Instructions / Assembly
Positioning Your Playcenter
• The playcenter is designed to be installed on a level
surface by an adult with an adult helper. Place
in a
at area of your yard to minimize ground
preparation.
• Choose a level location for the equipment. This can
reduce the likelihood of the play set tipping over
and loose fill surfacing material washing away
during heavy rains.
• Place the equipment not less than 6'-7" (2.0 m)
from any structure or obstruction such as a fence,
garage, house, overhanging branches, laundry
lines, or electrical wires.
• Provide enough room so that the children can use
the equipment safely. For example, for structures
with multiple play activities, a slide should not exit
in front of a swing.
• It is a good idea to place your playcenter in an area
that is convenient for adults to watch children at
play.
• Create a site free of obstacles that could cause injuries
– such as low overhanging tree branches, overhead
wires, tree stumps and/or roots, large rocks, bricks
and concrete. Additional suggestions in the
Suggested Playground Surfacing Section.
• Do not build your playset on top of surfacing material.
• Locate bare metal platforms and slides out of direct
sunlight to reduce the likelihood of serious burns. A
slide that faces north will receive the least direct
sunlight.
• Separate active and quiet activities from each
other. For example, locate sandboxes away from
swings or use a guardrail or barrier to separate the
sandbox from the movement of the swings.
Suggested Playground Surfacing
The following chart explains the fall height in feet from which a life threatening head injury would not be expected
Critical Heights in feet (m) of Tested Materials
Material Compressed Depth
6" (152mm) 9" (228mm) 12" (304mm) to 9" (228mm)
Wood Chips
7' (2.13m) 10-12' (3.0-3.6m) 11' (3.35m) 10' (3.05m)
Double-Shredded Bark Mulch
6' (1.83m) 10-12' (3.0-3.6m) 11' (3.35m) 7' (2.13m)
Engineered Wood Fibers
6' (1.83m) 7' (2.13m) >12' (3.66m) 6' (1.83m)
Fine Sand
5' (1.52m) 5' (1.52m) 9' (2.74m) 5' (1.52m)
Coarse Sand
5' (1.52m) 5' (1.52m) 6' (1.83m) 4' (1.22m)
Fine Gravel
5' (1.52m) 7' (2.13m) 10' (3.05m) 6' (1.83m)
Medium Gravel
5' (1.52m) 5' (1.52m) 6' (1.83m) 5' (1.52m)
Shredded Tires*
10-12' (3.0-3.6m) N/A N/A N/A
Uncompressed Depth
*This data is from tests conducted by independent testing laboratories on a 6-inch depth of uncompressed shredded tire samples produced by four manufacturers. The tests reported
critical heights, which varied from 10 feet to greater than 12 feet. It is recommended that persons seeking to install shredded tires as a protective surface request test
data from the supplier showing the critical height of the material when it was tested in accordance with ASTM F1292.
Please
Read This
Before
Starting
Assembly
Owner’s Manual Play Set
• Do not install home playground equipment over
concrete, asphalt, packed earth, grass, carpet, or
any other hard surface. A fall onto a hard surface
can result in serious injury to the equipment
user.
• Do not install loose ll surfacing over hard surfaces
such as concrete or asphalt.
• Shredded bark mulch, wood chips, fine sand and
gravel, are added as shock absorbing materials
after assembly. If used properly these materials
can absorb some of the impact of a child’s fall.
•
All surface material should extend a minimum of
6'-7" (2.0m) feet in all directions around the play
area.
• Do not apply playground surfacing until after
the unit is completely constructed. Playset
should not be built on top of surfacing.
• Use containment, such as digging out around
the perimeter and/or lining the perimeter with
landscape edging.
• Installations of rubber tiles or poured-in-place
surfaces (other than loose fill materials)
generally require a professional and are not “do-
it-yourself” projects.
• Shall use Playground Surfacing Materials (other
than loose fill material) which comply with the
safety standard ASTM F1292 Standard
specification of Impact Attenuation of Surfacing
Materials within
the Use Zone of Playground
Equipment.
• Anchors shall be placed as instructed to reduce
tipping hazards.
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