SURFACING AND USE ZONE GUIDELINES
(US Consumer Product Safety Commission and ASTM F1487-01 Standards)
Use Zone Recommendations
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STATIONARY EQUIPMENT: The use zone is to extend a minimum of 6’ in ALL directions from the
perimeter of the equipment. Use zones may overlap if adjacent stationary equipment is 30” or less.
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SLIDES: The use zone in front of the exit of the slide is to extend a minimum distance of 6’ from the end of
the slide chute, or a distance of height (H) + 4’ whichever is the greater. Height (H) is the height of the slide
platform.
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SINGLE AXIS SWINGS (TO/FRO): The use zone to the front and to the rear of TO/FRO swings shall be a
minimum distance of 2X on a line extending 90 degrees both front and rear from the longitudinal direction of
the suspension beam, where X equals the vertical distance from the top of the protective surfacing to the
pivot point of the swing. No other play equipment use zone shall overlap the front-to-rear use zone. The side
support structures’ use zones for adjacent TO/FRO swing may overlap.
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TOT SWINGS (TO/FRO): The use zone to the front and to the rear of TOT swings shall be a minimum
distance of 2X on a line extending 90 degrees both front and rear from the longitudinal direction of the
suspension beam, where X equals the vertical distance from the bottom of the bucket seat to the pivot
point of the swing. No other play equipment use zone shall overlap the front-to-rear use zone. The side support
structures’ use zones for adjacent TOT swing may overlap.
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MULTI-AXIS SWINGS (Rotating): The use zone is to extend in any direction from a minimum distance of 6’
+ the length from the pivot point to the top of the tire. No other equipment use zone shall overlap the
rotating swing use zone.
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MERRY-GO-ROUNDS: The use zone is to extend a minimum of 6’ beyond the perimeter of the platform.
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ROCKING/SPRINGING EQUIPMENT: The use zone is to extend a minimum of 6’ from the perimeter of the
equipment, but adjacent spring rockers with a minimum seat height of 24” may share the same use zone.
Surfacing Materials
LOOSE-FILL Materials
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Loose-fill materials consist of wood chips, double shredded bark mulch, engineered wood fiber, fine sand,
coarse sand, fine gravel, medium gravel and shredded tires.
Not to be installed over hard surfaces such as asphalt or concrete.
Requires a method of containment.
Requires good drainage under material.
Requires periodic renewal, or replacement, and continuous maintenance to maintain proper depth and remove
foreign matter.
UNITARY Materials
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Unitary materials consist of rubber mats, shredded tires or poured-in-place (PIP) surface treatment.
NOTE: Asphalt, concrete, soils, hard-packed dirt, grass or turf are unsuitable for use under play equipment.
Stenz B. 1997