Keeping your family and guests safe on adult bunk beds is very important. When travelling with your children you may be accommodated in adult bunk beds. However, there is a difference between domestic adult bunk beds and commercial adult bunk beds.
Some hostels and low budget accommodation purchase domestic rather than commercial or contract bunk beds. There are a number of reasons for selecting contract bunk beds over domestic bunks, even for the home. Let’s take a look at a few of the hazards associated with purchasing the wrong kind of bunk bed.
1. Bunk Bed Corner Posts projecting Higher than the Safety Rail
Picture number one shows the ends of the adult bunk bed corner posts are higher than the safety rails. The danger this poses for your guest is that they can catch an item of clothing on the corner post. For adults, they may be able to quickly dislodge their clothing from the post. But this may not be as easy for a child who’s feet cannot touch the floor once dangling. And what child doesn’t enjoy playing and jumping about on a bunk bed. Unfortunately, this hazard can lead to severe injury or fatal strangulation.
Also the adult bunk bed mattress it too high in picture 1. The adult bunk bed mattress sleeping surface must be at least 5 inches below the highest point of the safety rail top.
Solution: Ensure that when you are buying your adult bunk bed that the corner posts and safety rails are rounded so that no clothing item can catch. See our family of Dallas commercial bunk beds that meet this safety requirement.
2. Adult Bunk Beds without Foot Plates
Your average domestic metal bunk bed weighs approximately 32kg or 41kg for a pine bunk bed. Whereas a commercial bunk bed weighs more than twice the amount. Add to this the weight of the adults or children that are sleeping on the bunks— then you have quite a load, with some of that suspended. To ensure the adult bunk beds are stable an additional safety system is having foot plates attached to the bottom of the bunk bed that allows the bunk bed to be bolted to the floor.
This also stops the bunk bed moving about or toppling over if there is sudden moment or an imbalance of weight. This is especially important with adult triple bunk beds which are of course higher.
3. Gaps in the Safety Rail of Adult Bunk Beds
Safety rails on adult bunk beds should surround the sleeping compartment. The only gap that should be accessible is where the guest dismounts down the ladder. As you can see in picture 3 there are large gaps by which a small child could slip through the rails, or even become trapped. Children do get accommodated in adult bunk beds, so ensure that the rails enclose the sleeping compartment.
I once slept in a bunk bed where we had to shove a chopping board down the between the mattress and the base so we didn’t roll out at night!
Bunk beds are fun for families, and children will use them as a play item. So instead of stopping their fun, let’s make sure that you provide the safest environment possible.
