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USA
CONSUMER INFORMATION SHEET FOR PLAYGROUND SURFACING MATERIALS
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 fine gravel are considered to be acceptable
shock absorbing surfaces when installed and maintained at a sufficient depth under and around playground equipment.
X3.1 Select Protective Surfacing - One of the most important things you can do to reduce the likelihood of serious head injuries is to install shock-
absorbing protective surfacing under and around your play equipment. The protective surfacing should be applied to a depth that is suitable for the
equipment height in accordance with ASTM Specification F 1292. There are different types of surfacing to choose from; whichever product you select,
follow these guidelines:
X3.1.1 Loose-Fill Materials:
X3.1.1.1 Maintain a minimum depth of 9 inches of loosefill materials such as wood mulch/chips, engineered wood fiber (EWF), or shredded/recycled
rubber mulch for equipment up to 8 feet high; and 9 inches of sand or pea gravel for equipment up to 5 feet high. NOTE: An initial fill level of 12 inches
will compress to about a 9- inch depth of surfacing over time. The surfacing will also compact, displace, and settle, and should be periodically refilled to
maintain at least a 9- inch depth.
X3.1.2 Use a minimum of 6 inches of protective surfacing for play equipment less than 4 feet in height. If maintained properly, this should be adequate.
(At depths less than 6 inches, the protective material is too easily displaced or compacted.)
NOTE: Do not install home playground equipment over concrete, asphalt, or any other hard surface. A fall onto a hard surface can result in serious
injury to the equipment user. Grass and dirt are not considered protective surfacing because wear and environmental factors can reduce their shock
absorbing effectiveness. Carpeting and thin mats are generally not adequate protective surfacing. Ground level equipment – such as a sandbox,
activity wall, playhouse or other equipment that has no elevated play surface – does not need any protective surfacing.
X3.1.3 Use containment, such as digging out around the perimeter and/or lining the perimeter with landscape edging. Don't forget to account for water
drainage.
X3.1.3.1 Check and maintain the depth of the loose-fill surfacing material. To maintain the right amount of loose- fill materials, mark the correct level on
play equipment support posts. That way you can easily see when to replenish and/or redistribute the surfacing.
X3.1.3.2 Do not install loose fill surfacing over hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt.
X3.1.4 Poured-In-Place Surfaces or Pre-Manufactured Rubber Tiles - You may be interested in using surfacing other than loose-fill materials – like
rubber tiles or poured-in-place surfaces.
X3.1.4.1 Installations of these surfaces generally require a professional and are not "do-it-yourself" projects.
X3.1.4.2 Review surface specifications before purchasing this type of surfacing. Ask the installer/manufacturer for a report showing that the product has
been tested to the following safety standard: ASTM F 1292 Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials within the Use Zone of
Playground Equipment. This report should show the specific height for which the surface is intended to protect against serious head injury. This height
should be equal to or greater than the fall height – vertical distance between a designated play surface (elevated surface for standing, sitting, or
climbing) and the protective surfacing below – of your play equipment.
X3.1.4.3 Check the protective surfacing frequently for wear.
X3.1.5 Placement - Proper placement and maintenance of protective surfacing is essential. Be sure to:
X3.1.5.1 Extend surfacing at least 6 feet from the equipment in all directions.
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
Type of Material
Double Shredded Bark Mulch
Wood Chips
Fine Sand
Fine Gravel
Warning
Please instruct children not to use the equipment in a manner other than intended.
Installation Instructions and Information -
Place the equipment on level ground, not less than 6ft (1.8 m) from any structure or obstruction such as a fence, Garage, house, overhanging branches,
laundry lines, or electrical wires.
Do not install home playground equipment over concrete, asphalt, packed earth, or any other hard surface. A fall onto a hard surface can result in
serious injury to the equipment user.
6 inch. depth
9 inch. depth
6
10
6
7
5
5
6
7
6
12 inch. depth
11
12
9
10
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