Playground Impact Attenuating Surfacing Course

Putting Theory into Practice

Statement of Purpose:

Falls in a playground are not the problem, rather it is the sudden stop when a child encounters the surface that results in the injury.  The frequency and severity of injury will generally be determined by the impact attenuating properties of the surface and the height from which they fell.  Although some believe that the orientation of the child when landing on the surface has a bearing on the outcome that is only partially true and then only to a minor extent since irrespective of the child’s body orientation or physical makeup the severity of the injury is totally on the performance of the surface.  With 72-78% of playground injuries around the world being related to falls to the surface failure to specify, purchase, install and maintain surfaces that consider injury outcome is a travesty to all users of the playground.  It is the role of professionals to understand the performance of surfacing in relation to injury outcomes and install a surface that results in injuries that are below the tolerable level.

The Canadian Playground Advisory and the International Playground Safety Institute have partnered to develop this first of its kind two-day comprehensive education and training program on role of playground impact attenuating surfacing in relationship to injury frequency and severity.

Overview:

The playground practitioner and stakeholder must understand the performance standards related to the impact attenuating surfacing and their relationship to injury prevention.  This includes the history of medical studies, various international safety standards, and the development of performance measures such as Gmax, Severity Index (SI), and Head Injury Criteria (HIC) and why they will remain the measures for the coming years.  Children want to climb high. They want to challenge themselves and their peers, but with height comes with consequences for greater velocity at the point of impact. How this force at impact is addressed must be addressed at the time the playground equipment and related use zone surfacing are being specified prior to purchase. Those responsible for the final playground design must have a thorough understanding of the various performance requirement measures and testing procedures from the point of view of injury outcome.  Many times, there is a conflict with the need to provide a “soft” surface for the prevention of injury and a “firm and stable” surface to allow people with diminished ability to use the play space.  The selection of a surfacing type or supplier is further complicated with the need for long-term “functional” longevity. The surfacing life expectancy and compliance can be monitored and confirmed through field testing. Realistic product warranties beyond the typical one year for normal wear and tear is a must. Surfacing purchasing specifications and contract documents need to be performance based. These are all important considerations for the playground owner and designer when considering all the variables that can impact performance of the surfacing, such as; fall height of equipment versus critical height of the surfacing, site preparation, initial cost of installation, life-cycle cost of maintenance, installation and repair requirements, harsh environments, excessive wear, and accessibility for those with mobility limitations is generally a difficult balance for many surfacing systems.

Outcomes:        

The participant will fully understand the history of injury performance, and the degrees of injury severity associated increasing impact forces.  There will be a discussion of the key elements in the writing and requirements for comprehensive specifications and warranties for playground surfacing that cover the needs of an owner at the time of installation and over the following 2 to 12 years of the installation, remembering that the playground surface is an asset with high replacement cost consequences.  The playground practitioner will be versed in the performance of field testing and they will understand how to set both drop heights and performance values for impact attenuation, as well as being able to set measurements for accessibility.  Each participant will be provided with a report template that covers the new requirements for surface field testing according to the ASTM F3313 and the new Specified Height Test F3351. Although it is not the focus of the course, the participant will be able to assess their own organization’s tolerance for risk for liability in the playground design, specification, installation and ownership process.

Certificates of Completion:

Upon completion of the course, the participant will receive a certificate that they attended and participated in this training.  It is important to understand that this is not a substitute for the full day in depth training required to actually perform field testing to the requirements of ASTM F1292 and F3313, but this is a good pre-requisite for the more comprehensive course.

Intended Audience:

The course is intended for playground designers and managers including; Architects, Landscape Architects, playground surfacing manufacturers and sales associates, playground safety inspectors and anyone else who has input into the overall playground design, purchasing and specifications.

Course Content Outline

The following is a comprehensive outline of the course modules. Each module include a statement of purpose followed by various objectives that will be covered during the presentation. There is a list of “key words” that the participant must be able to understand if they are to be able to speak and understand the language of international playground safety. These term and concepts will be discussed throughout the presentation as participants expand their knowledge and begin to understand the role their individual decisions can have on the reduction of fall related injuries and extending the life expectancy and overall compliance of the surfacing to international performance recommendations.

