Equipment Inspection

Question 1

Stepping Forms

Answer 1

10” minimum diameter
2-5:
Cannot exceed 20” high
Must be stationary
Less than or equal to 12” distance between
5-12:
Cannot exceed 30” high.
Over 30” high must be stationary
Less than or equal to 18” distance between
Unless hand supports: must be 22-38” above stepping surface

Question 2

Balance Beams

Answer 2

2-5: 12” max beam height
5-12: 16” max beam height
No trip hazards

Question 3

Sliding Poles

Answer 3

Must extend 60” above platform
Pole distance from platform = 18-20”
Max pole diameter - 1.9”
Not recommended for 2 - 5
Reach requirements apply only to sliding poles - no foot supports or handgrip devices that provide platform & ground access / egress.

Question 4

Track Rides

Answer 4

Not recommended for 2 - 5
Must meet performance criteria for upper body components
Must meet criteria for handgripping
Platforms not required.

Question 5

Track Ride Platforms

Answer 5

Min depth - 36”
Min width - 32”
Max height - 36” for 5-12

Question 6

Track Rides Special Considerations

Answer 6

Clearance from handgrip to surfacing:
78’ max
64’ min
Enclosed track is exempt from crush & shear
Adjacent tracks sep. by 48” min center - center
No obstructions along entire length of travel.

Question 7

Swings

Answer 7

An element or seat suspended from an elevated support structure that allows users to move freely in 1 or more planes and possesses a pivot point greater than 24” when measured vertically from the top of the suspended element to the pivot point.
Locate away from other play structures
Not attached to composite play structure
Support structure designed to discourage climbing
Hangers have bearings, bushings, or means of reducing friction and wear.
Suspended elements smoothly finished w/ blunt or rounded edges.
Suspended elements shall not impart a peak acceleration greater than 100 g’s and shall have an HIC score less than or equal to 500
Exemption: Components greater than or equal to 84” above the protective surfacing at lowest point.

Question 8

To & Fro Single Axis Swing

Answer 8

Swing Splay = greater than or equal to 20” between swing hangers.
Under-seat Clearance (when occupied)
Open: Greater than or equal to 12”
Enclosed Seats: Greater than or equal to 24”
Critical Swing Clearances (when seat is occupied)
Chain clearance dimensions are measured at 60” above surfacing
Frame - 1st swing chain = 30” min clearance
Chains of adjacent swings = 24” min clearance

Question 9

Multiple Axis (Rotating) Swing

Answer 9

12” min clearance - bottom of seat to surfacing
Y=vertical distance from pivot point to stop of seat
Clearance Zone = Y + 30” in all directions horizontally from pivot point, then vertically to the surfacing forming a cylinder (3d space must be clear of all obstacles)

Question 10

Combination Swings

Answer 10

Swings w/ multiple motions consisting of a combo of single axis and/or multiple axis.
Clearance Zone: 30” in between structure & suspended element
Under-Seat Clearance: open seats =12” min.

Question 11

Swing Bays

Answer 11

No more than 2 suspended elements in a bay
Only 1 multiple occupancy suspended element
Exempt: Single axis suspended components for a max of 2 users

Question 12

Climbers

Answer 12

Many kinds
Made of many kinds of materials
Some attached to equip, some freestanding, some built into landscape
CPSC recommends climbers have no climbing bars or rigid structural components in the interior of the climbers onto which a child could fall from a heigh of greater than 18”.

Question 13

Upper Body Equipment

Answer 13

An overhead device designed to support a child by the hands only.
Requirements vary based on age group - 4 years & up only

Question 14

3D Climbing Net Structures

Answer 14

Mesh structures: No clear opening between flex members w a vertical dimension of 72” and a diameter of
18” - 2-5
20” - 5-12
Flex components used as handgripping components between .62 -1.55” diameter

Question 15

Horizontal Ladders

Answer 15

Max Height:
2-5: 60”
5-12: 84”
Wheelchair: 54”
Distance between rungs:
Greater than or equal to 9” for all ages
Not greater than or equal to 12” for 2-5 (rungs parallel and evenly spaced)
Not greater than or equal to 15” for 5-12

Question 16

Horizontal Rung Access

Answer 16

First handhold must be 8-10” from access rung.
When access by platform, first handhold must be 0-10” from leading edge of platform.
.95-1.55” diameter
Cannot turn or rotate on their own axis.

