The S05 Rain Pipes are an outdoor piece of sound equipment: coloured pipes set into a rotating disc. Baffles and small pieces hidden inside them let children call up the sound of rain, control it with the speed of rotation and follow it to the very last drop. They work well in nurseries and pre-schools, schools, hospitals and public spaces.
It all starts with a turn of the disc: the pipes respond with a rushing sound, though there is not a drop of water inside. The sound lasts as long as the disc keeps turning, and once it stops it fades by itself until silence falls. The idea of capturing rain in a tube is not new - the instrument that imitates it is called a rainstick. In South America and Africa it was made from a dried cactus stem: its own spines were driven inside, and seeds were poured in. It was played in rituals to ask the sky for rain over the cracked earth. The Rain Pipes do exactly the same in the playground, only instead of a stem there is a disc that is easy to turn.
For this rain to be summoned for years, the equipment has to withstand every kind of weather: downpours, frost and sun. The frame is steel, galvanised and powder-coated, and the pipes are made of a metal that does not rust. The Rain Pipes work outdoors all year round, winter included, and are covered by a warranty. The sound is made without electricity or a speaker, by the movement of a hand alone, so there are no batteries to replace and no recording that could stop working. The manufacturer is EduPlayground, and the Rain Pipes are made in Poland.
Ear training through play
The Rain Pipes turn play into ear training. The child picks out single sounds from the rush and compares them - sounds shape active memory, stimulate auditory functions and develop cognitive skills.
A quiet sound focuses attention
The sound from the pipes is quiet and short, so you have to catch it with your ear before it disappears. The child quietens down to hear everything and focuses on a single sound - which is why the equipment is also used in therapy sessions and holiday resorts.
One child turns, the whole group listens
One child turns the disc, but the whole group around listens. The others, with their eyes closed, point to where the sound is coming from, and a few turns can build a whole weather story: drizzle, a downpour and the silence after a storm. The story only works when the children agree with each other.
What is hidden in the pipes
Four elements: the disc to turn, the pipes, what is hidden inside them, and the frame that holds it all upright.
A disc you turn
The disc is the only thing that needs to be moved here - the child grabs it and turns it. The same gesture repeated in the same way gives the same sound, so a drizzle or a storm, once found, can be recreated from memory.
Coloured aluminium pipes
The coloured pipes set into the disc are what you hear - all the sound is made inside them. They are made of aluminium, a corrosion-resistant metal, and the colours make it easy to agree which pipe a child is listening at.
Baffles and small pieces inside the pipes
Each pipe hides baffles and a handful of small pieces. When the disc turns, the pieces slide down, bouncing off one obstacle after another, and each contact is one quiet tap - only thousands of taps at once are heard by the ear as rain.
Steel supporting frame
The closed-profile steel frame holds the disc upright and lets it turn freely. The base is anchored in the ground, so the equipment stays still even when the disc is spinning fast.
Specification
Technical data
Front view - from technical drawing S05.
Catalogue no.
S05
Dimensions
diameter 103 cm | width: 26 cm | height: 203 cm
Safety zone
3.24 x 4.03 m
Children's age
from 3 years
Material
Steel frame, aluminium pipes. Main structural profile made of black steel, closed profile.
Protection
Galvanised, powder-coated frame
Colour
Green (RAL 6018), purple (RAL 4006), grey (RAL 7035)
Installation
Galvanised steel anchors L=75 cm, set in the ground and concreted in; bolted connection to the equipment.
Before the rain pipes go into the playground, our adviser will help you plan all the technical details. We are with you at every stage of the project, sharing our knowledge and experience so that the equipment serves children as well as possible for many years.
Once you enter your email address, the catalogue of science, sensory and therapeutic equipment is sent to your inbox.
Cookie consent
With your consent, this site uses cookies for statistics and advertising. Without consent, the site works fully. You can change your choice at any time via the ‘Cookie settings’ link in the footer. Privacy policy
