A soft play centre is a tall volume, a play frame that fills it, and lobby doors that swing all day. Children are low in the structure and in the crawl zone. Cooling only the roof void misses them. A door swing from the lobby dumps outdoor air at child height every few minutes. Survey height and doors, not just floor area. Keep indoor units and drains out of the play path. If the effective rated output is more than 12 kW, GOV.UK's air conditioning inspections guidance describes the TM44 duty. An F-gas certified company should install the plant.
Children on the frame, not only on the floor
The frame can be several metres high inside a warehouse-style hall. Warm air sits at the top. A single high fan coil may cool steel and signage while the ball pit stays hot, or it may overcool the top deck where children pause. The survey should say which heights are occupied and how air reaches them.
Parents at a cafe edge that is not the frame
Parents sit at the edge, often in a cafe zone with a different door and a counter. That zone is not the same load as the frame. Split the work into play hall and seating if they can be divided.
Lobby doors on a wet Saturday
Automatic lobby doors and a fire exit that staff prop open will beat an optimistic closed-hall calculation. Ask how the doors are actually used on a wet Saturday. A lobby, even a shallow one, changes the hall.
- Survey the occupied height, not only the floor.
- Include lobby door swings in the load.
- Keep equipment out of the play path.
Party rooms that fill and then empty
Party rooms fill hard for two hours and then empty. They need their own indoor units and a simple control. They should not be an afterthought on the hall cassette. HSE workplace temperature guidance covers staff working the full day. It sets no legal maximum. Ventilation for a dense hall remains separate from recirculated cooling.
Plant that children can climb
Children climb. An indoor unit, a sensor lead or a ladder route cannot be a toy. Mount high, guard what you must, and do not leave a filter hatch that opens over the frame. Condensate must not drip into a pit. Pumps need alarms that staff can see.
A condenser clear of buggies and the play yard
Roof or compound positions need structure, service access without crossing play, and a noise check for neighbours. Larger halls often need a three-phase supply. Landlord and planning constraints on warehouses and retail parks still apply.
Frequently asked questions
Can the outdoor unit go in the outdoor play area?
No. It needs a compound or a roof with service access, clear of children, buggies and play equipment, and with a noise check for neighbours. The outdoor unit does not belong in the play yard or where a buggy park will block the coil.
Core buying guides
Start with these high-intent guides, then dig into the rest of the library.
Related guides
Sources and further reading
How this guide was prepared
This guide was written by the Local AC Installers Editorial Team. We compare official guidance, legislation and established consumer information, separate general information from project-specific advice, and show publication dates and sources. We do not accept installer accreditation claims at face value.