Owner’s Manual Play Set
Rev5/20/10 BRS
APPENDIX A
Information on Playground Surfacing Materials:
The following information is from the
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s
Information Sheet for playground surfacing material;
also see the following website for additional
information:
www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/323.html
.
X3. CONSUMER INFORMATION SHEET FOR PLAYGROUND SURFACING MATERIALS
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X3.1 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that about 100,000 playground equipment-
related 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 find 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.
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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: Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C., 20207 or call the
toll-free hotline: 1-800-638-2772.
The American Society for Testing and Materials takes no position respecting the validity of any parent right
asserted in connection with any item mentioned in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that
determination of the validity of any such parent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own
responsibility.
The standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed
every five years and if not revised, either approved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this
standard or for additional standards and should be addressed to ASTM Headquarters. Your comments will receive
careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your
comments have not received a fair hearing you should make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards.
100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428.
