Picnic tables and benches
Design
Requirements for the design, manufacture and installation of embellishments
Good design
See the following corporate documents to identify relevant project design requirements:
Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme regulates the way land, buildings and structures are used and developed on the Sunshine Coast.
Sunshine Coast Design contains 10 design principles that guide good project planning and design outcomes, that are appropriate for the Sunshine Coast.
The LIM provides further overarching design advice, refer:
- Introduction and Design Principles - e.g. sustainability, CPTED, accessibility
- Preliminaries - environmental management, tree sensitive design and site set up.
Embellishment requirements
- Universal access.
- Comfortable and suitable for the average person.
- See 'Positioning' and 'Equal access' sections for the corresponding LIM category.
- Made from materials that will be durable and can be suitably protected from exterior elements, such as salt spray and UV exposure.
- Robust and sturdy to withstand constant public use and be resistant to vandalism.
- Fixings are to be 316 marine grade stainless steel (unless otherwise stated).
- Tamper proof fixings should be used
- Graffiti protection coatings applied (where applicable)
- Fire retardant (where applicable).
- Warranties should be as listed below.
- Easily repairable or replaceable.
- Sourced locally and use standard fittings.
- Reputable suppliers should be used who keep a supply of stock parts on hand for the life of the product.
- Use sustainable materials, although sustainability needs to be considered over the lifetime of the embellishment.
- Install on paved, concrete or other hard surfaces (where applicable).
- Manufactured to engineering specifications (where applicable).
- See the 'Standards' section for the corresponding LIM category.
Warranty and asset life
Product/embellishment | Warranty (minimum) | Asset life (typical useful life) |
Picnic table and benches with timber battens | 2 years | 15 years 2 |
Picnic table and benches with aluminium battens | 10 years | 15 years 2 |
Source 2: Sunshine Coast Council Asset Management Plan 2017/18-2022/23 – Parks and Gardens (figure based on current data, subject to change).
Picnic tables and benches
Once the location of the picnic tables and benches has been decided, based on the Environment and Liveability Strategy (ELS) and Recreation Parks Plan (RPP) guidance, consider the appropriate embellishment level to suit the selected site.
Overarching design considerations:
- All open spaces should include universal access (e.g. seats with backrest and movement around furniture).
- Picnic tables and benches provide a destination point for open space users to socialise and spend more time in the outdoors.
- Plan to install picnic tables and benches of varying heights at any location to accommodate a diverse range of users.
Design of picnic table and benches
- Ergonomic design for comfort.
- No armrests on picnic table and bench combinations. Where a seat is used it may include a backrest but no armrests.
- Connection bars should NOT be located on ground level in one piece settings as these make equal access difficult for older people and people who are injured.
- To prevent possible trip hazard, bench leg supports should NOT have a splayed foot design.
- Consider bariatrics when selecting seat designs:
- bariatrics is derived from the Greek word ‘baros’ meaning weight and is defined by the Medical Research Council as morbid obesity, where a person has a body mass index (BMI) of more than 40.
- select designs with wide seat and table top slats to accommodate larger bolts to the frame, for strength and durability.
Design for maintenance
- Select a seat design with access underneath to allow rubbish removal (this is particularly important for benches that use incorporated battens).
- Select a seat design which drains free of water.
- Use anti skate devices in appropriate locations.
Materials and fixings
- All picnic tables and bench seats must be bolt down (surface mount) for ease of replacement. Use 316 stainless steel hex-head DynaBolts (sized to suit). Anti-vandal ‘armour rings’ (or equivalent) must be installed over DynaBolt head. See LIM Palettes – Materials and fixings for further guidance.
- All armrests must be bolted from underneath/back, so water can not pool on top of bolts.
- Aluminium
- Consider that aluminium seats may become hot in full sun locations (select light colours)
- Aluminium is preferred due to longevity of the product and the minimal maintenance requirements.
- Timber
- Painted timber finish is preferred for local parks to reduce maintenance or use aluminium.
- Select light coloured paints as dark colours may become hot in full sun locations.
- Preferred timber sealant is Ultradeck or Lanotec (or equivalent). Minimum of 3 coats should be applied. Skin forming (non-penetrative) polyurethane coatings should NOT be used.
Picnic tables and benches under trees
Location of picnic tables and benches under mature shade trees is not advised. Installation should be in accordance with AS 4970 - Protection of trees on development sites. Where required, pier footings are to be hand dug or vacuum excavated (under supervision of a qualified arborist), to avoid affecting tree roots.
- See the following for further guidance:
- LIM Site setup (including tree protection), specifically the dripline method of TPZ extent determination.
- LIM Tree sensitive design (existing and new trees) for tree sensitive design and delivery options.
This component is currently in development