Suggested Playground Surfacing
Playground equipment should never be placed on hard surfaces such as concrete
or asphalt.
Do not install loose fill surfacing over hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt.
Shredded bark mulch, wood chips, fine sand and fine gravel, are added as shock
absorbing materials after assembly. If used properly these materials can absorb
some of the impact of a child’s fall.
All surface material should extend a minimum of 6 feet in all directions around
the play area.
Do not apply playground surfacing until after the unit is completely constructed.
Playset should not be built on top of surfacing.
Use containment, such as digging out around the perimeter and/or lining the
perimeter with landscape edging.
Installation of rubber tiles or poured-in-place surfaces (other than loose-fill
materials) generally require a professional and are not “do-it-yourself” projects.
Shall use Playground Surfacing Materials (other than loose-fill material) which
comply to the safety standard ASTM F1292 Standard Specification of Impact
Attenuation of Surfacing Materials within the Use Zone of Playground
Equipment.
The following chart explains the fall height in feet from which a life threatening
head injury would not be expected
Critical Heights in feet (m) of Tested Materials
Material
Uncompressed Depth
Compressed Depth
6" (152mm)
9" (228mm)
12" (304mm)
to 9" (228mm)
Wood Chips
7' (2.13m)
10' (3.05m)
11' (3.35m)
10' (3.05m)
Double-Shredded bark mulch
6' (1.83m)
10' (3.05m)
11' (3.35m)
7' (2.13m)
Engineered Wood Fibers
6' (1.83m)
7' (2.13m)
>12' (3.66m)
6' (1.83m)
Fine Sand
5' (1.52m)
5' (1.52m)
9' (2.74m)
5' (1.52m)
Coarse Sand
5' (1.52m)
5' (1.52m)
6' (1.83m)
4' (1.22m)
Fine Gravel
5' (1.52m)
7' (2.13m)
10' (3.05m)
6' (1.83m)
Medium Gravel
5' (1.52m)
5' (1.52m)
6' (1.83m)
5' (1.52m)
Shredded Tires*
10-12' (3.0-3.6m)
N/A
N/A
N/A
*This data is from tests conducted by independent testing laboratories on a 6-inch depth of uncompressed shredded tire samples
produced by four manufacturers. The tests reported critical heights, which varied from 10 feet to greater than 12 feet. It is
recommended that persons seeking to install shredded tires as a protective surface request test data from the supplier showing the
critical height of the material when it was tested in accordance with ASTM F1292.
5
Summary of Contents for MA3201
Page 23: ...21...
Page 24: ...22 Phase 2...
Page 25: ...Phase 3 23...
Page 26: ...Phase 4 24...
Page 27: ...Phase 5 25...
Page 29: ...27 Phase 7...
Page 31: ...Phase 9 29...
Page 47: ...45...