Part 1

INTRODUCTION, HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, AND PUBLIC PLAYGROUND INJURY STATISTICS

 

KEY WORDS

American Society for Testing and Materials International [ASTM]

Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA]

• 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design

Canadian Playground Advisory Inc. (CPA)

Entanglement

Entrapment

Falls

Impact

International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association [IPEMA]

International Playground Contractors Association [NPCAI]

International Playground Safety Institute, LLC (IPSI)

National Electronic Injury Surveillance System [NEISS]

National Recreation and Park Association [NRPA]

Pre-School and School Age Users                                    

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission [CPSC]

Certified Playground Safety Inspector [CPSI]

This unit contains information about the establishment of the NRPA and other significant national and international players in the playground safety movement, playground safety and accessibility standards and guidelines; an historical perspective of play, how and why injuries occur on public playgrounds, functions of the play environment, and the basis for hazard identification. After completing this unit, you should be able to…

1. Understand and discuss objectives of the Surfacing course.
2. Identify the major organization associated with public playground safety.
3. Identify the relevant ASTM standards and guidelines.
4. Understand the application the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
5. Distinguish differences between a risk and a hazard.
6. Identify the major causes of playground injuries and death.
7. Identify and discuss the significance of anthropometric measurements as they relate to playground user’s age.

Part 2

Overview of Playground Safety Standards, Terms and Definitions related to Surfacing Injury Thresholds

KEY WORDS

Acceptable Injury threshold                             Hazard

Harm                                                                   Hazard Analysis

Risky Play                                                          Hazard Identification                                             Reasonably Foreseeable Use                          Safe

Safety                                                                  Hazardous Situation   

Risk                                                                     Tolerable Risk      

Residual Risk                                                     Risk Reduction Measure

Risk Analysis                                                     Risk Evaluation          

Risk Assessment                                               Serious Injury

Debilitating Injury                                              Life-threatening Injury

Intended Use                                                      ISO TR20183                

US CPSC                                                            TBI

US CDC                                                               Standard Scope

ASTM F1487 (USA)                                            SS457-07 (Singapore) structures

SS495 (Singapore) surfacing                            CPSC doc 325 (USA) comprehensive

CSA Z614 (Canada) comprehensive                 En1176 (Europe) structures

AS 4685 (Australia) structures                         EN1177 (Europe) surfacing

AS 4422 (Australia) surfacing

The purpose of this unit is to give the necessary information to understand injury thresholds, injury severity and how they are dealt with in standards around the world.  After completion of this section you should be able to;

1. Understand how children place themselves in harm’s way.
2. What behavior lead to Risky Play?
3. Know the types of injuries sustained in a playground.
4. Know the international terms and definitions related to injury prevention.
5. Identify the scopes of various playground standards around the world.
6. Understand the injury severity our standards attempt to reduce or eliminate.
7. Understanding that standards set a very low bar on tolerable injuries
8. Understand the formula for all injury frequency and severity.
9. Understand the purpose of a Risk Assessment.
10.  Identify strategies are currently available to reduce injury frequency and severity.
11. Understand the relationship between impact and velocity to severity of injury.

Part 3

IMPACT ATTENUATION HISTORY, INJURY THRESHOLDS, INJURY PREVENTION CONCEPTS AND STANDARDS

KEY WORDS

Col. John Stapp                                                 Sub-human primate

Cadaver                                                              Gmax

Gmax Threshold                                                AIS curves and g values                      Wayne State Tolerance Curve                          Severity Index (SI)                         Head Injury Criteria (HIC)                                   Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS)       AIS curves and HIC values                                Impact velocity                             Critical Height                                                      Fall Height                                       Drop Height

The purpose of this unit is to give the necessary information to understand the history of measuring impact values and factors that relate to injury.  A consideration of fall heights and the principles of impact attenuation.  After completion of this section you should be able to;

