AALARA 2005 May Eager Playground Standard Overview

1

EngineeringUTS:New Playground New Playground

Equipment StandardEquipment Standard

by Dr David Eager

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g

Faculty of Engineering, UTSDr David Eager

BackgroundThe new Playground Equipment Standard supersedes two existing Australian Standards, namely:

AS 1924.1-1981 Playground equipment for parks, schools and domestic use – Part 1: General requirements

AS 1924.2-1981 Playground equipment for parks, schools and domestic use - Part 2: Design and construction – Safety aspects

Playground Equipment AS 4685 Playground Equipment AS 4685 -- 20042004

2

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Background (cont 2)The new Playground Equipment Standard comprises six parts, namely:

General safety requirementsGeneral safety requirements and test methods

Particular safety requirements and test methods for SwingsSwings

Particular safety requirements and test methods for SlidesSlides

Particular safety requirements and test methods for RunwaysRunways

Particular safety requirements and test methods for CarouselsCarousels

Particular safety requirements and test methods for Rocking Rocking EquipmentEquipment


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Background (cont 3)The new Playground Equipment Standard was published on 13 October 2004

AS 4685 AS 4685 -- 2004 applies from 13 October 20042004 applies from 13 October 2004

AS 1924 - 1981 will continue as an alternative for a period of one year from the publication date

AS 4685 - 2004 does not purport to address all the hazards associated with playgrounds

AS 4685 - 2004 was based on the European Standards EN 1176:1998 (Parts 1 to 6) with changes that reflect local requirements and practice


3

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Background (cont 4)The new Standard is not intended to provide risk free play environment, but rather to specify the minimal acceptable standard for play equipment and surrounding environments

The new Standard takes into account developmental and anthropometric data specific to children

The new Standard sets out general safety requirements for playground equipment

The new Standard does not specify the requirements for development, installation, inspection, maintenance or operation of playground equipment (refer to AS/NZS 4486.1 - 1997)


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Background (cont 5)Playground injury is the leading cause of hospitalisation to Australian children in the five to nine year age group

Approximately 100,000 children are injured each year with more than 7,000 children injured seriously enough to require hospitalization (this figure does not include data from GPs or medical centres that have x-ray facilities)

The new Standard incorporates a number of risk management strategies for injury prevention, such as placing a maximum fallheight on playground equipment, as there is strong evidence thatthe fall height is a major contributing factor in injury severity and frequency


4

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Background (cont 6)The objective of the new Standard is to minimize risk of injury to children using playgrounds by providing internationally aligned general safety requirements for playground equipment

The new Standard is intended for use by designers, consultants, manufacturers and installers of playground equipment as well as the operators, inspectors and maintenance professionals of playgrounds

The new Standard specifies requirements that will protect a child from hazards he or she may be unable to foresee when using playground equipment as intended


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Background (cont 7)If the risk is obvious to the child, it allows the child to develop a sense of what is safe and what is not safe

For example, the development of the ‘space net’ - a cargo net styled play apparatus that allows children to climb to heights of anywhere between ground level and four to five metres is designed so that older children with more mobility skills can climb higher on the apparatus than younger children


If older children do lose their grip and fall, the cargo net below catches their fall

Appropriate under surfacing cushions any falls from the lower level of the apparatus

5

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Background (cont 8)The development of a sense of what activities are safe is an important learning skill for children to master as it is a life-long skill that every adult needs to acquire – ie where is the boundary between what may be considered safe versus not safe?

It is essential that children have opportunities to explore and experiment in an environment that provides a degree of managed risk

What is required is the capacity to achieve a balance between both safe play environments and equipment while still enabling children to take part in a learning environment

Too little challenge for a child can often lead to inappropriate risk taking – getting the correct balance is the key


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Minimum protection against falling

AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2The AS1924 equipment heightequipment height terminology has been withdrawn

The new Standard adopts the European concept and technology free height of fall (FHoF)free height of fall (FHoF)

FHoFFHoF is defined as the greatest distance between a part of the equipment, which is a point of intended body support, and the ground surface or part of the equipment beneath

FHoFFHoF is abbreviation throughout the new Standard by the symbol, hh


6

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g



AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2FHoF ≤ 2.5 m for all playground equipment

EXCEPT

Supervised early childhood equipment: FHoF ≤ 1.5 m

Upper body equipment: FHoF ≤ 2.2 m ##

Note: Monkey bars, parallel bars, turning bars, horizontal ladders, jungle gyms, track rides and other suspended style equipment (excluding runways) are examples of upper body equipment

