Equipment and Site Design Flashcards

What is the minimum overhead clearance required above the tallest accessible point of a climbing structure?

Answer: 7 feet

CPSC guidelines require at least 7 feet of overhead clearance above the tallest accessible point to prevent head entrapment against overhead structures.

Which slope gradient is considered the maximum allowable for a playground access path to remain ADA accessible?

Answer: 1:12

ADA standards require access paths to have a maximum slope of 1:12 (one inch of rise per 12 inches of run) to ensure wheelchair accessibility.

When evaluating a composite play structure, which area presents the greatest entrapment hazard for children's necks?

Answer: Openings between 3.5 and 9 inches in diameter

Openings between 3.5 and 9 inches in diameter create neck entrapment hazards because a child's body may pass through but their head can become trapped.

A slide's exit region must extend at a minimum angle relative to horizontal to prevent a child from becoming airborne at the bottom. What is that minimum angle?

Answer: 0 degrees (flat)

The slide exit region must be essentially flat (0 degrees or parallel to the ground) so children decelerate safely without becoming airborne.

What is the maximum height above the safety surface for the lowest point of a horizontal ladder or overhead climbing component intended for school-age children (5–12)?

Answer: 72 inches

For school-age children, overhead climbing components should be no more than 72 inches above the safety surface at their lowest point.

Which type of surface material is classified as a unitary surface rather than a loose-fill surface?

Answer: Poured-in-place rubber

Poured-in-place rubber is a unitary (bound) surface material, while engineered wood fiber, pea gravel, and sand are all loose-fill materials.

According to ASTM F1487, what is the minimum width of an egress path from a slide exit zone to the surrounding use zone?

Answer: 4 feet

ASTM F1487 requires egress paths from slide exits to be at least 4 feet wide to allow children to move away safely without re-entering the fall zone.