Maintenance Inspection - Low Frequency Inspection Guide
Maintenance Inspection - Low Frequency Inspection Guide
Protective Surfacing - Loose-fill and Unitary
Loose-fill Surfacing Materials When impacted, loose-fill materials move downward and/or outward, providing some fall cushioning but also require ongoing raking and replenishment to keep the materials in place at an appropriate depth. Loose-fill materials must be contained in some manner either by earth berms, timber, or plastic borders called curbs. Rubber wear mats can be placed in high impact areas, such as under swings and the base of slides, to reduce the frequency of raking. The CPSC classifies loose-fill materials as organic or inorganic.
All playground equipment must have proper impact attenuating (protective) surfacing under and around it. Unacceptable playground surfaces include grass, packed earth, asphalt or concrete, and other hard surfaces. Acceptable surfacing materials fall into two categories: loose-fill and unitary surfacing. Your budget, the amount of use the playground gets, your ability to maintain the surface, and other factors will help facilitate playground surfacing selections. Although it cannot eliminate all injuries, well- maintained protective surfacing should be capable of absorbing some of the impact from a falling body. For this reason, your role in maintaining the surfacing is essential. Consumer Product Safety Commission Documentation of Surfacing: Materials used as protective surfacing under playground equipment must meet certain impact attenuation criteria. The CPSC has outlined the performance criteria that various types of
surfaces must meet. Manufacturers of unitary materials, shredded rubber, recycled tires, and engineered wood fiber are expected to supply all compliance and test reports for their surfaces. In the event that local landscape materials are used you may consult with the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Handbook for Public Playground Safety for information regarding the type and depth of common surfaces. For more information, visit www.cpsc.gov, publication #325. It is important that the surfacing material be able to protect a child from a fall from the height of the playground equipment. To properly assess the surfacing material the following should be noted; type of material, depth or thickness of the surfacing material and the height of the equipment. See the recommendations for critical height and fall height found in the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Handbook for Public Playground Safety.
Product Safety Commission’s Handbook for Public Playground Safety recommends that there be 12 inches of loose-fill materials under playground equipment. Under no circumstances should loose-fill materials be less than nine inches. Refer to the table entitled “Minimum compressed loose-fill surfacing depths” for information about the fall attenuation properties of various types of surfacing. Your role of raking and leveling the loose-fill surfacing materials will be essential in helping to protect children on the playground.
Examples of organic loose-fill materials are engineered wood fiber and shredded bark mulch. Engineered wood fiber is a wood product that is made exclusively for use under playground equipment. Organic materials require more frequent replenishing than inorganic materials because they naturally decompose over time. Wood fibers must be drained well and topped off regularly to maintain the desired depth and to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. Inorganic loose-fill materials include shredded rubber, sand, pea stone, and gravel. Inorganic materials do not decompose and require less frequent replacement. Frequently found on older playgrounds, sand and gravel do not meet current ADA accessibility guidelines and require frequent raking and turning due to their tendency for compaction. Raking and turning can help prevent gravel from developing a hard layer known as hardpan that resembles concrete. Shredded rubber is attractive and durable, does not form hardpan, but must be maintained at the desired depth. All types of loose-fill materials need to be maintained at an acceptable depth in order to retain their fall attenuation properties. The Consumer
Maintaining the protective nature and longevity of loose-fill surfacing includes the following tasks:
• Raking and leveling
• Removing debris
• Decompressing, raking, turning, and tilling
Unacceptable Playground Surfacing
Acceptable Playground Surfacing
• Replenishing, topping off, and replacement of worn out materials • Installation and maintenance of border material or curb
• Grass
• Concrete / asphalt
• Sand, gravel, shredded rubber • Wood chips, shredded bark mulch, engineered wood fiber • Unitary materials certified for playground use such as poured-in-place rubber, rubber tiles, bonded rubber
• Packed earth
• Other hard surfaces
• Ensuring proper drainage
Minimum compressed loose-fill surfacing depths
Inches
Loose-Fill Material
Protects to Fall Height (feet)
9
Shredded/recycled rubber
10
9
Sand
4
9
Pea gravel
5
9
Wood Mulch (non-CCA)
7
9
Wood chips
10
Containment curbs and wear mats help keep loose-fill surfacing materials in place.
Grass and packed earth are unacceptable playground surfaces.
Rubber tiles are a good choice for unitary playground surfacing.
Preserving the Play Environment • Promoting the Value of Play • Protecting Children
Preserving the Play Environment • Promoting the Value of Play • Protecting Children
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