8
TP Explorer Climbing Set with Platform & Den
X3.1.2
Use a minimum of 6 inches of protective surfacing for play
equipment less than 4 feet in height. If maintained properly, this should
be adequate. (At depths less than 6 inches, the protective material is too
easily displaced or compacted.)
NOTE:
Do not install home playground equipment over concrete, asphalt,
or any other hard surface. A fall onto a hard surface can result in serious
injury to the equipment user. Grass and dirt are not considered protective
surfacing because wear and environmental factors can reduce their
shock absorbing effectiveness. Carpeting and thin mats are generally
not adequate protective surfacing. Ground level equipment – such as
a sandbox, activity wall, playhouse or other equipment that has no
elevated play surface – does not need any protective surfacing.
X3.1.3
Use containment, such as digging out around the perimeter and/
or lining the perimeter with landscape edging. Don’t forget to account for
water drainage.
X3.1.3.1
Check and maintain the depth of the loose-fill surfacing material.
To maintain the right amount of loose- fill materials, mark the correct level
on play equipment support posts. That way you can easily see when to
replenish and/or redistribute the surfacing.
X3.1.3.2
Do not install loose fill surfacing over hard surfaces such as
concrete or asphalt.
X3.1.4
Poured-In-Place Surfaces or Pre-Manufactured Rubber Tiles - You
may be interested in using surfacing other than loose-fill materials – like
rubber tiles or poured-in-place surfaces.
X3.1.4.1
Installations of these surfaces generally require a professional
and are not “do-it-yourself” projects.
X3.1.4.2
Review surface specifications before purchasing this type of
surfacing. Ask the installer/manufacturer for a report showing that the
product has been tested to the following safety standard: ASTM F 1292
Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials
within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment. This report should show
the specific height for which the surface is intended to protect against
serious head injury. This height should be equal to or greater than the fall
height – vertical distance between a designated play surface (elevated
surface for standing, sitting, or climbing) and the protective surfacing
below – of your play equipment.
X3.1.4.3
Check the protective surfacing frequently for wear.
X3.1.5
Placement - Proper placement and maintenance of protective
surfacing is essential. Be sure to:
X3.1.5.1
Extend surfacing at least 6 feet from the equipment in all
directions.
X3.2 Table X3.1
lists the maximum height from which a child would not
be expected to sustain a life-threatening head injury in a fall onto four
different loose-fill surfacing materials if they are installed and maintained
at depths of 6, 9, and 12 in. However, it should be recognized that
all injuries due to falls cannot be prevented no matter what surfacing
material is used.
X3.3
It is recommended that a shock absorbing material should extend
a minimum of 6 ft in all directions from the perimeter of stationary
equipment such as climbers and slides. However, because children may
deliberately jump from a moving swing, the shock absorbing material
should extend in the front and rear of a swing a minimum distance of 2
times the height of the pivot point measured from a point directly beneath
the pivot on the supporting structure.
X3.4
This information is intended to assist in comparing the relative
shock-absorbing properties of various materials. No particular material
is recommended over another. However, each material is only effective
when properly maintained. Materials should be checked periodically and
replenished to maintain correct depth as determined necessary for your
equipment. The choice of a material depends on the type and height of
the playground equipment, the availability of the material in your area,
and its cost.
9
This information has been extracted from the CPSC publications
“Playground Surfacing -Technical Information Guide” and “Handbook for
Public Playground Safety.” Copies of these reports can be obtained by
sending a postcard to the: Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission, Washington, D.C., 20207 or call the toll-free hotline:
1-800-638-2772.
TABLE X3.1
Fall Height in Feet From Which a Life Threatening Head Injury Would
Not Be Expected
Warning
Please instruct children not to use the equipment in a manner other than
intended.
Installation Instructions and Information -
Place the equipment on level ground, not less than 6ft (1.8m) from any
structure or obstruction such as a fence, Garage, house, overhanging
branches, laundry lines, or electrical wires.
Do not install home playground equipment over concrete, asphalt,
packed earth, or any other hard surface. A fall onto a hard surface can
result in serious injury to the equipment user.
Operating Instructions -
Observing the following statements and warnings reduces the likelihood
of serious or fatal injury.
We recommend on-site adult supervision for children of all ages Instruct
children not to walk close to, in front of, behind, or between moving
items.
Instruct children not to twist swing chains or ropes or loop them over the
top supp ort bar since this may reduce the strength of the chain or rope.
Instruct children to avoid swinging empty seats.
Teach children to sit in the center of the swings with their full weight on
the seats.
Instruct children not to use the equipment in a manner other than
intended.
Instruct children not to get off equipment while it is in motion.
Parent to dress children appropriately (examples would include the use of
well-fitting shoes and the avoidance of ponchos, scarfs, and other loose-
fitting clothing that is potentially hazardous while using equipment).
Instruct children not to climb when the equipment is wet.
Check the openings between rollers and sliding surfaces of roller slides
for foreign materials that could be potentially hazardous to users.
Verify that suspended climbing ropes, chain, or cable cannot be looped
back on itself.
Instruct children not to attach items to the playground equipment that
are not specifically designed for use with the equipment, such as, but not
limited to, jump ropes, clothesline, pet leashes, cables and chain as they
may cause a strangulation hazard.
Warning!
the buyer to instruct children to remove their bike or other
sports helmet before playing on the playground equipment.
WARNING
: Lawn swings are designed for use by children two years of
age and older. The use by children under the age of two can result in
entrapment between the seat and back rest because the child’s body
may pass through the opening, causing entrapment of the child’s head.
Such entrapment may result in strangulation.
NEVER
place children in a
rearward facing position or with legs between the seat and backrest.
Maintenance Instructions -
At the beginning of each play season:
Tighten all hardware. Lubricate all metallic moving parts per
manufacturer’s instructions.
Check all protective coverings on bolts, pipes, edges, and corners.
Replace if they are loose, cracked, or missing. Check all moving parts
including swing seats, ropes, cables, and chains for wear, rust, or
other deterioration. Replace as needed. Check metal parts for rust. If
found, sand and repaint using a non lead-based paint meeting the
requirements of 16 CFR 1303.
Check all wood members for deterioration and splinters. Sand down
splinters and replace deteriorating wood members. Reinstall any plastic
parts, such as swing seats or any other items that were removed for
the cold season. Rake and check depth of loose fill protective surfacing
materials to prevent compaction and to maintain appropriate depth.
Replace as necessary.
Twice a month during play season:
Tighten all hardware. Check all protective coverings on bolts, pipes,
edges, and corners. Replace if they are loose, cracked, or missing. Rake
and check depth of loose fill protective surfacing materials to prevent
compaction and to maintain appropriate depth. Replace as necessary.
Once a month during play season:
Lubricate all metallic moving parts per manufacturer’s instructions.
Check all moving parts including swing seats, ropes, cables, and chains
for wear, rust, or other deterioration. Replace as needed.
At the end of each play season or when the temperature drops below
40°F (4°C). Remove plastic swing seats and other items as specified by
the manufacturer and take indoors or do not use. Rake and check depth
of loose fill protective surfacing materials to prevent compaction and to
maintain appropriate depth. Replace as necessary.
(Maximum fall height for product = 102cm)
Type of Material
6 inch.
9 inch.
12 inch.
depth
depth
depth
Double Shredded
Bark Mulch
6
10
11
Wood Chips
6
7
12
Fine Sand
5
5
9
Fine Gravel
6
7
10
TP843 Explorer Frame Set Inst 5012 -F 18.10.18.indd 8
18/10/2018 13:05
