The Playground Insider – Summer 2023

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RISC Certification Curriculum and NPCAI Website Now Available in Spanish

We have exciting news to share! NPCAI has rolled out two new resources in Spanish.

In addition to the certification curriculum and test, the NPCAI website is now available in Spanish with just one simple click at the top right of the homepage. This feature enables Spanish speakers the same access to valuable resources and information as English speakers.

NPCAI’s efforts to promote language diversity and inclusivity are significant steps forward in advancing the playground contractors industry. As more Spanish-speaking professionals obtain the RISC certification and engage with the NPCAI community, their expertise and insights can benefit the industry.

Our RISC certification curriculum and test are now available in Spanish! This move promotes inclusion and accessibility and empowers Spanish-speaking contractors and technicians by improving their knowledge and skills in the playground industry.

Ken Krug, NPCAI President, noted the importance of diversifying the industry and ensuring that language barriers do not restrict professional growth. “By providing the RISC certification in Spanish, NPCAI creates a welcoming environment for Spanish-speaking individuals and contributes to more people’s success in the playground industry.”

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

Building for All: Promoting Inclusivity in the Playground Environment

by Ken Krug

NPCAI promotes inclusivity and diversity in all mission areas. We understand the importance of providing a safe and accessible play environment for individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. NPCAI always strives to uphold the principle of inclusivity to achieve this objective.

This topic reminds me of incorporating inclusive design practices within the playground construction industry. Playground contractors create unique play environments that are accessible and enjoyable for everyone by considering the needs and preferences of diverse users. By implementing these practices, playground contractors demonstrate their commitment to providing equitable play opportunities for children of all abilities, ensuring that every child has a place to play.

In the workplace, we look to achieve the same ideals.

Inclusive workplace practices bring many benefits to playground contractors, both in employment and design aspects. By creating an inclusive work environment and implementing inclusive design practices, playground contractors can improve their operations, reputation, and—yes—their bottom line.

Encouraging a diverse and inclusive workplace can help companies attract and retain talented employees. When employees feel valued and respected for who they are, they feel free to bring their unique perspectives and skills to their work. By embracing diversity, playground contractors can tap into various talents and expertise, improving problem-solving, collaboration, and overall performance.

Inclusivity encourages social integration and interaction. This creates a nurturing environment that fosters understanding, empathy, and positive social relationships among children from different backgrounds.

Recently, NPCAI has taken several steps to improve our work. That includes now offering the Certified Recreation Installation Specialist (RISC) in Spanish; and we are proud to announce the addition of a Spanish translation button on our website.

ASTM Standard Guide Update-Recreation Installer

Fantastic progress has been made regarding the Recreation Installer Standard. We have held three Task Force Meetings since the beginning of the year to develop a framework for the Standard. We also had a full day of Draft writing at the home office in Harrisburg to prepare for the May 2023 ASTM Meeting in Denver.

The ideas that will advance the Standard have been carefully presented, reviewed, debated, and developed. They include:

• The main focus is for everyone to understand that the Standard aims to bring qualified, educated, and certified Installers with a solid understanding of recreation construction to the industry.

• Many problems and customer concerns deal with the recreation products’ installations, not their manufacturing. Installation is just as necessary as the sale, manufacturing, and distribution.

• This Standard is designed to complement the quality teaching and instruction the equipment manufacturers provide at their facilities. When successful, the Standard will give equipment manufacturers more opportunities to train installers on product-specific issues instead of spending valuable time and money on basic construction competencies.

• The content of the Standard identifies three groups of installers: laborer, lead, and foreman. It does not include companies.

• Certification training courses can be developed utilizing the areas of knowledge listed in the Standard. The Standard is not a training guide.

• There is a generally positive feeling among members of the ASTM F15.29 Subcommittee that this information is valuable. Further debate will occur, which is expected as part of the process.

• A Body of Knowledge or Core Competencies was developed and divided into eight areas. These areas were developed by a National Survey of the Recreation Industry by NPCAI several years ago. Each area contains definitions and scope in the draft. They are:

○ Knowledge of Legal Formalities

○ Personnel Identification and Conduct

○ Pre-Construction Installation and Resources

○ Working with Other Industry Professionals while on site

○ Knowledge of Safety Protocols

○ Proper Installation Practices

○ Quality Control

○ Knowledge of Other Organizations and Government Agencies

• Other published ASTM Standards have been used to assist in formulating this Standard. They are: ASTM E2659-17 Standard Practice for Certificate Programs and ASTM F3245-19 Standard Guide for Aircraft Electronics Technician Personnel Certification.

• Additional Task Force members have been added to the group: Julie Boland, Vice President of Credentialing and Member Operations, NRPA, Lamar Lee, CPSI, Playground Safety Manager, NRPA, and Eric J. Byrd, CPSI, Lead Supervisor for ProTechs Surfacing, LLC.

