1.1 This consumer safety specification provides safety requirements for various types of home playground equipment intended for use by children aged from over 18 months through 10 years. It further provides such requirements for swings intended specifically for toddlers. Different age limits for various requirements are found in this specification. These limits reflect the nature of the hazards and the expected mental or physical ability, or both, of the child to cope with the hazards.

1.2 Home playground equipment is defined as any product in which the support structure remains stationary while the activity is taking place and is intended for a child to perform any of the following activities: climbing, swinging, sliding, rocking, spinning, crawling, or creeping, or combination thereof. Fitness equipment is specifically excluded unless attached to the play equipment. This specification is not intended to apply to juvenile care products such as, but not limited to, infant swings, playpens/enclosures, beds, or furniture (including outdoor furniture, such as picnic tables, cradle rockers, activity centers being used as walker substitutes, bouncers, jumpers, infant carriers, and products specifically designed for therapeutic use). This specification is not intended to apply to equipment to be used in places of public assembly such as schools, nurseries, day-care centers, and parks. Equipment intended to be in child-care centers in private homes is not exempt from the requirements of this specification. Such centers are defined as situations in which the child-care provider does not care for more than six children under the age of ten that are not residing in the household of the caregiver, and the total number of children under the age of ten does not exceed ten, including the caregiver's own children. Electrically operated constant air inflatable devices are exempted from the requirements of this specification. Free standing play houses are exempt from this standard where the intent is that the child is standing or seated with their feet on the ground with no climbing, sliding, or swinging activities.

1.3 Methods of identifying products that comply with this consumer safety specification are given. The illustrations of home playground equipment shown in Figs. A1.1-A1.4 are for informational purposes only and are not intended to limit or endorse certain types of playground equipment or equipment features. These illustrations are not intended to limit the variety or various combinations of equipment that are covered by this consumer safety specification.

1.4 The purpose of this specification is to reduce the likelihood of life-threatening or debilitating injuries.

1.5 If toy accessories or toy chests are attached to home playground equipment, they are applicable to this consumer safety specification and to any other applicable safety standards.

Note 1: See Annex A1 for figures referenced throughout this consumer safety performance specification.

1.6 General Measures, Tolerances, and Conversions: 

1.6.1 The general tolerances for this specification (unless otherwise specified) are as follows:

Dimension

Tolerance

X in.

±0.5 in.

X.X in.

±0.05 in.

X.XX in.

±0.005 in.

Angle: ± 1°

Force in N:

±1.125 lbf (±5 N)

Weight in lbs:

<220 lb (100 kg) ±1 lb (0.45 kg)

Weight in lbs.

>220 lb (100 kg) ±2 lb (0.90 kg)

These tolerances apply to all dimensions unless otherwise stated or when listed using terms like greater than, less than, minimum, or maximum are used.

1.6.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only.

1.6.3 The metric conversion factors:

inch (in.) to millimetre (mm):

1 in. = 25.4 mm

pound (lb) to kilogram (kg):

1 lb  = 0.45359 kg

pound-force (lbf) to newton (N):

1 lbf = 4.4482 N

1.6.4 See Annex A1 for figures referenced throughout this specification.

1.7 This consumer safety performance specification includes the following sections:

Scope

Section 1

Referenced Documents

Section 2

Terminology

Section 3

Materials and Manufacture

Section 4

General Requirements

Section 5

Performance Requirements

Section 6

Requirements for Access

Section 7

Equipment

Section 8

Equipment Layout

Section 9

Installation

Section 10

Structural Integrity

Section 11

Maintenance Instructions

Section 12

Labeling and Signage

Section 13

Information

Section 14

Keywords

Section 15

1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.