November 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 11

a qualified person and be kept as part
of the owner's documentation papers
required by the standard.
In allowing for designer/manufacturer
innovation and appropriate
documentation, a new appendix addresses
how a hazard identification
and risk/benefit assessment process
might be done. The appendix gives
guidance and examples about how
to complete this process along with
information related to recommended
maintenance practices for the
functional life of the equipment
and/or protective surfacing.
New sections have been added
about equipment installation and
maintenance that clarify the responsibilities
of all those involved.
The standard now indicates that
installers need to have a qualified
person put in writing that the work
has been done according to the
owner's/manufacturer's instructions,
plans and specifications.
Boland summarizes: " The F148721
standard revisions help to provide
clarity and accuracy to terms,
references
and
responsibilities.
These modifications are meant to
ensure that the scope is inclusive of
clearance and use zones for the safety
of users; to reflect new findings
related to equipment and safety;
and to assist users with hazard identification
and risk/benefit assessments
through a new appendix. "
Supporting Safer Play
The revised standard covers the
equipment itself, and it references
standards for the surfaces around a
playground that are integral to the
entire system. Standards from the
F08.63 subcommittee, part of the
committee on sports equipment,
playing surfaces and facilities (F08)
provide further guidance on this
component.
Last year, the F08 committee completed
various changes primarily
related to F1292 (the specification
for impact attenuation of surfacing
materials within the use zone of playground
equipment). These changes
addressed the performance requirements
for playground protective surfacing.
The committee also developed
a new standard (F3313) for field
testing protective surfacing for impact
attenuation performance to surfaces
installed around a playground, now
referenced in F1487. The test method
for determining impact attenuation
of playground surfaces within the
use zone of playground equipment
as tested in the field (F3313) provides
a uniform means to quantify how a
surface responds to an impact from
a falling object. That data guides the
estimation of the relative risk of a
head injury in children ages 2 to 12
due to a fall. This test provides the
ability to compare surface impact attenuation
to the results of the threetemperature
laboratory test found in
F1292.
Another added standard (F3351)
is a specified fall height laboratory
test. This impact test allows for reporting
head injury criteria (HIC)
and g-max (or the impact attenuation
of a surface) at specified heights
lower than the critical fall height.
The critical fall height is the maximum
fall height from which a lifethreatening
head injury would not
be expected to occur, which is still
based on the maximum impact
threshold of 200 g and 1000 HIC.
Together, these standards support
safer play.
Standards in Practice
Boland notes, " The ASTM F1487
standard is a critical component
for our Certified Playground Safety
Inspector and Playground Maintenance
course, but most important, it
is necessary for the safety of today's
youth who will be enjoying those
very playgrounds. " That training
covers hazard identification, equipment
specifications,
surfacing
requirements
and risk management.
" NRPA uses this standard along
with other standards and the [U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission]
Handbook to certify playground
safety inspectors, " Kutska
adds. " They have been doing this
for over 25 years and have trained
approaching 100,000 participants. "
" Standards such as these are necessary
to ensure that children are
able to safely develop their physical,
intellectual, social and emotional
skills through play on playgrounds, "
Boland says. " The revision of standards
such as F1487 is necessary
to ensure they remain relevant and
current in the ever-changing world
of playground equipment education,
development and innovation. "
The ASTM groups responsible
for these standards continue to refine
them as needed.
Take Part in the
Discussion
Organizations that develop safety
standards play a vital role in identifying
opportunities for facility and
product improvement - but your
voice also is needed in the discussion.
NRPA has represented our
constituents at many of these
meetings, but has found there is a
need for more voices to be at the
table. Take part in the discussion
by joining the NRPA Park and Facilities
Safety Standards Network
on NRPA Connect (connect.
nrpa.org).
Cicely Enright is Associate Editor for
ASTM International (cenright@astm.org).
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November 2021 - Parks & Recreation

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