In the coming months, there will be two or three additional Task Force meetings via Zoom to improve definitions and scope as requested by the ASTM15.29 Subcommittee. The goal is to have a comprehensive document to present at the ASTM Meetings on, November 7-9, 2023 at the Washington D.C. Hilton.

Upon conclusion of these meetings, this Standard Guide Document should be able to go out to Subcommittee Ballot. More positive, negative, and informative information will be gathered during the Ballot process so that we can refine and develop a final ballot.

Please, anyone who is concerned with this Standard Guide, attend this meeting. There is strength in numbers. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Start at the... (Fill in the Blank)

By Ed Miller, Jr., Corby Associates, Inc.

It sounds like a line from an old detective movie, but people always say, “Let’s start at the beginning.” Well, in almost any type of construction, it’s really quite the opposite.

I always tell clients to start at the end. To accomplish your expectations, you have to start with the vision of what you want to see when everything is done before you can start planning. Things like equipment orientation, access points, pathways, type of surfacing and finished elevations of that surfacing all play a massive part in delivering a project that meets everyone’s expectations and, more importantly, is achievable within budgets.

Staying with the “Start at the End” idea, you need to determine where the last bit of surface will end up—your finished elevation. That can drastically affect a budget for a project and should be a primary consideration early on. If the goal is to have a level walk-on site with the surrounding area, the area will need to be excavated to allow for surfacing and drainage. This can mean a lot of excavation and material disposal.

If the goal is to step up to an above-grade site wrapped with a containment border and including an ADA-accessible ramp, then that is a simpler and less costly process.

What type of surfacing will be used in your project? Loose fill projects require more depth (sometimes 12 or more inches), whereas unitary surfacing, such as PIP or Turf, requires much less depth. This ties into the previous thought of where your finished elevation is and what is necessary to get it there.

Orientation of the site and equipment is equally important as you need to know the components’ direction. Slides should ideally face north to minimize exposure to direct sun and reduce surface temperatures.

Consider activities and the flow of play when determining position and spacing. For example, are the swings away from the flow of traffic? Or do you have kids running through the swing area to get to that great big slide? And how about the exit region of that great big slide? Does it shoot out towards a perimeter planting box? Obviously, we need to maintain the proper use zones for each piece. But these are minimums. Quite often, kids will run beyond simply due to momentum.

You also need to consider the non-play equipment areas and playground items. Are there perimeter benches? These are often placed right on the edge of the use zone, but

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people sitting on the benches take up space with feet, bags, strollers, etc., and those will encroach on the use zones of play equipment. Add some extra room and clearances where possible.

Access pathways and entrances into the play areas should be planned to funnel or allow access from where needed or desired. The client may want the playground’s access close to the parking lot to get in and out quickly, or they want it farthest from the parking lots so children don’t run into it. Is there a current route of travel that allows ADA access from a nearby building, or maybe that is in Phase 2? Regardless, it needs to be planned for now.

Lastly, make sure to have your own access and egress plan for construction purposes. Is the new playground next to a parking lot where construction vehicles can be parked and materials staged, kept orderly and clean? Or, is the new site across a big grass field that will turn into a mud pit and will leave all equipment— both product and construction—covered with mud that will need to be cleaned off or repaired?

Keeping all these things in mind and having open discussions about them from the beginning helps set expectations and will ensure that the project will be an excellent experience for both you as the contractor and, most importantly, the client.

Welcome, New Members!

American Landscaping

Anchorage, Ark.

DMC Consultants, Inc.

Detroit, Mich.

J.D.Z. Builders, LLC

Canton, Ga.

Pacific Tide Construction

Northridge, Calif.

TN Design Build LLC

Nashville, Tenn.

Have you been wanting to take your career to the next level? Is there an empty spot on your resume where you wish you could put “Certified Recreation Installation Specialist?” Stop wishing and make it happen! Advance your career as a Recreation Installation Specialist! It is an investment in your future.

Registration is Open for Virtual RISC Courses in 2023

September 14-15, 2023

December 14-15, 2023

RISC courses are being offered virtually via Zoom. Virtual courses take place over two days (four hours each day) with the exam taken at your convenience.

For a list of all topics that the RISC course covers and more information about the program, please visit NPCAI’s website.

If you have questions about the RISC program or upcoming courses, please contact Kelly Clark at education@playground-contractors.org.

Our RISC certification curriculum and test are now available in Spanish.

Putting in the Work

by Jeff Tippett

Let’s try a little exercise. Ask yourself: “Do people around me trust me?” In the self-evaluation below, I offer 10 aspects of trust for you to consider. Ask yourself the following:

• Am I consistent with everyone around me?

• Do I deliver as promised?

• Am I open and authentic?

• Do I show confidence?

• Am I truthful?

• Do I make people feel safe?

