Safety First!
ASTM
The American Society for Testing and Materials
International (ASTMI) is the scientific and technical
organization chiefly responsible for developing standards for
testing different materials. In 1993, the ASTMI published
Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specifications for
Playground Equipment for Public Use, designated as F1487. It
is this standard that establishes minimum acceptable
performance specifications for everything from swings to
surfacing. For more information, contact ASTMI at 610.832.9585
or visit ASTMI online at www.astm.org.
CPSC
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an
independent agency of the U.S. federal government whose
purpose is to inform the public of risks associated with consumer
products. The CPSC's Handbook for Public Playground Safety is
the key reference tool for the playground industry, including
specifications for the use of play equipment and
recommendations concerning age-related designs and play
components. The CPSC can be reached in Washington, D.C., at
800.638.2772 or online at www.cpsc.gov.
IPEMA
Playworld Systems is a founding member of the International
Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA), a
member-driven organization whose mission is to assist in
providing safe environments for children to play. In the interest
of playground safety, IPEMA provides a Third Party Certification
service whereby a designated independent laboratory, Detroit
Testing Laboratory, Inc. (DTL), validates a participant's
certification of conformance to the following standards:
- ASTMI standard F1487, Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specifications for Playground Equipment for Public Use
- CAN/CSA Z614, Guideline on Children's Play Spaces and Equipment
- ASTM F1292-99, Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation Under and Around Playground Equipment
 
ADA Guidelines
The guidelines for play areas add a new section (15.6) to the Board's ADA Accessibility Guidelines
(ADAAG), which cover access to the built environment in new construction and alterations. This
section addresses only those play areas that are newly built or altered. (Generally, existing facilities,
while subject to certain ADA requirements, are not addressed by ADAAG except where altered). The
guidelines provide scoping requirements, which indicate what is to be accessible, and technical
requirements, which explain how to achieve access. The guidelines cover play areas provided at
schools, parks, child care facilities (except those based in the operator's home, which are exempt),
and other facilities subject to the ADA. Click here for more information
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