Global Field Ready Portfolio/Play Pen

▼This page is part of the Global Field Ready Portfolio initiative.This page is open edit.

This play pen is a low-cost, field-fabricated design intended for use across a range of humanitarian settings, including disaster response and emergency shelter, refugee camps, low-resource clinics and care centers, and general low-cost community use. It is built primarily from PVC pipe and PVC sheet, materials that are widely available, inexpensive, and easy to source even in constrained supply environments.

The frame is constructed from PVC pipes, cut to size and joined by hand, with PVC sheet panels forming the enclosed sides. A saw and a drill are the only tools required for fabrication; assembly is otherwise done manually, without specialized equipment. The frame is designed to be foldable and collapsible for transport, allowing it to be broken down into a compact form and carried to its point of use. Once set up at its final location, the joints are glued to permanently secure the structure for safety, similar to the assembly approach used for the Field Ready baby crib.

This design supports rapid deployment in humanitarian settings where a safe, contained space for children is needed but conventional play pens are unavailable, damaged, or too costly to source, while still allowing for a durable, permanent setup once a location is confirmed.

Levels are identified based on this reference: Field Ready Readiness Levels

About the manuals

Field Ready develops manuals to support both the fabrication and safe use of its products. A maker manual provides step-by-step instructions for replicating the design, including materials, tools, and assembly guidance, so that makers in different locations can build the product accurately and consistently. A user manual, where applicable, explains how to properly set up, use, and maintain the product once it is built, helping ensure it performs safely and as intended for the end user. Together, these manuals make the design accessible to both fabricators and the people who ultimately rely on the product.

Maker Manual Reference: File:CP003 Maker Manual.zip

• 
  Image of the Play Pen being used
• 
  CAD Image of the Play Pen