• Am I willing to sometimes say “no”?

• Am I open to feedback?

• Do I make time for those around me?

• Am I reliable?

If anything on this list is missing from your approach to leadership, people are less likely to trust you, and it’s going to take some work to build it.

Here are eight traits to consider in doing so:

• Honesty and integrity.

• Confidence.

• Commitment and passion.

• Decision-making abilities.

• Accountability.

• Empowerment through delegation.

• Empathy.

• Believing in and bringing out the best in those you lead.

No magic bullet here, just a challenge to recognize where you need to improve and commit to undertaking the work necessary to do it. I think you’ll see the results make it more than worthwhile!

About the Author: Jeff Tippett

Jeff Tippett is the international best-selling author of two books, Pixels Are the New Ink and Unleashing Your Superpower: Why Persuasive Communication is the Only Force You Will Ever Need. Speaking to international audiences through keynotes and seminars, Jeff helps attendees

increase their effectiveness, gives them powerful tools to reach their goals, and empowers attendees to positively impact and grow their organizations or businesses.

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In 2014, Jeff founded Targeted Persuasion, an award-winning public affairs + communications firm. He has worked with renowned brands like Airbnb, The National Restaurant Association, The League of Women Voters, The League of Conservation Voters, plus others. Other industry experts have validated Jeff’s work with numerous awards including the prestigious The American Advertising Award.

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Jeff is the host of Victory by Association with Jeff Tippett, a podcast that shares the victories of association executives with the world, highlighting the great work done across this country every day.

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Jefftippett.com

VictoryByAssociation.com

Thank You to Our Premier Member Benefit Program Participants

Membership in your professional trade association provides you and your company with numerous benefits. By participating in the Premier Member Benefit Program, you receive leadership support of the recreation installation industry with enhanced promotional advertising from NPCAI.

Consider joining these

Premier Member Benefit Program Participants:

Premier Member Benefit Program

Premier Member Benefit Program Participants are considered the leaders in the recreation installation industry. In addition to their member benefits, Premier Member Benefit Program Participants receive the following:

• An enhanced promotional advertising package from NPCAI via the website, in the newsletter and at NPCAI-sponsored events.

• Inclusion of your company logo and links in NPCAI communication vehicles.

• One free registration to a Recreation Installation Specialist Certification (RISC) course held during the fiscal year in which the benefit program is paid.

For questions about the Premier Member Benefit Program, contact the NPCAI office at 717-724-0594.

Do You Have an Age Appropriate Playground?

By Butch DeFillippo and Chris Orlando, CPSI – PlaySafe, LLC

Most child development centers and other early childhood facilities provide playground equipment for their attendees. PlaySafe, LLC conducts audits at many of these playgrounds, and we have found that it is common for the areas to be designed for children older than the intended users.

When designing a playground for this type of learning environment, there are three age groups with vastly different needs to keep in mind. The Public Playground Safety Handbook – 325, written by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, covers all three groups and lists them as Toddlers (6-23 months), Preschool (2-5 years) and School Age (5-12 years).

Each section of the Handbook describes the different requirements for each age group. ASTM International provides the ASTM F1487 Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use, which limits the age groups it covers to 2-5 and 5-12 years old (defined as Preschool and School Age groups in the CPSC document). The ASTM F1487 also provides definitive direction for each age group’s playground designs.

ASTM International also provides the ASTM F2373 –Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specifications for Public Use Play Equipment for Children 6 Months through 23 Months (Toddlers group in the CPSC document). This is where most mistakes occur. Up until recently, there was not a wealth of playground equipment that a facility for young children could purchase that met the 6-23 months child’s needs and design requirements. Due to this shortage of correct user age (6-23 months) equipment, equipment for 2-5 year old children was purchased and installed at early childhood facilities throughout the country. Equipment designed for 2-5 year old children does not meet the safety performance specifications for the younger group and can cause injuries or even death.

There are many differences between the equipment for 6-23 month old children and 2-5 year old children and we strongly suggest that you purchase the ASTM F2373, ASTM F1487, and download the CPSC Handbook 325. The following are some examples of the differences:

Head and Neck Entrapment

The ASTM F2373 has a different size opening that is acceptable for equipment for 6 month to 23 month old children. It also calls for use of an infant torso probe which is a different size then the torso probe that the ASTM F1487 and CPSC 325 use for 2-12 year old children’s equipment.

Vertical Heights between Adjacent Platforms

The ASTM F2373 section 7.2.1 calls for a height of 7 inches or less between adjacent platforms to have infill and preclude the infant torso probe entry. The ASTM F1487 section 7.5.6.5 and the CPSC 325 sections for 2-12 year old children equipment have a different height requirement (12 inches for 2-5 year olds and 18 inches for 5-12 year olds).

