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OWNER PS-2010
Rev. 10/21/2009
Owner’s Manual Play Set
Please refer to the Assembly section of the Assembly Manual for Maximum Fall Height.
Positioning Your Playcenter
1.
The Playcenter is designed to be installed on a level surface
by an Adult
with an Adult helper
. Place in a
flat area of your yard to minimize ground preparation.
2.
Choose a level location for the equipment. This can reduce the likelihood of the play set tipping ove r and
loose-fill surfacing material washing away during heavy rains.
3.
Place the equipment not less than
6
ft
from any structure or obstruction such as a fence , garage, house,
overhanging branches, laundry lines, or electrical wires.
4.
Provide enough room so that the children can use the
equipment safely. For example, for structures wit h
multiple play activities, a slide should not exit in front of a swing.
5.
It is a good idea to place your Playcenter in an area that is convenient for adults to watch children at play.
6.
Create a site free of obstacles that could cause injuries – such as low overhanging tree branches, overhead
wires, tree stumps and/or roots, large rocks, bricks and concrete. Additional suggestions in the Sugge sted
Playground Surfacing Section.
7.
Do not build your playset on top of surfacing material.
8.
Locate bare metal platforms and slides out of direc t sunlight to reduce the likelihood of serious burn.s A
slide that faces north will receive the least direct sunlight.
9.
Separate active and quiet activities from each other . For example, locate sandboxes away from swings or
use a guardrail or barrier to separate the sandbox from the movement of the swings.
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 a nd/or lining the perimeter with landscape
edging.
Installations of rubber tiles or poured-in-place su
rfaces (other than loose-fill materials) generally r equire a
professional and are not “do-it-yourself” projects.
Shall use Playground Surfacing Materials (other than
l oose-fill material) which comply with the sa fety
standard ASTM F1292 Standard Specification of Impac t Attenuation of Surfacing Materials within the Us e
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)
1 1 ’
(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’ (2.74 m)
5’ (1.52
m)
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 fee t 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.
