Durability of wood: How long does the climbing frame last?

If you are looking for a climbing frame for your children, you are of course interested in how long it will last. After all, your little ones should not hurt themselves and the tower or stilt house should accompany your offspring throughout their childhood. Here you can find out everything about the durability of wood in general and climbing frames in particular.

The small 1x1 of durability of wood

If you're interested in the durability of wood, you'll quickly come across Durability classes and DIN standards . There it is stated that the classes only apply to heartwood with a maximum proportion of five percent sapwood. But what does that mean exactly?

Most tree species form a core in the course of their growth. These include spruce, pine and Douglas fir. The wood species are easy to identify by the cut surface of a building trunk:

On the outside lies the dark bark , which protects the tree from pests and injuries. It is the skin of the tree.
Beneath the bark layer lies a lighter ring. This is the so-called sapwood, which is active and directs water and nutrients absorbed by the roots into the crown . The sapwood corresponds to our main arteries, so to speak. It is vital for the tree, but it is too soft and too susceptible to fungi and pests for timber construction.
Inside the bright ring lies a dark circle. The Heartwood is made from sapwood when it stops supplying the tree with water and nutrients. It is enriched with substances that harm fungi and pests , and stronger than sapwood. For the tree, the heartwood can be compared to our bones, for timber construction it is ideal.

Therefore, the durability of wood according to the DIN standard always refers to heartwood, which may only have a small proportion of sapwood.

What are the durability classes for wood?

The DIN EN 350-2 indicates how long a certain type of wood is naturally resistant to pests and fungal infestation. The durability according to the DIN standard refers to the heartwood, as sapwood is generally not considered permanent. In addition, the wood must not come into contact with the ground, as Waterlogging weakens the resistance of the natural raw material . The durability of wood is divided into five classes from "very durable" to "not permanent".

The following table gives you an overview. It describes the durability of wood in relation to fungal infestation. The Durability according to DIN standard is separated for pests and fungi . Fungi play the biggest role in the home garden, pests rarely attack the wood in this country.

Durability of wood according to DIN EN 350-2 with regard to fungal infestation
Durability class 1	very durable	Tropical woods such as asiat. Teak, Bilinga, Greenheart
Durability class 1–2	permanent to very permanent	Robinia, Merbau
Durability class 2	Permanent	Bangkirai, sweet chestnut, oak
Durability class 3	moderately durable	Walnut, Douglas fir (Europe), Larch
Durability class 4	little permanent	Fir, pine, spruce, red oak
Durability class 5	not permanent	Maple, birch, beech, alder, ash

In the Class 5, the durability of wood is less than three years , in grade 4 it is already three to five years. However, wood preservatives can greatly increase the resistance and significantly extend the service life of wood outdoors. You achieve a shelf life of at least twelve years, which corresponds to durability class 1.

Shouldn't the durability of wood for climbing frames be 1 or 2?

Our Lotti or Danny climbing frames are made of natural Nordic spruce. We have good reasons for this. We want all children to be able to play carefree with our climbing frames and stilt houses. That's why we rely on Untreated wood species . Unlike the Extraction of regular forests, the sustainable timber industry does not harm the climate and the short transport routes pollute the environment less. In addition, the healthy renewable raw material is affordable and very easy to process. The soft wood is very load-bearing, elastic and hardly splinters . This makes the wood species the perfect raw material for children's play equipment. In addition, the wood of the slow-growing Nordic spruce is affordable.

Colourful wood protection increases the fun of playing

Your climbing frame comes into your garden made of natural, untreated wood. The advantage is that you know exactly that No harmful substances can be dangerous to your children. The durability class of wood plays a subordinate role here. Because with the Colour system with eight different, freely combinable colours, you can transform any climbing frame into a defiant knight's castle, a playful fairytale castle or an exciting circus. This way you kill two birds with one stone, because the The resistance of the wood is permanently increased and your children will love their individual playground and always discover new ways to play and romp around. The color system offers the following advantages:

on Base of natural oils
Free from heavy metals and known pollutants
Saliva and sweat resistant
UV-resistant and non-flaking

Our conclusion on the durability classes of wood

As with garden sheds and fence elements, the durability of wood for climbing frames does not have to be the same as that of tropical wood. There are the following reasons for this:

Nordic wood species are ecologically sensible and protect the climate.
A climbing frame is protected from waterlogging by ground anchors.
Nordic spruce has the best construction and wearing properties and is good for the delicate skin of children due to its soft feel.
A climbing frame is much more fun with cheerful colours, as they automatically protect the wood from weathering and fungal infestation.

Discover the right climbing frame for your garden now and give your children a versatile playground with a colourful look.