Corners and Edges of Equipment

The ASTM F2373 section 6.2.1.2 provides a defined acceptable corner and edge on rigid materials of a minimum radius of 0.025 inches unless the material thickness is less than 0.5 inches. Much of the equipment for 2-12 year old children does not meet this requirement and many child development centers have equipment designed for 2- 12 year old children at their locations.

All playground equipment is not equal and young children need our help the most. If the playground at your site (for young children) has not been reviewed to the ASTM F2373 and the CPSC 325 Toddler Sections, you may be creating an opportunity for a child to be hurt or worse; and you’ll have to experience the lawsuit that will follow. Please take the time to identify the type of equipment you have and who is using it.

There are a few publications that are helpful for playground operators, such as the Public Playground Safety Handbook written by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (2010, November). It is available for download at no cost here. The ASTM F1487, Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use, can be purchased here. The ASTM F2373 – Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specifications for Public Use Play Equipment for Children 6 Months through 23 Months can be purchased here.

Board of Trustees 2023

CHAIR

Ken Krug, BCI Burke kkrug@bciburke.com

CHAIR-ELECT

Kenda Daria, FlexGround kendadaria@gmail.com

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

Edward Miller, Jr., Corby Associates, Inc. ed@corbyassociates.com

TREASURER

Richard Hawley rhawley090@gmail.com

TRUSTEES

Jim Davis, Whirl Construction jdavis@whirlconstruction.net

Sam Butch DeFillippo, PlaySafe, LLC butch@play-safe.com

Dwight Henneberger, Henneberger Construction dhenneberger@me.com

Treynor McAdams, Planet Recess treynor@planetrecess.com

Chad Willow, PlayPower, Inc. chad.willow@playpower.com

Support Our Partner

Become an NPCAI Partner

NPCAI has created an opportunity for your company to connect with our membership. By participating as an NPCAI Partner, you will receive access to NPCAI’s members and have the ability to promote your products to this specialized group of professionals.

NPCAI members are experienced play recreation installers and contractors. These individuals use plenty of materials and services in their day-to-day work. This program provides you the opportunity to introduce your products and services to these members and receive value-added return on your investment.

Benefits of Partnership

A tiered-program, NPCAI’s Partner Program provides numerous benefits depending on your level of partnership. The Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of membership provide marketing opportunities in a scaled format. In addition to all the benefits of the Gold level, the Platinum Level also provides exclusivity within your particular field. Sign Up Today!

To participate in this exciting program, click here. If you have questions, contact the NPCAI office at 717-724-0594. We look forward to listing YOUR company as an NPCAI Partner!

Articles Wanted

NPCAI is on the lookout for articles for this newsletter. Articles (200-500 words; photos welcome) can be about an industry hot topic, a unique project or news about your company’s community involvement, honor or award. The deadline to submit for the Fall 2023 issue (published in September) is Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

NPCAI’s Career Center

NPCAI’s Career Center

Whether you are looking for a new career move or that next great hire, the NPCAI Career Center is your go-to source.

Job seekers and employers, to get started today, Click Here!

Employers: Advertise your jobs on NPCAI’s job board and enjoy these great benefits:

• Easily post jobs to gain direct access to job seekers across the country.

• Set-up pre-screen filters to deliver only the best candidates.

• Put your job posting in front of more job seekers with frequent alerts sent to candidates.

• Manage and track all applications directly from the career center.

• Set-up resume alerts and receive automatic emails when an applicant matches your criteria.

• Use the career center as a one-stop shop for all of your hiring needs.

NPCAI Members: Use the access code NPCAI25MEM to receive a discount to post your job listings!

Looking to advance your career or make a change? Take action today by accessing NPCAI’s job board. Search targeted opportunities in the recreation construction industry and start your next professional chapter today!

Sign up and update your job seeker profile to start experiencing these helpful benefits:

• An easy user experience, even on your mobile device

• Personalized job matching

• Upload your resume and track all of your applications in one place

• Advanced candidate search for employers means you can be matched with the perfect job faster and easier than ever

Our Mission:

A worldwide partnership advancing the recreational construction industry by promoting qualified and dedicated contracting professionals who contribute to the design,installation and maintenance of parks, playgrounds, sports and recreation environments.

The Playground Insider is an e-newsletter for members of the National Playground Contractors Association (NPCAI). It is published three times a year, in the spring, summer and fall.

Contact Us:

National Playground Contractors Association

2207 Forest Hills Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112

Phone: 717-724-0594

Fax: 717-238-9985

Website: www.playground-contractors.org

Office Hours: Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Staff Contacts:

Executive Director: Denise Calabrese, CAE npcai@playground-contractors.org

Director of Communications: Michelle Keyser communications@playgroundcontractors.org

NPCAI’s staff wants you to get the most out of your experience with NPCAI. We are available to serve you, so please do not hesitate to contact staff with any question or concern that you may have. For a full staff listing, please click here

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