Question 17

Slides

Answer 17

Must meet guardrail & barrier requirements from slide elevation
Transition area = at least 14” deep, as wide as slide chute at top entry.
Constructed to provide continuous sliding surface

Question 18

2 Slide Safety Zones

Answer 18

Non-Entanglement Zone: hazard is entanglement of clothing on a projection
Clearance Zone: Hazard is child impacting an adjacent component or sep. piece of equip.

Question 19

Slide Non-Entanglement Zone

Answer 19

No projections are acceptable in this space that:
Fit inside large projection gauge &
Extend from perpendicular from its initial surface > .12”
Begins on bottom edge of the slide & extends out and up &
60” high only above transition platform.

Question 20

Slide Clearance Zone

Answer 20

Exempt: Hoods, devices used to channel user into seated position, spiral slides, tube slides
60” above slide chute for entire length of slide and outward 21” from inside of slide chute
Doesn’t extend below top of sidewalls.
21” Clearance Zone continues through exit use zone.

Question 21

Slide Chute Critical Dimensions

Answer 21

Sidewalls greater than or equal to 4”
Bed width:
greater than or equal to 12” for 2-5
greater than or equal to 16” for 5-12
Reduced gradient exit min. of 11”
Exit less than or equal to 10 degrees below horizontal.
Chute must have average slope not to exceed 30 degrees, max slope 50 degrees.

Question 22

Slide Exit Height

Answer 22

Vertical distance from top of slide exit to surfacing
Slides 48” or less = 0-11”
Slides 48” or more = 7-15”
Kids should be able to bend their knees and exit without jumping down.

Question 23

Tube Slides

Answer 23

Interior Diameter - 23” min.
Means to prevent climbing or sliding on outside of tube.

Question 24

Embankment Slides

Answer 24

A slide that follows the ground contours with the bottom of the slide less than or equal to 12” above the ground surface.
Exit region slope, height, and clearance zones apply.

Question 25

Rotating Equipment

Answer 25

Any play structure intended to support the weight of users that revolves around an axis at any angle & revolves repeatedly.

Question 26

Vertical rotating equip

Answer 26

must not be greater than 45 degrees from the horizontal
hand support shall be provided or sitting area shall be concave or tub-like
Platforms flush to protective surfacing shall have no gap greater than .312” (5/16”)
Clearance between equip. & protective surfacing = 2.38-3.50” or greater than 9” (unless skirt is provided)
Equip. w a reducing plane of rotation shall maintain a min. clearance of 9”
Any rotating equip. designed for climbing must also meet climber requirements.
72” clear area free of structural components
21” clear area free of rigid & non-rigid component
Shall not oscillate
Some require speed-limiting device

Question 27

Vertical Rotating Equipment (greater than 20”)

Answer 27

Max dimension greater than 20” measured from axis of rotation to outer perimeter shall have an approximately circular perimeter. (merry-go-rounds)
Difference between min and max radii is max 2”
108” min use zone are exempt from speed-limiting devices .

Question 28

Vertical Rotating Equipment (less than 20”)

Answer 28

Max dimension less than 20” measured from axis of rotation to outermost perimeter may be non circular in shape.
Exempt from under clearance requirements
Exempt from speed-limiting devices

Question 29

Horizontal Rotating Equipment

Answer 29

Equipment that rotates around an axis which is 45 degrees from horizontal
Intended for standing:
Must have handrails
18” max height
.95-1.55” diameter for handgripping components
Not recommended for 2-5

Question 30

Fulcrum Seesaws

Answer 30

60” max seat height
25 degress max angle above horizontal
handholds that don’t project
cannot twist or rotate
must meet crush & shear
not for 2-5

Question 31

Spring Rocking Equipment

Answer 31

Hand gripping criteria -
Protrusions, head entrapment, crush & shear
Seat Height - min 14”, max 28”
Coils not exempt, attachment points are exempt.