SCHOOL HEALTH AND SAFETY
APRIL 29,2009
THE WORLD
NEEDS PLAY
PLAYGROUND PURCHASING 101
1) Playgrounds Past and Present - Playgrounds “Safe & Fun”?
2) How to Select Equipment – Reputation is Everything.
3) Avoiding Pitfalls – Planning.
4) What Else You Need To Know.
Playground Structures were first introduced around 1912.
Safety Surfacing was Grass, Dirt or Sand.
Many Playgrounds were placed over Concrete or Asphalt.
Playground injury lawsuits - not uncommon since about 1946.
CPSC first looked at injury data in 1975 / 1 st Safety Handbook in 1985.
1st ADA / ABA laws established in 1990.
A 2002 study found that 75% of playgrounds lack adequate safety surfacing.
CPSC Estimates 200,000 children are injured each year from Playgrounds.
In 1995, 1.2 Billion Dollars in settlements from injuries.
44% of all injuries are due to lack of supervision. (*CPSC)
From 1990 – 2000 of the 150 deaths / 90 were on residential equipment.
79% of all injuries are from falls to surface. (*CPSC)
1/3 of all injuries are due to poor maintenance. (*NPSI)
80% of all injuries are caused by negligence of the owners. (*NPSI)
What can we do to change these statistics?
NPSI: National Playground Safety Institute
www.nrpa.org/npsi
CPSI: Certified Playground Safety Inspector
CPSC: Consumer Playground Safety Commission
www.cpsc.gov
ASTM: American Society for Testing & Materials
www.astm.org
IPEMA: International Playground Equipment Manufacturers Assoc.
www.ipema.org
ADA / ABA: Americans with Disabilities & Architectural Barriers Acts
www.ada.gov
SHREDDED RUBBER
PEA GRAVEL
WOOD CHIPS
ENGINEERED WOOD FIBER
RUBBER TILES
Inches
9”
9”
9”
9”
9”
Of
(Loose-Fill Material)
Protects to
Fall Height (feet)
Shredded/recycled rubber
Sand
Pea Gravel
Wood mulch (non-CCA)
Wood chips
UNITARY SURFACING:
Rubber Tiles and Poured In Place Rubber:
Provide for critical fall heights of up to 10’
Fail - HIC 1000 / 200.g Impact Soon after installation.
SofSurfaces “SofTile” will Pass HIC 1000 and 200g for their full 10 yr
Warranty. (field tested)
10’
4’
5’
7’
10’
Over 65 Playground Manufacturers on the Internet.
How do you sort out Quality and Integrity from Hype and Empty Promises?
10 Questions you might ask:
1) Can you provide local references for the past 5 years (or longer)?
2) Do you have a local representative and are they currently CPSI Certified?
3) Is the product made in the USA (warranty replacement)?
4) Do you use 100% Tamper resistant Stainless Steel Hardware?
5) Is your Warranty “Pro Rated” or 100% cost free replacement?
6) Do you provide Free - Post Installation Inspections with Documentation?
7) Are the Plastics and Playground equipment 99.999% PVC Free?
8) Can you provide Green Technology / Carbon Footprint / Environmental Data?
9) Are all components 100% IPEMA Certified?
10) Fade Resistant Paint? Compound Resign Plastics? and Warp Free Decks?
Is the Equipment designed for Public Use?
Many schools have purchased Residential Equipment and had to remove it.
Did you really get what you paid for?
Some manufacturers ship “smaller” structures than the plans presented to the customer.
Active Components vs. Passive Components.
Panels with stenciled pictures are counted the same as activity panels.
When is a discount really a discount?
50% Off? Matching Grant Monies? Free Shipping? Free Installation? Really?
Purchasing Contracts – How do they work?
KCDA / Washington State Contract / National Purchasing Partners
How do you know if it’s pure “Engineered Wood” Fiber.
Some wood products are ground up pallets and can contain nails or screws.
How do we know the Installer is providing quality service?
Installer should be Certified from the Manufacturer and current as CPSI.
Who will lead the planning – PTA, Principal, Maintenance, District?
Starting from Scratch / Replace Old Equip / Adding to Existing?
What is to be included in the budget Equipment, Freight, Tax, Installation, Surfacing, Borders, Site Work?
Designing – Age Group, Play Type, Special Needs?
Timeline for Completion – Weeks, Months, Years?
Installation – Turn Key, Supervised, Volunteer?
Liabilities regarding installation.
Grade School —Ages 5-12
• Arch climbers
• Chain or cable walks
• Free standing climbing events
with Flexible Parts
• Fulcrum seesaws
• Ladders – Horizontal, Rung, & Step
• Overhead rings
• Merry-go-rounds
• Ramps
• Ring treks
• Slides
• Spiral slides more than one
360° turn
• Stairways
• Swings – belt & rotating tire
• Track rides
• Vertical sliding poles
Preschool —Ages 2-5
• Certain climbers
• Horizontal ladders less than or
equal to 60” high for ages 4 and 5
• Merry-go-rounds
• Ramps
• Rung ladders
• Single file step ladders
• Slides
• Spiral slides up to 360°
• Spring rockers
• Stairways
• Swings – belt, full bucket seats
(2- 4years) & rotating tire
Planning:
Design Layout approved by Spokane County Health Dept?
Double check your quote for accuracy - what exactly is included.
Does the color rendering match your idea of the finished product.
Who will receive the equipment - Inventory, Storage, Transportation.
Has new surfacing material been arranged.
Age appropriate Signage?
Know the companies terms for purchase, how will payments be made.
Set a realistic timeline for Installation (how long before delivery).
Know exactly what the Installer is responsible for and what they do not provide.
What needs to be done while you wait for delivery – area prep.
What is involved in receiving the products - storage / security.
What do you do if product is missing or damaged.
Owner is responsible for Utility Location, Buried and Hidden Hazards.
Installation generates a large amount of garbage, who will handle it.
Have someone available for a final walk thru and inspection.
Discuss with maintenance people a plan for regular inspections.
Understand your warranty and know who to contact for questions.
Plan a dedication ceremony for kids and staff.
PLAY!
Northwest Playground
Equipment, Inc.
P.O Box 2410
Issaquah, WA 98027
800.726.0031
208.762.8896
Patrick Cancilla