R381-100-19. Play Equipment

  (1) The provider shall ensure that children using play equipment use it safely and in the manner intended by the manufacturer.

  (2) The highest designated play surface on stationary play equipment used by infants or toddlers shall not exceed 3 feet in height.

  (3) Swings used by infants or toddlers shall have enclosed seats.

  (4) Stationary play equipment shall have a surrounding use zone that extends from the outermost edge of the equipment. With the exception of swings, stationary play equipment that is:

  (a) used by infants or toddlers shall have at least a 3-foot use zone if any designated play surface is higher than 18 inches,

  (b) used by preschoolers shall have at least a 6-foot use zone if any designated play surface is higher than 20 inches, and

  (c) used by school-age children shall have at least a 6-foot use zone if any designated play surface is higher than 30 inches.

  (5) The use zone in the front and rear of a single-axis, enclosed swing shall extend at least twice the distance of the swing pivot point to the swing seat.

  (6) The use zone in the front and rear of a single-axis swing shall extend at least twice the distance of the swing pivot point to the ground.

  (7) The use zone for a multi-axis swing, such as a tire swing, shall extend:

  (a) at least the measurement of the suspending rope or chain plus 3 feet, if the swing is used by infants or toddlers; or

  (b) at least the measurement of the suspending rope or chain plus 6 feet, if the swing is used by preschoolers or school-age children.

  (8) The use zone for a merry-go-round shall extend:

  (a) at least 3 feet in all directions from its outermost edge if the merry-go-round is used by infants or toddlers, or

  (b) at least 6 feet in all directions from its outermost edge if the merry-go-round is used by preschoolers or school-age children.

  (9) The use zone for a spring rocker shall extend:

  (a) at least 3 feet from the outermost edge of the rocker when at rest; or

  (b) at least 6 feet from the outermost edge of the rocker when at rest if the seat is higher than 20 inches, and the rocker is used by preschoolers or school-age children.

  (10) The following use zones shall not overlap the use zone of any other piece of play equipment:

  (a) the use zone in front of a slide;

  (b) the use zone in the front and rear of any single-axis swing, including a single-axis enclosed swing;

  (c) the use zone of a multi-axis swing; and

  (d) the use zone of a merry-go-round if the platform diameter measures 20 inches or more.

  (11) Unless prohibited in R381-100-19(10), the use zones of play equipment may overlap when:

  (a) the equipment is used by infants or toddlers, and there is at least 3 feet between the pieces of equipment; or

  (b) the equipment is used by preschoolers or school-age children and there is at least 6 feet between the pieces of equipment if the designated play surface is 30 inches or lower, or there is at least 9 feet between the pieces of equipment if the designated play surface is higher than 30 inches.

  (12) Stationary play equipment without moving parts children sit or stand on shall not be placed on concrete, asphalt, dirt, a bare floor, or any other hard surface, but may be placed on grass or other cushioning, if the highest designated play surface measures between:

  (a) 6 to 18 inches if used by infants or toddlers,

  (b) 6 to 20 inches if used by preschoolers, and

  (c) 6 to 30 inches if used by school-age children.

  (13) Protective cushioning shall cover the entire surface of each required use zone and its depth or thickness shall be determined by the highest designated play surface of the equipment.

  (14) If sand, gravel, or shredded tires are used as protective cushioning, the depth of the material shall meet the CPSC guidelines in Table 14.

  (a) the provider shall ensure that the cushioning is periodically checked for compaction and loosened to the depth listed in Table 14 if compacted; and

  (b) if the material cannot be loosened due to extreme weather conditions, the provider shall not allow children to play on the equipment until the material can be loosened to the required depth.

TABLE 14

Depths of Protective Cushioning Required

for Sand, Gravel, and Shredded Tires

Highest Designated

Play Surface,

Climbing Bar, or

Swing Pivot Point Fine Coarse Fine Medium Shredded

                   Sand Sand Gravel Gravel Tires

4' high or less 6" 6" 6" 6" 6"

Over 4' up to 5' 6" 6" 6" 6" 6"

Over 5' up to 6' 6" 9" 6" 9" 6"

Over 6' up to 7' 9" not 9" not 6"

                           allowed allowed

Over 7' up to 8' 9" not 9" not 6"

                           allowed allowed

Over 8' up to 9' 9" not 9" not 6"

                           allowed allowed

Over 9' up to 10' not not 9" not 6"

                   allowed allowed allowed

Over 10' up to 11' not not not not 6"

                   allowed allowed allowed allowed

Over 11' up to 12' not not not not 6"

                   allowed allowed allowed allowed

  (15) If shredded wood products are used as protective cushioning:

  (a) the provider shall keep on-site for review by the Department documentation from the manufacturer that the wood product meets ASTM Specification F1292,

  (b) there shall be adequate drainage under the material, and

  (c) the depth of the shredded wood shall meet the CPSC guidelines in Table 15.

TABLE 15

Depths of Protective Cushioning Required

for Shredded Wood Products

Highest Designated

Play Surface,

Climbing Bar, or

Swing Pivot Point Engineered Wood Double Shredded

                     Wood Fibers Chips Bark Mulch

4' high or less 6" 6" 6"

Over 4' up to 5' 6" 6" 6"

Over 5' up to 6' 6" 6" 6"

Over 6' up to 7' 9" 6" 9"

Over 7' up to 8' 9" 9" 9"

Over 8' up to 9' 9" 9" 9"

Over 9' up to 10' 9" 9" 9"

Over 10' up to 11' 9" 9" 9"

Over 11' 9" not not

                                   allowed allowed

  (16) If a unitary cushioning is used, the provider shall ensure that the material meets the standard established in ASTM Specification F1292. The provider shall maintain on-site for review by the Department documentation from the manufacturer that the material meets these specifications.

  (17) If a unitary cushioning is used, the provider shall ensure that the cushioning material is securely installed, so that it cannot become displaced when children jump, run, walk, land, or move on it, or be moved by children picking it up.

  (18) A play equipment platform that is more than:

  (a) 18 inches above the floor or ground and used by infants or toddlers shall have a protective barrier that is at least 24 inches high,

  (b) 30 inches above the floor or ground and used by preschoolers shall have a protective barrier that is at least 29 inches high, and

  (c) 48 inches above the floor or ground and used by school-age children shall have a protective barrier that is at least 38 inches high.

  (19) There shall be no gap greater than 3-1/2 inches in or under a required protective barrier on a play equipment platform.

  (20) Stationary play equipment shall be stable and securely anchored.

  (21) There shall be no trampolines on the premises that are accessible to any child in care.

  (22) There shall be no entrapment hazards on or within the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

  (23) There shall be no strangulation hazards on or within the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

  (24) There shall be no crush, shearing, or sharp edge hazards on or within the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

  (25) There shall be no tripping hazards such as concrete footings, tree stumps, tree roots, or rocks within the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.