Before playground installation begins, it is essential to understand and be aware of the numerous playground safety rules and regulations. Learn about CPSC safety, ATSM standards, and ADA accessibility with Zoom Recreation.
In the past few decades, technology and innovation have evolved playground design. Playgrounds are more exciting than ever due to new creative and adventurous play structures. However, with these changes, it is essential to stay up-to-date on regulations and safety standards because playground equipment is not as simple as it once was.
About 200,000 emergency room-related injuries occur annually due to incidents on playgrounds. Most injuries happen when a child falls off playground equipment onto a surface that was not properly protected to absorb the shock of falls. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has established safety guidelines and regulations for playground installation to ensure the safety of children using these recreational areas. Follow this simple playground safety checklist to ensure a commercial playground is safe and ready for play!
1. Ensure that surfaces surrounding playground equipment are adequately covered with a minimum of 12 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel, or safety-tested rubber or rubber-like mats.
2. Confirm that the protective surfacing extends a minimum of 6 feet in all directions from the play equipment. For swings, ensure that the surfacing extends both in the back and front to twice the height of the suspending bar.
3. Maintain a spacing of at least 9 feet between play structures that exceed 30 inches in height.
4. Inspect for hazardous hardware, including open "S" hooks or protruding bolt ends.
5. Verify that potential entrapment spaces, such as gaps in guardrails or between ladder rungs, are within the range of less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.
6. Check for any sharp points or edges on playground equipment.
7. Identify tripping hazards like exposed concrete footings, tree stumps, and rocks.
8. Ensure that elevated surfaces, such as platforms and ramps, are equipped with guardrails to prevent falls.
9. Perform regular assessments of playgrounds to ensure that both equipment and surfacing are in optimal condition.
The American Society of Testing and Materials is an organization responsible for creating safety regulations and standards for different products and services, including commercial playground equipment and installation. ASTM standards specifically focus on playground surfacing regulations to reduce the amount of severe and debilitating injuries related to falls. Here are 5 important ASTM standards to implement into the design of a playground:
This standard specifies requirements for the critical fall height of surfacing materials. It measures the softness of the playground surfacing the maximum height from which a child can fall and still have an acceptable injury
This standard focuses on engineered wood fiber (EWF) as a playground safety surface. It defines requirements for material properties, installation, and maintenance of EWF to ensure its effectiveness in reducing the impact of falls.
Poured-in-place (PIP) surfacing is a type of playground safety surface made from a combination of rubber granules and a polyurethane binder that is poured and spread in place. The ASTM F2479 standard provides comprehensive guidelines for specifying, purchasing, installing, and maintaining poured-in-place playground surfacing.
The ASTM F1551 standard focuses on synthetic turf playing surfaces and materials, providing comprehensive test methods for characterizing their properties. By using these test methods, playground operators and regulators can assess the performance and safety characteristics of synthetic turf surfaces, ensuring they meet the necessary standards for impact attenuation and overall durability.
The ASTM F3012 standard specifies requirements for loose-fill rubber used as a playground safety surface. This includes material characteristics, particle size distribution, cleanliness, and other quality criteria.
In relation to the Americans with Disabilities federal law, the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design was created to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability at public facilities. Playground structures that have been constructed or altered after March 2012, must comply with all ADA standards to be considered fair for all children. A playground must have the following elements:
Safety is not a concern when working with our team at Zoom Recreation. Our playground contractors are IPEMA (International Play Equipment Manufacturer Association) certified and have years of experience under their belt. While it is important to understand the details of playground safety rules our team will be responsible for ensuring that the playground design and installation adhere to all recent safety standards. Contact us today for any inquiries about playground safety standards and regulations.
Zoom Recreation strives to create efficient recreational spaces and provide exceptional customer service. Superior awarded us their highest President's Award and Gold Club Awards two years in a row.
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