## The FHoF for upper body equipment was reduced in recognition of injury data from such equipment


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g



AS 4685.1: Clause 1.5Upper body equipment is defined as playground equipment or part of the equipment, from which suspension is intended using the hand/s without foot support

Upper body equipment may also be referred to as ‘horizontal climbing equipment’ or ‘overhead equipment’

Impact attenuating surfacing shall be provided in the fall zone in accordance with the requirements of AS/NZS 4422 – 1996


7

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g



AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2Example 1: FHoF from platform to surface below

RuleStanding = FHoF is measured from the surface of the foot support to the surface below


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g



AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2Example 2: FHoF from a hanging situation

RuleHanging = FHoF is measured from the surface of hand support to the surface below


8

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g



AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2Example 3: FHoF from a seated situation

RuleSitting = FHoF is measured from the surface of the seat to the surface below


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g




AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2Example 4: FHoF from platform to platform below


Note: Impact attenuating platform surface is required when the platform to platform FHoF > 1 m

9

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g




AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2FHoF from platform to platform below > 1 m

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g




AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2An engineered solution (remove the platform)

10

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g



AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2Example 5: FHoF for unintended access



UTS

:en

gine

erin

g



AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2The new Standard states that designers should take engineering measures to ensure that playground design eliminates unintended access

In particular, the design and installation of the hand supports shall not allow them to be used as an intermediate step onto any adjacent barriers, or other assemblies


11

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g



AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2


Where the platform height is 500 mm or more but less than 1.2 m a barrier shall be provided with a height no less than 700 mm

Where the platform height is 1.2 m or more but not more than 2.5 m a barrier shall be provided with a height no less than 900 mm

≥ 900 mm

≥ 700 mm

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g



AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2Entry and transfer pointsEntry and transfer points

Guardrails and barriers may be discontinued at locations used for exit or entry to the platform e.g. for access ladders, fireman’s poles, slides, bridges

The width of the created opening in the guardrail and infill shall be a maximum of 800 mm or shall not exceed the width of the adjoining assembly

It is recommended that the gap thus produced be kept to a minimum to reduce the likelihood of a child falling while also allowing the child to balance, steady or arrest themselves


12

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Zones - AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2The two-dimensional (fall zone) and three-dimensional spaces (minimum space) occupied by both the equipment and the user of the playground equipment

The fall zonefall zone is the surface that can be hit by a user falling from the playground equipment

The minimum spaceminimum space consists of three components, namely:

Space occupied by the equipment

Free space (if there is any – resulting from movement forced by the equipment ie sliding, swinging, or rocking)

Falling space - This topic will be discussed in more detail in in subsequent training module


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g



Means of access - AS 4685.1: Clause 2.2

13

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Marking - AS 4685.1: Section 3All playground equipment shall be marked legibly and permanently with the following:

Name, address and ABN of manufacturer, importer or other supplier

Equipment reference and year of manufacture

Base level mark of the impact attenuating surface

Note: Manufacturers making a statement of compliance with this Australian Standard on a product, packaging or promotional material related to that product are advised to ensure that suchcompliance is capable of being verified


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Swings - AS 4685.2, Section 1This Standard specifies particular safety requirements for swings intended for permanent installation for use by children

The new Standard introduces the concept of circulation zonecirculation zone

Circulation space is defined as the area around the equipment that allows movement from, between and around equipment, and is free of all obstacles that children could run into, trip on or fall on top of and thus be injured

The circulation space includes the fall zone of the equipment and extends to at least the width of the equipment


14

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Swings - AS 4685.2, Clause 2.9

Circulation zone for swings (plan view)Circulation zone for swings (plan view)


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Swings - AS 4685.2, Clause 2.4In line with international safety standards the new Standard introduces the requirement for swings to be self aligning to their intended swinging direction

This requirement is achieved by splaying the swing suspension members so that the width between the upper attachment pivot is L L / 20/ 20 greater than the width at the bottom attachment (seat width)


15

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Swings - AS 4685.2, Clause 2.4Stability of Swings with more than one point of attachmentStability of Swings with more than one point of attachment


The distance between the suspension members (F) shall be calculated using the following formula:

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Swings - AS 4685.2, Clause 2.4Stability of Swings with more than one point of attachmentStability of Swings with more than one point of attachment


Example:Example: For a swing with a suspension member length (L) of say 3.0 m and a seat width (G) of 400mm the distance between the suspension members would be550 mm

16

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Swings - AS 4685.2, Clause 2.4Minimum Swings SpacingMinimum Swings Spacing


The minimum distance between the side of a swing seat and the adjacent structure (c) in the rest position is given by the formula:

