oto courtesy of Play Matta
after the injury occurs and likely could affect him for the rest of his life. So long as it is not your child suffering this level of injury, just meeting the standards might be OK. The new problem is that in 2008 Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which requires that serious injuries rated with an Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) >3 must be prevented in all consumer products. Since playgrounds are specifically marketed to children under 12, they are consumer products and are subject to the CPSIA. This threshold is significantly more stringent than that of ASTM F1487. This level of injury prevention is at the time of installation and over the life of the playground of 15-20 years.
Accessibility came into view Although access for persons with disabilities to the built environment has been the subject of public interest for years, in 1990 this was formally recognized with the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by President George H. W. Bush. This law has evolved through rule making and standards to provide specific requirements for recreation facilities, and playgrounds have for a long time been part of these regulations. The current Department of Justice (DOJ) 2010 ADA Standards for www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
Photo courtesy of Pro-Tect Turf
Accessible Design will be the governing document for playgrounds and particularly the ground level playground surface. The owner of every playground is required to meet the minimum requirements of this Standard at the time of installation, and “ground surfaces must be inspected and maintained regularly to ensure compliance with ASTM F1951.� Owners of playgrounds and surfaces in particular must know the entire document as it applies to the playground.
Specific regulations for playgrounds First to consider is section 240 that determines differences between elevated and ground level play components and the minimum numbers of each required in the playground. Remember that for the elevated play components that go to the ground, a ground level accessible route will be required, with a clear ground space for transitioning back to a mobility device and back to the starting point on
FALL 2015 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 21