Installation Guide

4
PLAYGROUND SURFACING MATERIALS INFORMATION
e following information is from Section 4 of the United States Consumer Product Safety
Comission’s (USCPSC) Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook for playground surfacing
material.
X3. SECTION 4 OF THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION’S OUTDOOR
HOME PLAYGROUND SAFETY HANDBOOK
X3.1Select Protective Surfacing — One of the most important things you can do to reduce the likelihood of serious
head injuries is to install shock-absorbing protective surfacing under and around your play equipment. e pro-
tective surfacing should be applied to a depth that is suitable for the equipment height in accordance with ASTM
Specification F1292. ere are dierent types of surfacing to choose from; which ever product you select, follow
these guidelines:
X3.1.1Loose Fill Materials:
X3.1.1.1 Maintain a minimum depth of 9 inches of loose-fill materials such as wood mulch/chips, en-
gineered woodfiber (EWF), or shredded/recycled rubber mulch for equipment up to 8 feet high; and 9 inches of
sand or pea gravel for equipment up to 5 feet high. NOTE: An initial fill level of 12 inches will compress to about
a 9-inch depth of surfacing over time.e surfacing will also compact, displace, and settle, and should be periodically
refilled tomaintainatleasta9-inch depth.
X3.1.2Use a minimum of 6 inches of protective surfacing for play equipment less than 4 feet in height. If main-
tained properly, this should be adequate. (At depths less than 6 inches, the protective material is too easily displaced or
compacted.) NOTE: Do not install home playground equipment over concrete, asphalt, or any other hard surface. A fall
onto a hard surface can result in serious injury to the equipment user. Grass and dirt are not considered protective sur-
facing because wear and environmental factors can reduce their shock absorbing eectiveness. Carpeting and thin mats
are generally not adequate protective surfacing. Ground level equipment such as a sandbox, activity wall, playhouse or
other equipment that has no elevated play surface does not need any protective surfacing.
X3.1.3 Use containment, such as digging out around the perimeter and/or lining the perimeter with landscape
edging. Don’t forget to account for water drainage.
X3.1.3.1 Check and maintain the depth of the loose-fill surfacing material. To maintain ther ight amount of
loose-fill materials, mark the correct level on play equipment support posts. at way you can easily see when to replen-
ish and/or redistribute the surfacing.
X3.1.3.2 Do not install loose fill surfacing over hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt.
X3.1.4 Poured-In-Place Surfaces or Pre-Manufactured Rubber Tiles — You may be interested in using surfac-
ing other than loose-fill materials like rubber tiles or poured-in-places urfaces.
X3.1.4.1 Installations of these surfaces generally require a professional and are not “do-it-yourself” projects.
X3.1.4.2 Review surface specifications before purchasing this type of surfacing. Ask the installer/manufacturer
for a report showing that the product has been tested to the following safety standard: ASTMF 1292 Standard Specifica-
tion for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment. is report should
show the specific height for which the surface is intended to protect against serious head injury. is height should be
equal to or greater than the fall height – vertical distance between a designated play surface (elevated surface for stand-
ing, sitting,or climbing) and the protective surfacing below – of your play equipment.
X3.1.4.3 Check the protective surfacing frequently for wear.
X3.1.5 Placement — Proper placement and maintenance of protective surfacing is essential. Be sure to:
X3.1.5.1 Extend surfacing at least 6 feet from the equipment in all directions.
X3.1.5.2 For to-fro swings, extend protective surfacing in front of and behind the swing to a distance equal to
twice the height of the top bar from which the swing is suspended.
X3.1.5.3 For tire swings, extend surfacing in a circle whose radius is equal to the height of the suspending chain
or rope, plus 6 feet in all directions.
is information has been extracted from the CPSC publications “Playground Surfacing — Technical Information
Guide” and “Handbook for Public Playground Safety.” Copies ohese reports can be obtained bys ending a postcard to
the: Oce of Public Aairs, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C., 20207 or call the toll-free-
hotline:[phone].