Playgrounds
Priority Items:
Description
Notes
Structures/Climbers/Overhead Devices
5a P
No entrapment, entanglements, protrusions, crush, shear, or sharp points
present
Elevated surface > 48” high to have protective barrier
SWINGS
6a P
All swings – 6’ minimum side structure zones
No worn chains or pivot points
S-hooks closed & positioned correctly
No entrapments, entanglements, protrusions, crush, shear, or sharp points
present
No protrusions > 1/8” present on front, back, or underside of swing
assemblies
No entrapments, entanglements, protrusions, crush, shear, or sharp points
present
FULCRUM SEE-SAWS
8a P
Fulcrum does not create a crush hazard
Handholds provided, not protruding beyond teeter-totter
MERRY-GO-ROUNDS
9a P
Merry-go-round is stable (balanced)
Playgrounds-1
Revised 8/2015
Platform surface is continuous with no openings allowing 5/16” diameter
rod to pass through
Platform underside 9” minimum, sitting surface 18” maximum
No entrapments, entanglements, protrusions, crush, shear, or sharp points
present (check undercarriage mechanism)
SPRING ROCKERS
10a P
No entrapments, entanglements, protrusions, crush, shear, or sharp points
present (check spring mechanism)
Non-Priority Items:
Description
Notes
PLAN REVIEW
1N
All equipment has acceptable fall zones & protective surfacing (triaxial
accelerometer measures surfacing impact absorption)
Multi-axis & single axis swings not attached to composite structure
SUPERVISION
2b N
On-site visual supervision present
MAINTENANCE
3N
School/district maintenance/inspection program specifies inspection
frequency
Procedure to address hazards on playground
Playground meets CPSC Guidelines & ASTM Standards.
Playground adequately fenced or protected from traffic
Playgrounds-2
Revised 8/2015
Playground has proper drainage, free of tripping hazards or other hazards
(broken glass, etc.)
No exposed footings
No overhead obstructions (cables, branches, etc.) less than 7’ from play
surface
Adequate means to contain resilient surfacing.
Adequate resilient surfacing (9” minimum)
Resilient surfacing not compacted or trenched
Adequate structural integrity – no dry rot, split boards, etc.
Soccer goals anchored to prevent tipping
Children should not wear drawstrings, jewelry, etc.
Tires properly drained. No exposed steel belts
Surfaces generating excessive solar heat gain (slides, etc.) shaded or
protected
Maximum length of rope, cable or chain with unattached end is 7”
STRUCTURES/CLIMBERS/OVERHEAD DEVICES
5N
USE ZONE – 6’ minimum for each climber or event. (< 30” equipment =
overlap 6’ zone; > 30” equipment & stationary = 9’ zone)
No exposed footings
No bars onto which a child could fall from higher than18”
No upper body equipment higher than 84”
Elevated surface > 30” high to have guardrail
Protective infill between platforms requiring barriers
Playgrounds-3
Revised 8/2015
Clearance from structure to sliding pole between 18” - 20”
Climbing ropes anchored at both ends
Climbing ropes anchored below level of playing surface
Overhead rings maximum 7” chain length
Dome angles are > 55 ̊ unless lower leg is horizontal or points downward
End caps on pipes and open-ended logs
SWINGS
6N
USE ZONE – Single axis swings – 2 times the distance from the pivot point
to the protective surface – front & rear
USE ZONE - Multi-axis swings – chain length + 6’
USE ZONE - Tot swing = 2 times the distance from the pivot point to the
seat – front & rear
Recommend multi-axis & single axis swings not attached to composite
structures
Only 2 swings per bay
Swing seats are light-weight material
No exposed footings
Multi-axis swings have minimum. 30” clearance between seat & upright
support when tire closest to support
SLIDES
7N
SLIDE STRUCTURE USE ZONE – 6’ minimum. at sides & rear, 21” ‘clear
zone’ along slide chute
Tube slides must be > 23” diameter
Playgrounds-4
Revised 8/2015
SLIDE EXIT ZONE – Slide height from end of chute minimum. 6’, maximum
8’
No exposed footings
Means to channel user into sitting position. Slide transition zone shall be >
14”
Flat, open chutes have 4” minimum. side height extending full length of
slide chute
Slides have an exit region (minimum. 11” long) & be < 11” above surfacing
if height is < 4’, 7 to 15” above surfacing if height is > 4’. Chute exit region
should be 0 to 4 degrees from a plane parallel to ground
FULCRUM SEE-SAWS
8N
USE ZONE – 6’ minimum.
Shock-absorbing material attached to seats secured in ground
No entrapments, entanglements, protrusions, crush, shear, or sharp points
present
No exposed footing
MERRY-GO-ROUNDS
9N
USE ZONE – 6’ minimum around perimeter
Handles do not protrude beyond platform
No exposed footing
SPRING ROCKERS
10N
USE ZONE – Sitting – 6’ minimum. EXCEPTION: 6’ total between each
spring rocker in a group. Standing – 7’ minimum (no overlap)
No exposed footing
Playgrounds-5
Revised 8/2015
MISC. EQUIPMENT
11 N
LOG ROLLS & BALANCE BEAMS
USE ZONE – 6’ minimum. around perimeter
LOG ROLLS – maximum roller height of 18”
BALANCE BEAMS-maximum height of 16” (5-12 yrs.)
Observations:
Description
Notes
13 O
New playground plans reviewed by Health District
School/district has procedures to select/place playground equipment
New equipment meets current CPSC Guidelines & ASTM Standards
New playgrounds meet ADA requirements (1990)
Multi-occupancy swings, free-swinging ropes, dual exercise rings, trapeze
bars, & trampolines are not recommended for public playgrounds
Chain/cable walks, free-standing arch climbers, or flexible components,
fulcrum seesaws, log rolls, long spiral slides, overhead rings, parallel bars,
swinging gates, track rides, & vertical sliding poles are not recommended
for 2-5 yr. old children
Written supervision policy, including playground emergencies
Supervisors selected, trained & equipped per policy
Written playground rules taught to students, posted at school & sent to
parents
Records maintained for playground installation, inspections &
maintenance
Maintenance/repair performed per manufacturer specifications
Playgrounds-6
Revised 8/2015
GENERAL DEFINITIONS/EXAMPLES:
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Entrapments – openings > 3.5 inches and < 9 inches and open-ended (e.g., slide rungs) or at least 6 inches deep if enclosed
Protrusions – bolts, nails, bars
Tripping hazards – roots, uneven platforms, rocks
Pinch points – on moving parts (e.g., teeter-totter fulcrum, track rides)
String entanglements – at equipment connections (e.g., top of slide)
Playgrounds-7
Revised 8/2015