1. Understand how today’s impact values have been determined.
2. Understand the relationship between Impact and Injury Severity;
3. Know the types of injuries and their severity related to impact values.
4. Understand the definitions of g, Severity Index and Head Injury Criteria.
5. Identify the various issues related to fall height and reasonable foreseeable use.
6. Understanding that standards set a very low bar on impact values
7. Understand the relationship between Critical Height, Fall Height and Drop Height.
8. Understand why does Rotational Kinematics impact Risk of Concussion.
9. Understand how Gmax and HIC relate to Head Injury.
10. Understand how Fall Height relates to Velocity.
11. Understand how including duration effects Injury Severity.
12. Understand how to interpret Injury Risk Curves in relationship to HIC Values.
13. Understand how Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) relates to Playground Injuries.

Part 4

PLAYGROUND PROTECTIVE SURFACING MINIMUM PERFORMANCE THRESHOLDS, EQUIPMENT FALL HEIGHTS AND USE ZONES

KEY WORDS

Accessible Surfaces                                                    Fall Height  

Accessible Route of Travel                                         Firm, Stable, Slip Resistant

ADA 2010 Standard for Accessible Design            Functionally Linked Play           

Clearance Zone                                                             G-Max

Combination Swings                                                   High Traffic Areas

Composite Play Structure                                           HIC (Head Injury Criteria)

Critical Height                                                               Impact Attenuation

Composite Surfacing                                                   Loose-Fill Surfacing

Containment Border                                                    Multi-Axis Swing (Rotating)

Critical Height                                                               Overlapping Use Zones

Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF)                                  Resilient Surfacing

Surface System                                                            Single Axis Swing (to-fro)

Unitary Surfacing                                                         Poured-In-Place (PIP)

Use Zone

The purpose of this unit is to give you the necessary information to enable you to select, maintain and inspect resilient surfacing materials to assure adequate protection for users. After completion of the section you should be able to…

1.    Understand impact attenuation, and the need for impact attenuating surfacing within the use zone.

2.    Understand critical height as it relates to surfacing materials.

3.    Discuss the G-max and HIC thresholds relating to the impact attenuation of various   surfacing  materials.

4.    Understand fall height as it relates to play equipment.

5.    Understand the vital relationship between critical height and fall height.

6.     Identify and distinguish differences between loose-fill, unitary, and composite            surfaces.

• Understand the concept of use zones under and around play equipment

8.     Identify where use zones can be overlapped

9.     Identify where overlapping of use zones is not permitted

10.   Identify requirements for a playground accessible route of travel for children with disabilities

11.   Understand the concept of approach, enter, and use as it relates to accessibility

12.   Understand functionally linked play and its relationship to use zones

Part 5

PLAYGROUND PROTECTIVE SURFACING TYPES, CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND

DISADVANTAGES

KEY WORDS

Accessible Surfaces                              Loose-Fill Surfacing

Critical Height                                               Pea Gravel

Composite Surfacing                             Poured-In-Place Unitary Surfacing (F2749)

(Combination Surfacing System)        Rubber Mulch (Shredded Rubber) (F3012)

Containment Border                              Sand Types

Engineered Wood Fiber (F2075)           Surface System

Fall Height                                               Wood Mulch

High Traffic Areas

Impact Attenuation

The purpose of this unit is to give you the necessary information to enable you to select, inspect, maintain, and repair loose-fill and unitary resilient surfacing materials to assure adequate protection for users. After completion of the section you should be able to…

1. Identify the different types of playground impact attenuating surfaces available today.

• Know the advantages and disadvantages of each type of impact attenuating surface

• Know the different types of user, material and environmental impacts on different surfaces.

• Know what impacts an impact attenuating surface’s functional life expectancy.

• Understand the importance of proper installation, inspection and maintenance to assure compliance to playground safety standards.

• Understand some of the issues effecting the performance and long-term maintenance issues with various surfaces.

• What impact attenuating surface types best meet accessibility needs of those with mobility challenges.

