Playground Development Standard
PROTECTIVE SURFACES
Regardless of the type of protective surfacing all playground footprints shall have compliant weeping tile that allows subdrainage from the footprint to an approved outflow system.
The following safety surfacing materials are approved for use No change of surfacing within fall zones
● Engineered wood fiber specification
● Poured In Place rubber safety surfacing specification
● No rubber color changes within a single pod
● Seamless application of rubber is strongly preferred
● Sand
● Sand cannot be used as a protective surfacing adjacent to other surfacing types and shall be contained within its own border.
● Other alternative materials may be considered and shall be subject to the new product approval process.
● Drainage:all playground footprints shall have compliant weeping tile that allows subdrainage from the footprint to an approved outflow system.
The minimum standard for depth of loose fill at installationshall be 356mm. The minimum standard for depth of loose fill after settlingshall be 305mm.
SLIDES
The maximum acceptable height for all starting platforms shall not exceed 2438mm .
● Exception:A deck higher than 2438mm up to a maximum of 2743mm shall be permitted if allof the following conditions are met;
● the deck shall have a roof which complies with our standard
● all barricade panels shall be continuous from floor to roof (including slide entrance)
● No opening shall exist between top of slide sidewall and deck vertical support. The sitting section shall have guardrails, handholds and a means of forcing the user to sit down (sitdown bar, hood, guardrail, etc.).
● All slides shall be metal. To minimize solar heating of the sliding surface, slides shall be positioned with chutes facing between northwest and east locations.
● All slides shall be designed and installed to eliminate all drawstring entanglements (CSA 15.5.1.2). See Playground Development Standard, section TESTING METHODS.
● A noencroachment zone shall be provided in front of the lower exit protective surfacing zone of a slide regardless of the vertical height.
PLATFORMS
The maximum senior deck height shall not exceed 2438mm
Exception:A deck higher than 2438mm shall be permitted if:
o All barricade panels shall be continuous from floor to roof.
o The deck shall have a roof
● The maximum tot deck height shall not exceed 1219mm
● Spaces between adjacent platforms shall be closed off to prevent crawl through motion, and entrapment. Protective infill panels (kick plates) shall be required between all upper and lower decks. (Refer to CSA figure 21).
● Any equipment with uncontrolled motion cannot be attached to platforms that act as transfer stations or service other equipment (such as track rides).
SWINGS
● Senior swing belt seats and tot swing bucket seats shall not be located within the same bay.
● Senior swing crossbar heights shall be between 2438mm and 3048mm above the protective surface.
● Chain shall be a minimum of grade 8 steel, with corrosionresistant coating and shall have a minimum gauge of 6.4mm (¼”). The strength shall be a minimum grade 30 low carbon steel. The working load limit shall be minimum 590kg (1300 lbs.).
● Installed senior swing seats under load, shall be between 406mm minimum and 508mm maximum, above the surface.
● Tot bucket swing seats shall be between 610mm and 762mm above the protective surface. Tot swing cross bar heights shall be between 2134mm and 2438 above protective surface.
● Concrete footings shall be a minimum of 610mm deep (measured from the bottom of the hole to the top of the clay surface, with vertical or angleddrilled holes and 305mm in diameter. An anchoring bar shall be inserted through the vertical support at a minimum 305mm depth.
● For swings that incorporate two single vertical posts as structural supports, the concrete footings shall be a minimum 762mm deep and 610mm in diameter. An anchoring bar shall be inserted through the vertical support at a minimum 305mm depth.
● For saucer swings, footings shall be: 1/3rdconcrete (base), 2/3rdcompacted clay (flush with top of subbase).
ROTATING EQUIPMENT
● Vertical, semivertical (angled axis) rotational equipment intended for standing or sittingshall considered on a trial basis.
● Standalone vertical, semivertical (angled axis) rotational equipment intended for standing or sitting shall not be permitted unless the structural support is the axis (ex: spinner cups).
● Upper body rotational equipment intended for grasping, having a diameter greater than 610mm, shall require a minimum fall zone of 1.8m and a noencroachment zone.
● Rotating equipment with a diameter of 1219mm or greater shall be installed over a rubber protective surface that extends a minimum distance of 1.2 m beyond the edge of the apparatus.
● Multioverhead event upper body rotational grasping wheels are exempt from the COE modifications listed above.
● Rotating equipment axis must have surfacing line indicated to meet CSA standard of 350 mm.