Over the years, hundreds of thousands of treehouses have been built across the US and they provide great fun for children. However, they also have their dangers so homeowners should be aware of the potential hazards
Inspection – Based in England, the Forestry Commission has outlined some safety guidelines for treehouses and they are very much universal;
Fall Zone – Around the treehouse, there should be no sharp objects, tree stumps, rocks, waste, metal objects, etc. Known as the ‘fall zone’, vegetation is fine and wood chips also make for a safe area around the treehouse.
Fall Height – Unless there is excessive protection against falls such as strong railings on the treehouse itself, there should never be a fall height of more than two meters.
Structure – To prevent a collapse, the structure should be secure and this can be checked using the appropriate safety equipment from the outside. Whenever a ladder is employed, remember to use care to avoid falling off of it. Teach your children how to climb a ladder using 3 points of contact. You need to look beyond the actual treehouse and consider the tree it is built in. Both the tree where the treehouse is built as well as any surrounding trees should be assessed for decay or fungus.
