Wash. Admin. Code § 170-297-4950 - Playground equipment Ground cover - Fall zones

This section is applicable to any program that does not operate on public or private school premises.

(1) The licensee must not place climbing play equipment on concrete, asphalt, packed soil, lumber, or similar hard surfaces when being used by children.

(2) The ground under swings and play equipment intended to be climbed must be covered by a shock absorbing material. Grass alone is not an acceptable ground cover material under swings or play equipment intended to be climbed. Acceptable ground cover includes:

(a) Pea gravel at least nine inches deep;

(b) Playground wood chips at least nine inches deep;

(c) Shredded recycled rubber at least six inches deep; or

(d) Other department approved material.

(3) A six-foot fall zone must surround all equipment that has a platform over forty-eight inches tall that is intended to be climbed.

(4) The fall zone area must extend at least six feet beyond the perimeter of the play equipment. For swings, the fall zone must be the distance to the front and rear of the swing set equal to or greater than twice the height of the top bar from which the swing is suspended.

(5) Swing sets must be positioned further away from structures to the front and rear of the swing set. The distance to the front and rear of the swing set from any playground equipment or other structure must be a distance equal to or greater than twice the height of the top bar from which the swing is suspended.

(6) The department may approve all or part of the outdoor space for use by a child care program that has been maintained by using the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook.

Notes

Wash. Admin. Code § 170-297-4950

Amended by WSR 17-22-053, Filed 10/25/2017, effective 11/25/2017

Statutory Authority: Chapter 43.215 RCW. 12-23-057, § 170-297-4950, filed 11/19/12, effective 12/20/12.