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• X3.1 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that about 100,000 play-
ground equipment related injuries resulting from falls to the ground surface are treated
annually in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. Injuries involving this hazard pattern tend to
be among the most serious of all playground injuries, and have the potential to be fatal,
particularly when the injury is to the head. The surface under and around playground
equipment can be a major factor in determining the injury-causing potential of a fall. It is
self evident that a fall onto a shock absorbing surface is less likely to cause a serious injury
than a fall onto a hard surface.
Playground equipment should never be placed on hard surfaces such as concrete or
asphalt and while grass may appear to be acceptable it may quickly turn to hard packed
earth in areas of high traffic. Shredded bark mulch, wood chips, fine sand or fine gravel
are considered to be acceptable shock absorbing surfaces when installed and maintained
at a sufficient depth under and around playground equipment.
• X3.2 Table X3.1 lists the maximum height from which a child would not be expected to
sustain a life-threatening head injury in a fall onto five different loose-fill surfacing materi-
als if they are installed and maintained at a depth of 9 in. However, it should be recog-
nized that all injuries due to falls can not be prevented no matter what surfacing material
is used.
• X3.3 It is recommended that a shock absorbing material should extend a minimum of
6.5 ft. in all directions from the perimeter of stationary equipment such as climbers and
slides. However, because children may deliberately jump from a moving swing, the shock
absorbing material should extend in the front and rear of swing a minimum distance of 2
times the height of the pivot point measured from a point directly beneath the pivot on
the supporting structure.
• X3.4 This information is intended to assist in comparing the relative shock-absorbing
properties of various materials. No particular material is recommended over another.
However, each material is only effective when properly maintained. Materials should be
checked periodically and replenished to maintain correct depth as determined neces-
sary for your equipment. The choice of a material depends on the type and height of the
playground equipment, the availablity of the material in your area, and its cost.
PLEASE SAVE THIS SHEET FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
The Step2 Company, LLC.
10010 Aurora-Hudson Rd.
Streetsboro, OH 44241 USA
1-800-347-8372
Valid only in U.S.A. and Canada
(330)656-0440
This information has been extracted from the CPSC publications “Playground Surfacing
– Technical Information Guide”. Copies of this publication can be obtained by sending a
postcard to the: Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Wash-
ington, D.C., 20207 or call the toll-free hotline: 1-800-638-2772.
ENGLISH
Minimum compressed loose-ll surfaceing depths
Inches of (Loose-ll Material Protects to Fall Height (feet)
9 Shredded/ recycled rubber 10
9 Sand 4
9 Pea Gravel 5
9 Wood mulch (non-CCA) 7
9 Wood chips 10
Table X3.1
Consumer Information Sheet For Playground Surfacing Materials
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(8 pages)
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