Example:Example: For a swing with a suspension member length (L) of say 3.0 m, the minimum distance between the adjacent structure and the swing seat would be 800 mm

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Swings - AS 4685.2, Clause 2.4Minimum Swings SpacingMinimum Swings Spacing


The minimum distance between adjacent swing seats (s) in the rest position is given by the formula:

Example:Example: For a swing with a suspension member length (L) of say 3.0 m, the minimum distance between adjacent swings would be900 mm

17

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Swings - AS 4685.2, Appendix AAn informative table showing swing seat separationswing seat separation for various pivot heights is contained within Appendix A


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Swings - AS 4685.2, Clause 2.9Minimum Impact Area for SwingsMinimum Impact Area for Swings


For all swings the extent of the impact attenuating surface shall be calculated by taking the point reached horizontally by the centre of the swing seat when it has travelled through an arc of 60° (which can be calculated as 0.866 times the length of the suspension member (L)

and adding 1.75 m for unitary impact attenuating surfacing and 2.25 m for loose fill impact attenuating surfacing

Fall zones of swings shall not overlap

There shall be no hard edging within the circulation space around the swing frame

18

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Swings - AS 4685.2, Clause 2.9Minimum Impact Area for SwingsMinimum Impact Area for Swings


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Swings - AS 4685.2, Clause 2.9Maximum FHoF for Swings, Maximum FHoF for Swings, DD


When tested in accordance with AS/NZS 4422 the surface beneath a swing or swings shall have a critical fall height equal to or greater than the height of the centre of gravity of the swing measured between the ground and the swing when it is raised through an arc of 60°

19

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Swings - AS 4685.2, Clause 2.9Maximum FHoF for Swings, Maximum FHoF for Swings, DD


Example:Example: For a swing with a suspension member length (L) of say 3.0 m and a seat height (h3) of 400 mm, the maximum FHoF (D) is 1.9 m

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Swings - AS 4685.2, Appendix CAn informative table showing FHoF and fall zones FHoF and fall zones for various pivot heights is contained within Appendix C


20

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Slides - AS 4685.3Slides SectionsSlides Sections

AS 4685.3 divides the slide into three sections, namely:

Starting Section, AStarting Section, A – The section on which the child is enabled to get into a sliding position. The starting section may be a platform or an extension of a platform of playground equipment

Sliding Section, BSliding Section, B – The middle section of the device where the child slides under the influence of gravity

RunRun--out Section, Cout Section, C – The end section of slide which is designed to allow the child to safety disembark


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Slides - AS 4685.3

Fall Zone of SlidesFall Zone of Slides

Starting sectionStarting section (A) fall zone (F1) shall have surfacing with a critical fall height no less than the height of the starting section of the slide

Sliding sectionliding section (B) fall zone (F2) shall have surfacing with a critical fall height no less than the height of the starting section or 1.5 m, whichever is the lesser

Runout sectionunout section (C) fall zone (F3) shall have surfacing with a critical fall height of at least 1.0 m


21

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Runways - AS 4685.4 (flying foxes)Fall Zone (side elevation and plan view)Fall Zone (side elevation and plan view)


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Runways - AS 4685.4Free Space and Fall Zone when viewed along the Free Space and Fall Zone when viewed along the main cable (end elevation view)main cable (end elevation view)


Fall zone

22

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Runways - AS 4685.4Falling Space of RunwaysFalling Space of Runways


UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Carousels - AS 4685.5 (merry-go-rounds)Minimum impact area around carouselsMinimum impact area around carousels


For Carousel Types A, B, C and D the impact area will extend at least 2 m radially beyond the carousel

When tested in accordance with AS/NZS 4422, the impact area around the carousel (F) shall have a HIC value less than 1000 and a gmax value less than 200g when measured at a fall height of 2 m

Carousels shall be designed so that the maximum speed at the periphery, under normal conditions or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, is not more than 5 m/s

23

UTS

:en

gine

erin

g


Rocking Equipment - AS 4685.6Free Space for Rocking EquipmentFree Space for Rocking Equipment

The fall zone for rocking equipment shall have a minimum dimension of 1.5 m around the equipment and a minimum dimension of 2.0 m between any two pieces of rocking equipment

When determining the clearance dimension between two pieces of equipment the distance shall be measured when both pieces of equipment are forced into their closest possible orientation

Circulation zone requirements in addition to the fall zone requirements should be considered during the design phase of the playground


EngineeringUTS:New Playground New Playground

Equipment StandardEquipment Standardby Dr David Eager

The end The end ☺☺

Documents

AALARA 2005 May Eager Playground Standard Overview