you check
the swing beam and hardware every two weeks due to wood expansion and
contraction. It is particularly important that this procedure be followed at the
beginning of each season.
2. Remove plastic swing seats and take indoors or do not use when the
temperature drops below 32 °F.
3. Oil all metallic moving parts monthly during the usage period.
4. Check all coverings for bolts and sharp edges twice monthly during usage
season to be certain they are in place. Replace when necessary. It is especially
important to do this at the beginning of each new season.
5. Check swing seats, ropes, cables and chains monthly during usage season for
evidence of deterioration. Replacement should be made of any swing seat that
has developed cracks in the plastic seats or has exposed metal in the edges of
the swing seat. If there are already exposed metal inserts on the edge of the
seat, immediately remove the seats and chains to prevent serious injury. Ropes,
cables and chains should be removed and replaced if excessive wear is found.
Contact Adventure Playsets for replacement parts.
6. For rusted areas on metallic members such as monkey bars, hand supports,
brackets, etc., sand and repaint, using a non lead-based paint meeting the
requirements of Title 16 CRF Part 1303.
7. Inspect wood parts monthly. The grain of the wood sometimes will lift in the dry
season causing splinters to appear. Light sanding may be necessary to
maintain a safe playing environment. If you are treating your Playcenter with
stain regularly, it will help prevent severe checking/splitting and other weather
damage.
8. We have applied a waterborne transparent stain to your unit. This is done for
color only. Once or twice a year, depending on your climate conditions, you
must apply some type of protection (sealant) to the wood of your unit. Prior to
the application of sealant, lightly sand any “rough” spots on your set. Please
note this is a requirement of your warranty.
9. Creating and maintaining the Playcenter on a level location is very important. As
your children play, your Playcenter will slowly dig its way into the soil, and it is
very important that it settles evenly. Make sure the play set is level and true
once each year or at the beginning of each play season.
10. Rake the surface periodically to prevent compaction and maintain appropriate
depths.
Disposal Instructions:
When the Playcenter use is no longer desired, it should be disassembled and
disposed of in such a way that no unreasonable hazards will exist at the time the
unit is discarded.
INS-65009 7Document Number 165-009 Rev. 11/03/2008

APPENDIX A
Information on Playground Surfacing Materials:
The following information is from the United States Consumer Product Safety
Commission’s Information Sheet for playground surfacing material Also
see the following website for additional information:
www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/323.html.
X3. CONSUMER INFORMATION SHEET FOR PLAYGROUND SURFACING MATERIALS11
X3.1 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that about 100,000
playground equipment-related injuries resulting from falls to the ground surface are treated
annually in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. Injuries involving this hazard pattern tend to be
among the most serious of all playground injuries, and have the potential to be fatal, particularly
when the injury is to the head. The surface under and around playground equipment can be a
major factor in determining the injury-causing potential of a fall. It is self evident that a fall onto a
shock-absorbing surface is less likely to cause a serious injury than a fall onto a hard surface.
Playground equipment should never be placed on hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt
and while grass may appear to be acceptable it may quickly turn to hard packed earth in areas
of high traffic. Shredded bark mulch, wood chips, fine sand or find gravel are considered to be
acceptable shock absorbing surfaces when installed and maintained at a sufficient depth under
and around playground equipment.
X3.2 Table X3.1 lists the maximum height from which a child would not be expected to sustain a
life-threatening head injury in a fall onto four different loose-fill surfacing materials if they are
installed and maintained at depths of 6, 9, and 12 in. However, it should be recognized that all
injuries due to falls cannot be prevented no matter what surfacing material is used.
X3.3 It is recommended that a shock absorbing material should extend a minimum of 6 ft in all
directions from the perimeter of stationary equipment such as climbers and slides. However,
because children may deliberately jump from a moving swing, the shock absorbing material
should extend in the front and rear of a swing a minimum distance of 2 times the height of the
pivot point measured from a point directly beneath the pivot on the supporting structure.
X3.4 This information is intended to assist in comparing the relative shock-absorbing properties
of various materials. No particular material is recommended over another. However, each
material is only effective when properly maintained. Materials should be checked periodically
and replenished to maintain correct depth as determined necessary for your equipment. The
choice of a material depends on the type and height of the playground equipment, the
availability of the material in your area, and its cost.
11This information has been extracted from the CPSC publications “Playground
Surfacing — Technical Information Guide” and “Handbook for Public Playground Safety.”
Copies of these reports can be obtained by sending a postcard to: Office of Public Affairs, U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C., 20207 or call the toll-free hotline: 1-
800-638-2772.
The American Society for Testing and Materials takes no position respecting the validity
of any parent right asserted in connection with any item mentioned in this standard. Users of
this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such parent rights,
and the risk of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.
The standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee
and must be reviewed every five years and if not revised, either approved or withdrawn. Your
comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards and should
be addressed to ASTM Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a
meeting of the responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your
comments have not received a fair hearing you should make your views known to the ASTM
Committee on Standards. 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428.
INS-65009 8Document Number 165-009 Rev. 11/03/2008