Public Playground Safety Handbook 2008

1. Public Playground Safety Handbook 2008 Celestine T. Kiss, M.A. www.cpsc.gov *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

2. General Information • Presented in bullet point format for easier reading • Overall flow is to help a first-time user to walk through the whole process for planning, designing and implementing a new playground • Now includes children as young as 6-months-old • Wherever possible the wording is harmonized with wording in ASTM standards • Handbook is still intended to serve as a catalyst for the construction of safe public playgrounds and a reduction in deaths and injuries to children *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

3. 1.3 Public Playground Definition expanded/clarified • Includes children as young as 6-months-old • Equipment NOT covered by this handbook: • Sports equipment for users over 12 years • Soft-contained equipment • Constant air inflatable equipment • Art & Museum sculptures not otherwise designed, intended, and installed as playground equipment • Refers Indoor Child Care Facilities to ASTM F2373 *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

4. Other Changes • 1.4 Voluntary standard and handbook history added • 1.4.1 Listing of related ASTM playground standards • 1.5 Significant revisions listed • 1.6 Background • Expanded information about ADA requirements • Added “Access Board” guidelines contact information *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

5. 1.8 Definitions – new or revised words • Barrier – changed from Protective Barrier • Designated Play Surface – revised to say “2 inches wide by 2 inches long” • Entanglement – new – same as ASTM • Fall Height – new – same as ASTM • Full Bucket Seat Swing – replaces “Tot Swing” • Geotextile (filter) Cloth – new • Non-rigid Component – deleted • Projection – new • Protrusion – new – same as ASTM • Supervisor – new • Toddlers – new • Tot Swing – deleted *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

6. 2. General Playground Considerations • 2.1 Selecting a site • New table to address typical considerations with a new site • Added sun exposure concerns • 2.1.1 Shading considerations – new *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

7. 2.2 Playground Layout • Broken into subsections in alphabetical order • 2.2.6 Supervision • Section expanded *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

8. 2.3 Selecting Equipment • Table 1 – Age Appropriate Equipment • This table shows what is appropriate for the 3 age groups (Toddlers, Preschool, and Grade School age) • “This is not an all-comprehensive list and, therefore, should not limit inclusion of current or newly designed equipment that is not specifically mentioned.” • 2.3.1 Equipment not recommended – new section but same information *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

9. *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

10. 2.4 Surfacing • 1997 Handbook Section 4.3 Fall height for equipment was deleted from this section and put with specific playground equipment • 2.4.2 New chart showing appropriate and inappropriate surfaces • 2.4.2.1 Unitary surfacing materials - added statement that “some dark colored surfacing materials exposed to the intense sun have caused blistering on bare feet.” • Appendix C and Appendix D from 1997 handbook were deleted • Use Zone for Equipment in 1997 handbook was moved to specific equipment sections *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

11. Table 2 – Minimum Compressed Surfacing Depths • Table 2 – Minimum compressed loose-fill surfacing depths – this table just shows the minimum compressed depths • The handbook states - never use less than 9 inches of loose fill –shallower depths are too easily displaced or compacted • The handbook has a  general statement that appropriate surfacing is any material tested to ASTM F1292 *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

12. 2.4.2.3 Installing over hard surface *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

13. 2.5 Equipment Materials • Same information as 1997 • Broken into specific sections • Presented in alphabetical order *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

14. 3. Playground Hazards • Presented in alphabetical order • Deleted Pinch from Crush and Shearing Points • 3.2 Entanglement and Impalement • Replaces Protrusions and Projections • 1997 Figures 5 – 11 now in Appendix B • 3.2.1. Strings and ropes added with new warning label • 3.3.2 Angles – Figure 5 shows play fort with <55 degree angle • Added new section for Used Tires *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

15. 4. Maintaining a Playground • Maintenance Inspections • Repairs • Maintaining Loose-fill Surfacing • Recordkeeping *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

16. 5. Parts of the Playground • Greatly expanded to include toddler information *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

17. 5.3 Major Types of Playground Equipment • Presented in alphabetical order • Included for each piece of equipment • Use zone • Fall height • Other considerations (as needed) • 5.3.2.7 Track rides – new • 5.3.3. Log rolls – new *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

18. 5.3.6 Slides • Reflects how a user will approach and use the slide: • Access • Platform • Chute (lists all types of chutes in alphabetical order) • Exit region • Use zone • Fall height • Entanglements • 5.3.6.5 Use zone in front of exit chute is harmonized with ASTM – maximum of 8 feet *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.

19. Appendix • Appendix A – same as 1997 • Appendix B • B.1 – Shows all templates, gauges, and testing tools • B.2 – Test Methods • Projections name changed to Protrusions • Angles • Entrapment • Completely Bounded Openings • Flexible Openings *The views expressed in this presentation are those of the CPSC staff, and have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. This presentation is in the public domain and may be freely copied.