Part 6

PLAYGROUND PROTECTIVE SURFACING MINIMUM DROP TESTING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

KEY WORDS
Accessible Surfaces

Critical Height

Drop Height

Fall Height

G-Max

HIC (Head Injury Criteria)

Overlapping Use Zones

Reference Test Pad

Specified Height Test

Surface System

Triaxial Accelerometer

Unitary Surfacing

Use Zone
The purpose of this unit is to give you the necessary information to enable you to understand what is involved in conducting laboratory, field and specified playground surfacing impact attenuation drop tests to help determine current and future compliance to the minimum requirements of ASTM F1292 and ASTM F1487 Standards. After completion of the section you should be able to…

1.    Understand impact attenuation, and its purpose in surfacing within the use zone.

2.    Understand critical height as it relates to fall or drop height during surfacing material compliance testing.

3.    Understand differences between ASTM F1292, F3313, F3351, En1177 Standards

4.    Better understand the vital relationship between critical height and fall height.

5.    Be able to identify and distinguish the advantages and disadvantages between loose-fill, unitary, and composite materials.

• Understand the concept of identifying most adverse conditions in use zones under and around play equipment where drop testing should occur.

7.    Understand each different “surface type” must be tested whenever more than one surface material is used within the equipment use zone.

8.    Understand the information that must be incorporated into reports for a Lab. Critical Height Test vs. Field Test vs. Lab. Specified Impact Height Test.

9.    Better understand how Specified Impact Height test results, lower than minimum F1292 impact thresholds, or higher owner specified post installation drop height can impact surfacing system life expectancy and standard compliance.

Part 7

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:                                          BEST PRACTICES FOR BARRIER FREE DESIGN AND SURFACING ACCESSIBILITY COMPLIANCE

KEY WORDS

Changes in Level                                                          Cross Slope

Rotational Penetrometer                                             Running Slope

Vertical Clearance                                                        Vertical Rise

Carpet pile height

This unit presents a brief overview of information presented in the previous 6 Parts of the program. Part 7 will put the participant in a position to begin to make well informed decisions about what surfacing types would be best for their specific situation. These decisions will take into account all aspects of selection process to selecting the right impact attenuating surface taking into account numerous variables   After completing this unit, you should be able to…

1. Understand the basic requirements of barrier free design of accessible routes based upon best practices of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.

2. Understand the performance and physical definitions for various barrier free design requirements including; clear width of the route, allowable changes in surface grade, (maximum allowable running slope, cross slope, vertical rise in any surface or transition, max. opening or gap within the accessible route, minimum overhead clearance over width of the route and how much and where clear space and parking space is required  adjacent to equipment for wheelchair access.

3. Understand what makes a surface minimally accessible.

4. Understand how to determine whether the work required to pass over an IAS system exceeds the minimum allowed by ASTM F1951 test method.

5. Understand how a Rotational Penetrometer field test instrument works in the field to measure compliance with the firmness and stability requirements of an accessible route with the ASTM F1951 Laboratory Test.

Part 8

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: BEST PRACTICES

 

KEY WORDS

Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS)

Functional Longevity

Hazard ID and Risk/Benefit Assessment

Injury Thresholds

Intended Use

©ISO TR20183:2015

Polyurethane Binder (Aliphatic vs Aromatic)

Reasonably Foreseeable Use/Misuse

Rotational Penetrometer

ASTM F2479

This unit presents a brief overview of information presented in the previous 7 Parts of the program. Part 8 will put the participant in a position to begin to make well informed decisions about what surfacing types would be best for their specific situation. These decisions will consider all aspects of selection process to selecting the right impact attenuating surface taking into account numerous variables   After completing this unit, you should be able to…

1. Be able to start to put all objectives of the entire course into perspective when making management decisions on selecting the appropriate playground IAS System.
2. Be able to make management decisions to reduce the frequency and severity of all injury
3. Better understand the many IAS variables and their relationship to reducing the severity and frequency of fall related injuries.
4. Introducing Hazard Identification and Risk/Benefit Assessment Process.
5. Understanding the factors effecting Functional Longevity and Long-Term Compliance.
6. Knowing how to specify long-term compliance.