Cpsc Handbook - General Playground Considerations

Question 1

Selecting a site for a playground-important factors

Answer 1

Travel patterns to and from
Nearby accessible hazards
Sun exposure
Slope and drainage

Question 2

Playground layout of equipment-key factors

Answer 2

• Accessibility-F1951- equipment selection,location, type of protective surfacing
• Age Separation- buffer zone, 6-23 months, 2-5, 5-12.
• Conflicting activities- crowding/congestion, location of activity based on equipment, use zones.
• Sight lines- visual barriers, location of supervisor
• Signage/labeling- guide for supervisors, age appropriateness
• supervision -type of supervision, and what they look for.

Question 3

Selecting Equipment- important& not recommended

Answer 3

• Age range of users
• Not recommended- trampolines, swinging gates, giant strides, climbing ropes not secured on both ends, heavy metal swings, multiple occupancy swings, rope swings, swinging dual exercise rings and trapeze bars.

Question 4

Surfacing - ASTM # and Manufacturers provide?

Answer 4

F1292, Manufacturers provide critical height rating which is an approximation of the fall height below which a life-threatening head injury would NOT be expected.

Question 5

Equipment not covered by protective surfacing

Answer 5

Equipment that children use when their feet remain in contact to ground surface. ex. sand boxes, activity walls at ground level, play houses.

Question 6

Two types of surfacing

Answer 6

• Unitary surfacing materials - generally rubber mats and tiles or combination of material poured in place.
• loose fill surfacing - shredded/recycled rubber, Engineered Wood Fiber, sand, pea gravel, wood mulch (non-cca), wood chips.

Question 7

Durability & finish

Answer 7

• use manufactured equipment with tested durable materials

- use finishes, treatments, and preservatives that do not present a health hazard

Question 8

Hardware

Answer 8

• should not loosen or be removable without tools
• smooth - not cause laceration, penetration, or present clothing entanglement
• locking means should be provided for all nuts and bolts
• corrosion resistant
• bearings/bushings should be easy to lubricate
• all hooks should be closed and no gap greater than .04 inches (thickness of a dime).

Question 9

metal

Answer 9

avoid using bare metal surfaces

Question 10

paints and finishes

Answer 10

• limit preservatives
• prevent rusting or peeling
• prevent corrosion or deterioration
• check for lead paint

Question 11

Wood

Answer 11

• cedar or redwood
• do not use creosete-treated wood
• do not use pressure treated CCA wood.
• no pesticide finishes

Question 12

Assembly/installation

Answer 12

• follow all instruction
• after assembly or first use it should be inspected
• manufacturer’s instructions and other material collected and kept in a permanent file
• secure anchoring is key to stable install.