Surfacing Requirements and Impact Attenuation Testing Flashcards
7 cards from real CPSI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Surfacing Requirements and Impact Attenuation Testing flashcards as text
A newly installed loose-fill rubber surface passes Gmax testing but fails the HIC threshold of 1000. What does this indicate?
Answer: Gmax alone is not sufficient to certify safety; HIC must also pass
Both Gmax (≤200 g) and HIC (≤1000) must be within acceptable limits under ASTM F1292 for surfacing to be considered safe.
What is the primary purpose of containment borders around loose-fill playground surfacing?
Answer: To prevent surfacing migration and maintain required depth
Containment borders keep loose-fill surfacing within the use zone, ensuring the material maintains adequate depth for effective impact attenuation.
Under CPSC guidelines, what is the required use zone overlap when two swings are placed back-to-back (rear use zones meet)?
Answer: No overlap is permitted for swings; use zones must be separate
CPSC guidelines prohibit the overlap of swing use zones because simultaneous use creates a high-risk collision hazard.
Which environmental condition most rapidly degrades the impact attenuation performance of pea gravel surfacing?
Answer: Displacement through heavy use creating thin spots
Heavy foot traffic and play activity displace pea gravel from high-use areas, creating dangerously thin spots directly beneath equipment.
An inspector tests surfacing beneath a slide exit using a triaxial accelerometer and records a Gmax of 185 and HIC of 950. What should the inspector conclude?
Answer: Surfacing passes both criteria and no action is required
Both 185 g (below 200 g limit) and 950 (below 1000 HIC limit) are within acceptable ASTM F1292 thresholds, so no corrective action is needed.
When testing unitary surfacing (e.g., rubber tiles or poured-in-place rubber) in a laboratory per ASTM F1292, from what drop height is the test performed to represent a 12-foot critical fall height?
Answer: The actual critical fall height of the equipment being covered
Under ASTM F1292, laboratory testing drops the impactor from a height equal to the critical fall height of the specific equipment the surfacing is intended to serve.
Which of the following is a documented disadvantage of shredded/recycled rubber as playground surfacing compared to engineered wood fiber?
Answer: Potential for chemical leaching and higher surface temperatures in sunlight
Shredded rubber can leach chemicals from recycled tire compounds and absorbs solar heat, reaching surface temperatures that can burn children's skin.