ASTM 1292-4 CERTIFIED PLAYGROUND SURFACING
Playground Safety
Improving playground safety is a core mission in fact, we think it’s so important that for years, we have provided third-party product certification-validation services for U.S. and Canadian public play equipment and U.S. public play surfacing materials. Our members are playground equipment and surfacing manufacturers who consider playground safety integral to their jobs. And thanks to their efforts, along with many other dedicated activists, playground safety has improved immensely in the last 25 years. Since the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued its first safety standards for playgrounds in 1981, we have seen an overhaul in the types of equipment and surfacing many of us remember from our childhoods. Concrete, asphalt and grass surfaces have virtually disappeared and been replaced with engineered wood-fiber and soft rubber surfaces to cushion kids’ falls. Our fall rated Earthpad is even better with a 4', 6', and 8' fall height. Old school “jungle gyms” and “monkey bars” have been removed and replaced with exciting new composite play systems, elaborate net and rock climbers and educationally based explorative play environments. We are proud to play a role in this continuing process, because many of us are parents ourselves, and also want to know our kids are safe on the playground. We know how important play is in children’s development – so much so that keeping playgrounds safe is like keeping our own workplaces safe.
Playground Safety: How to Assess
- Is the playground surface safe?
Falling is the number one cause of injuries on the playground. A child who falls on a hard surface such as concrete or even grass can be seriously injured or even killed. Never allow a child to play on play equipment that is placed over a hard surface such as asphalt, concrete, packed earth or grass. Our EarthPad system provides maximum protection at 4', 6' and 8' feet. The EarthPad comes in a 1 inch thickness and a 2 inch thickness. The fall rated 1 and 2 inch pad will replace the required 9-12 inches of wood chips or shredded rubber. Our EarthPad is much safer and cleaner than the alternatives of wood chips or shredded rubber. Our EarthPad is considerably less expensive than any poured in place alternative.
- Is there enough room underneath and around playground equipment?
The general rule is to allow a minimum use zone of six feet around playground equipment. Refer to the ASTM 1487 Standard or the Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines for specific use zone requirements.
- Is there enough space between the playground equipment?
The general rule is to allow a minimum use zone of six feet around playground equipment. Refer to the ASTM F1487 Standard or the Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines for specific use zone requirements.