CPSI Equipment and Site Design 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A belt swing seat for school-age children must be positioned at what minimum height above the safety surface when at rest?
- 12 inches
- 16 inches (Correct answer)
- 20 inches
- 24 inches
Correct answer: 16 inches
Belt swing seats must be positioned at least 16 inches above the safety surface at rest to prevent a child from being struck or tripped by the seat.
Question 2: Which fastener condition is considered a protrusion hazard according to ASTM F1487?
- A bolt recessed 1/8 inch below the surface
- A bolt protruding 2 mm beyond the nut face (Correct answer)
- A carriage bolt flush with the wood surface
- A bolt with a domed cap nut installed
Correct answer: A bolt protruding 2 mm beyond the nut face
Any bolt or fastener protruding more than 2 threads (approximately 2 mm) beyond the face of the nut is considered a protrusion hazard that can cause lacerations.
Question 3: For a freestanding arch climber with a maximum height of 5 feet, what is the required use zone extension beyond the outermost edge of the equipment?
- 3 feet
- 6 feet (Correct answer)
- 8 feet
- 10 feet
Correct answer: 6 feet
Equipment with heights up to 6 feet requires a minimum 6-foot use zone extending beyond the outermost edge of the structure on all sides.
Question 4: What type of wood preservative is no longer recommended for children's playground equipment due to health concerns?
- Copper azole (CA)
- Alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ)
- Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) (Correct answer)
- Copper naphthenate
Correct answer: Chromated copper arsenate (CCA)
Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) was phased out for residential and playground use due to arsenic leaching concerns and is no longer recommended by CPSC.
Question 5: Which design approach best reduces the risk of 'pushed-in' entrapment at an opening between two structural members?
- Angling the opening downward at 15 degrees
- Ensuring the opening is either smaller than 3.5 inches or larger than 9 inches (Correct answer)
- Adding a rubber gasket around the perimeter
- Painting the opening a bright warning color
Correct answer: Ensuring the opening is either smaller than 3.5 inches or larger than 9 inches
Openings must be either less than 3.5 inches (too small for a head to enter) or greater than 9 inches (large enough for the body to pass through) to eliminate entrapment zones.
Question 6: When assessing a merry-go-round, which clearance dimension is measured to check the 'underclearance' entrapment hazard?
- The distance between the outer edge and the safety surfacing
- The gap between the platform underside and the safety surface (Correct answer)
- The height of the center post above the platform
- The distance between handholds around the perimeter
Correct answer: The gap between the platform underside and the safety surface
Underclearance is the gap between the bottom of the rotating platform and the safety surface — if it exceeds 9 inches, a child's body could become trapped underneath.
Question 7: Which drainage design consideration is most important when selecting a site for a new playground?
- Ensuring the site is adjacent to a water source for cleaning
- Grading the site so water drains away from equipment and surfacing (Correct answer)
- Positioning the site on a north-facing slope for shade
- Designing retention ponds within the use zone perimeter
Correct answer: Grading the site so water drains away from equipment and surfacing
Proper grading to drain water away from the playground prevents surfacing degradation, ice formation, and standing water that can create hazards and reduce surface effectiveness.
CPSI Equipment and Site Design 4
A belt swing seat for school-age children must be positioned at what minimum height above the safety surface when at rest?