1.1 This consumer safety performance specification provides safety and performance standards for various types of public playground equipment and dimensional requirements for their clearance and use zones. Its purpose is to reduce life-threatening and debilitating injuries.

1.2 The range of users encompassed by this consumer safety performance specification is the 5th percentile 2-year-old through the 95th percentile 12-year-old.

1.3 Home playground equipment, toys, amusement rides, sports equipment, fitness equipment intended for users over the age of 12, public use play equipment for children 6 to 24 months, and soft contained play equipment are not included in this specification.

1.4 Products or materials (site furnishings) that are installed outside the equipment use zone, such as benches, tables, independent shade structures, and borders used to contain protective surfacing, are not considered playground equipment and are not included in this specification.

1.5 This specification does not address accessibility, except as it pertains to safety issues not covered in the DOJ 2010 Standard for Accessible Design.

1.6 This consumer safety performance specification includes the following sections:

Title

Section Number

Scope

1

Referenced Documents

2

Terminology

3

Materials and Manufacture

4

General Requirements

5

Performance Requirements

6

Requirements for Access/Egress

7

Equipment

8

Playground Layout

9

Accessibility

10

Installation

11

Structural Integrity

12

Maintenance

13

Signs or Labels, or Both

14

Manufacturer Identification

15

Keywords

16

Figures

Annex A1

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA)

Appendix X1

1.6.1 The requirements in this specification are designed to mitigate the hazards typically presented by various types of equipment. New equipment may not specifically fit into the designated types listed in the specification; however, the designer or manufacturer, or both, shall use professional judgment to perform and document a hazard analysis and follow appropriate requirements to mitigate the hazards.

Note 1: See Appendix X1 at the end of this standard to find more information on how one might conduct such an assessment as stated in this section.

1.7 General Measures, Tolerances, and Conversions: 

1.7.1 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.

These tolerances still apply to a dimension even when terms like greater than, less than, minimum, or maximum are used.

1.7.2 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.

1.7.3 The conversion factor from inch-pound to metric units is 1 in. = 25.4 mm, and 1 lb = 0.45359 kg.

1.7.4 See Annex A1 for figures referenced throughout this specification.

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.