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CONSUMER INFORMATION SHEET FOR PLAYGROUND SURFACING MATERIALS*
Select 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. The protective surfacing should be applied to a depth
that is suitable for the equipment height in accordance with ASTM
F1292. There are diff erent types of surfacing to choose from;
whichever product you select, follow these guidelines:
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 surfacing because wear and environmental
factors can reduce their shock-absorbing eff 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.
Loose-Fill Materials—Maintain a minimum depth of 23 cm (9 inches)
of loose-fi ll materials such as wood mulch/chips, engineered wood
fi ber (EWF), or shredded/recycled rubber mulch for equipment up to
244 cm (8 feet) high; and 23 cm (9 inches) of sand or pea gravel for
equipment up to 152 cm (5 feet) high. NOTE: An initial fi ll level of 30
cm (12 inches) will compress to about a 23 cm (9 inches) depth of
surfacing over time. The surfacing will also compact, displace, and
settle, and should be periodically refi lled to maintain at least a 23 cm
(9 inches) depth.
Use a minimum of 15 cm (6 inches) of protective surfacing for play
equipment less than 122 cm (4 feet) in height. If maintained properly,
this should be adequate. (At depths less than 15 cm (6 inches), the
protective material is too easily displaced or compacted.)
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.
The maximum fall height for this product is 223.5 cm (88 in).
We recommend using a minimum depth of 23 cm (9 in) of Wood Mulch.
TABLE 1 — Depth of Surfacing Material Required Based on Fall Heights
Material / Fall Height
Wood Mulch
Wood Chips
Fine Sand
Fine Gravel
Shredded Rubber**
*This information has been extracted from the CPSC publications "Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook". A copy of
this publication can be obtained by contacting U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov or calling the
toll-free hotline: 1-800-638-2772
**Shredded/recycled rubber loose-fi ll surfacing does not compress in the same manner as other loose-fi ll materials. However, care
should be taken to maintain a constant depth as displacement may still occur. This information has been extracted from the CPSC
publication "Public Playground Safety Handbook". A copy of this publication can be obtained at www.cpsc.gov or calling the toll-
free hotline: 1-800-638-2772. Protective surfacing requirements can be found in ASTM F1292, Standard Specifi cation for Impact
Attenuation of Surfacing Material within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment. These standards can be ordered from ASTM
International at www.ast.org.
Check and maintain the depth of the loose fi ll surfacing material. To
maintain the right amount of loose fi ll materials, mark the correct
level on play equipment support posts. That way you can easily see
when to replenish and/or redistribute the surfacing.
Do not install loose-fi ll surfacing over hard surfaces such as concrete
or asphalt.
Poured-In-Place Surfaces or Pre-Manufactured Rubber Tiles—You may be
interested in using surfacing other than loose fi ll materials – like
rubber tiles or poured-in-place surfaces. Installation of these surfaces
generally requires a professional and is not a"do-it-yourself" project.
Review surface specifi cations 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: ASTM
F1292 Standard Specifi cation for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing
Materials within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment. This report
should show the specifi c height for which the surface is intended to
protect against serious head injury. This height should be equal to or
greater than the fall height – vertical distance between a designated
play surface (elevated surface for standing, sitting, or climbing) and
the protective surfacing below – of your play equipment.
Check the protective surfacing frequently for wear.
Placement—Proper placement and maintenance of protective
surfacing is essential. Be sure to:
Extend surfacing at least 2 m (6.6 feet) from the equipment in all
directions.
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.
For tire swings, extend surfacing in a circle whose radius is equal to
the height of the suspending chain or rope, plus 2 m (6.6 feet) in all
directions.
(152 cm) (183 cm) (213 cm) (244 cm) (274 cm) (305 cm)
(122 cm)
4 ft
5 ft
(15 cm)
(23 cm)
(23 cm)
6 in
9 in
(15 cm)
(23 cm)
(23 cm)
6 in
9 in
--
(15 cm)
6 in
(15 cm)
(23 cm)
6 in
9 in
(15 cm)
(15 cm)
(15 cm)
6 in
6 in
7
6 ft
7 ft
8 ft
(23 cm)
(23 cm)
9 in
9 in
9 in
(23 cm)
(23 cm)
9 in
9 in
9 in
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--
--
--
--
--
(15 cm)
(15 cm)
6 in
6 in
6 in
9 ft
10 ft
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(15 cm)
(15 cm)
6 in
6 in
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