CONSUMER INFORMATION SHEET FOR PLAYGROUND
SURFACING MATERIALS
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that about 100 000
playground equipmentrelated injuries resulting from falls to the ground surface are treated
annually in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. Injuries involving this hazard pattern tend to be
among the most serious of all playground injuries, and have the potential to be fatal, particularly
when the injury is to the head. The surface under and around playground equipment can be a major
factor in determining the injury-causing potential of a fall. It is self evident that a fall onto a shock
absorbing surface is less likely to cause a serious injury than a fall onto a hard surface.
Playground equipment should never be placed on hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt and while grass
may appear to be acceptable it may quickly turn to hard packed earth in areas of high traffic. Shredded bark
mulch, wood chips, fine sand or fine gravel are considered to be acceptable shock absorbing surfaces when
installed and maintained at a sufficient depth under and around playground equipment.
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
1
Spiro Hop
Type of Material
6 inch. depth
9 inch. depth
12 inch. depth
Double Shredded Bark Mulch
6
10
11
Wood
Chips 6 7 12
Fine
Sand
5 5 9
Fine
Gravel
6 7 10
USA
TP749 Spiro Hop USA PN9434 6 03 08 7/3/08 09:48 Page 3
