Scope
1.1 This consumer safety performance specification provides safety and performance requirements for various types of public use play equipment such as, but not limited to, composite play structures, climbing structures, to-fro swings, spring rocking equipment, and slides. It is intended to apply to play equipment that is used in places of public assembly, including early care and education facilities, parks, or playgrounds. Public use play areas for children in this age range include both indoor (classroom) settings and outdoor playgrounds. Where appropriate, distinctions will be made between indoor and outdoor settings where there is supervision (for example, a play area that is part of an early care and education facility), and settings with unlimited access (for example, public playgrounds and parks).
1.2 The range of users encompassed by this consumer safety performance specification is the 5th percentile 6 month old through the 95th percentile 23 month old.
1.3 The purpose of this specification is to reduce the potential for life threatening and debilitating injuries.
1.4 Accessory toys attached to play equipment must meet all relevant standards including this consumer safety performance specification.
1.5 Home playground equipment, amusement park equipment, sports equipment, fitness equipment, soft contained play equipment, tricycles, toys, juvenile care products such as, but not limited to, infant swings, play yards, expansion gates, and expandable enclosures, furniture (including child-sized house play furnishings and sand/water tables intended primarily for indoor use), bassinets and cradles, infant walkers, bouncer seats, jumpers, infant stationary activity centers, and infant carriers are not included in the scope of this specification.
1.6 This consumer safety performance specification includes the following sections:
Title
Section
Scope
1
Referenced Documents
2
ASTM Standards
2.1
ANSI Standards
2.2
Federal Standards
2.3
CPSC Documents
2.4
UL Standard
2.5
European Standard
2.6
Terminology
3
Materials and Manufacture
4
General Requirements
4.1
Fasteners
4.2
Toxic or Hazardous Substances
4.3
Stuffing, Loose Fillers, and Padding Materials
4.4
General Requirements
5
Compliance Documentation
5.1
Small Parts
5.2
Asphyxiation Hazard
5.3
Performance Requirements
6
Head and Neck Entrapment
6.1
Sharp Points and Sharp Edges
6.2
Protrusions
6.3
Entanglement Hazards
6.4
Crush and Shear Points
6.5
Ventilation
6.6
Closures
6.7
Suspended Hazards
6.8
Requirements for Access and Egress
7
Access and Egress Components That Shall
Not Be Used
7.1
Adjacent Platforms
7.2
Step Ladders, Stairways, Flexible Access
Components, and Access Ramps
7.3
Climbing Equipment Used for Access and Egress
7.4
Handrails and Other Means of Hand Support
7.5
Requirements for Platforms, Landings, and Other
Designated Play Surfaces
8
Platforms and Similar Surfaces
8.1
Adjacent Platforms
8.2
Protective Barriers
8.3
Equipment Specifications
9
Equipment That Shall Not Be Used
9.1
Climbing Equipment
9.2
Slides
9.3
Spring Rocking Equipment Intended for Use Without
Adult Assistance
9.4
To-Fro Swings
9.5
Structural Integrity and Stability
10
General Requirements
10.1
Structural Integrity Tests for Rungs, Steps, and
Horizontal Supporting Members
10.2
Structural Integrity and Stability Tests for
Platforms and Ramps
10.3
Test for Dynamic Strength of Barriers and Handrails
10.4
Structural Integrity and Stability Tests for Slides
10.5
Structural Integrity Test for Spring Rocking Equipment
10.6
Structural Integrity and Stability Tests for Swings
10.7
Play Equipment Use Zones, Non-Encroachment Zones,
and Placement
11
General Use Zone Requirements
11.1
Exemptions from Use Zone Requirements
11.2
General Non-Encroachment Zone Requirements
11.3
Use Zones for Play Structures Having No Moving
Components
11.4
Use Zones for Slides
11.5
Use Zones for Spring Rocking Equipment
11.6
Use Zones and Non-Encroachment Zones for To-Fro Swings
11.7
Surfacing Materials for Use Zones
11.8
Fences and Gates
11.9
Placement of Play Equipment
11.10
Labels and Signs
12
Compliance Requirements for Labels and Signs
12.1
Specifications for All Labels and Signs
12.2
Label Requirements on Play Equipment and Structures
12.3
Signs Required for Play Equipment/Structures in
Settings with Unlimited Access
12.4
Replacement
12.5
Installation
13
Designer’s or Manufacturer’s Responsibilities
13.1
Owner’s/Operator’s Responsibilities
13.2
Maintenance
14
Equipment
14.1
Play Area Surfacing
14.2
Records
14.3
Keywords
15
Annex A1–Figures
Annex A1
Appendix X1–Rationale
Appendix X1
1.7 General Measures, Tolerances, and Conversions:
1.7.1 The general tolerances for this specification are as follows unless otherwise specified.
Dimension
Tolerance
X. in
±0.5 in.
X.X in.
±0.05 in.
X.XX in.
±0.005 in.
These tolerances still apply to a dimension even when terms like greater than, less than, minimum, or maximum are used.
1.7.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.7.3 The conversion factor from imperial to metric units are:
1 in. = 25.4 mm
1 in.2 = 6.45 cm2
1 in.3 = 16.39 cm3
1 lb = 0.454 kg
1 lbf (pound force) = 4.45 Newtons
1.8 See Annex A1 for figures referenced throughout this specification.
1.9 The text of this specification references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the specification.
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.11 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
