5.3 Major Types of Playground Equipment
When a merry-go-round is at least 20 inches in diameter... It should not be used on playgrounds intended for ________
Toddlers
T/F: Because of the complex way children are required to cooperate and combine their actions, fulcrum seesaws are not recommended for ________ or _________-___ children
Toddlers Preschool-Age
When climbing components are part of a composite structure, their level of challenge and method of use should be compatible with the _______ ____ from nearby components
Traffic Flow
Overhead Rings T/F: The spacing distance recommendations for horizontal ladders do not apply
True
Sliding Poles T/F: Upper access should be on one level only
True
T/F: Arch Climbers may be free standing, or be provided as a more challenging means of access to other equipment.
True
T/F: Arch climbers should not be used as the sole means of access to other equipment for preschoolers.
True
T/F: Children often get on and off the merry-go-round while it is in motion.
True
T/F: Children who start a sliding pole must have the strength to slide the whole way or they will fall.
True
T/F: Connections between ropes, cables, chains, or between tires should be securely fixed.
True
T/F: Flexible climbers are not recommended as the sole means of access to equipment intended for toddlers and preschool-age children.
True
T/F: Flexible climbers that provide access to platforms should be securely anchored at both ends.
True
T/F: Free standing arch climbers are not recommended for toddlers or preschool-age children.
True
T/F: Free-standing flexible climbers are not recommended on playgrounds intended for toddlers and preschool children.
True
T/F: Horizontal ladders should not be used on playgrounds intended for toddlers and 3-year-olds
True
T/F: Log rolls are not recommended for toddlers and preschool-age children. These children generally do not possess the balance, coordination, and strength to use a log roll safely
True
T/F: Merry-Go-Rounds are the most common rotating equipment found on public playgrounds.
True
T/F: Nothing should ever be tied or attached to any moving part of a track ride
True
T/F: Overhead rings are similar to horizontal ladders in terms of the complexity of use. Therefore, overhead rings should not be used on playgrounds intended for toddlers and 3-year-olds.
True
T/F: Overhead rings differ from horizontal ladders because, during use, the gripped ring swings through an arc and reduces the distance to the gripping surface of the next ring
True
T/F: Rolling parts should be enclosed to prevent crush hazards
True
T/F: Rope, chain, and cable generally form a net-like structure that may be either two or three dimensional
True
T/F: School-age children tend to use climbing and upper body equipment more frequently and more proficiently than preschool children.
True
T/F: Since the flexible parts do not provide a steady means of support, flexible climbers require more advanced balance abilities than rigid climbers.
True
T/F: Sliding poles and their access structures should be located so that traffic from other events will not interfere with users during descent
True
T/F: Sliding poles are not recommended for toddlers or preschool-age children since they generally don't have the upper body and/or hand strength to slide.
True
T/F: Sliding poles should be continuous with no protruding welds or seams along the sliding surface.
True
T/F: Spacing between the horizontal and vertical components of a climbing grid should not form entrapment hazards.
True
T/F: The design of adjacent play structures should not facilitate climbing to the top support bars of upper body equipment.
True
T/F: The pole should not change direction along the sliding portion
True
T/F: The top of the sliding pole's support structure should not be a designated play surface.
True
T/F: Track rides should not be used on playgrounds for toddlers and preschool-age children
True
T/F: Track rides should not have any obstacles along the path of the ride, including anything that would interfere in the take-off or landing areas.
True
T/F: Upper body devices should be placed so that the swinging movement generated by children on adjacent structures, particularly children descending on slides.
True
If the climber is part of a composite structure, the fall height is the distance between the highest part of the climber intended for ____ _______ and the protective surfacing beneath it.
Foot Support
What is the fall height for Sliding Poles not accessed by platforms?
The distance between a point 60 inches below the highest point of the pole and the protective surfacing beneath it.
Climber Fall Height
The distance between the highest part of the climbing component and the protective surfacing beneath it.
Log Rolls Fall Height
The distance between the highest portion of the rolling log and the protective surfacing beneath it.
Track Ride Fall Height
The distance between the maximum height of the equipment and the protective surfacing beneath it. Equipment support posts with no designated play surfaces are exempt from this requirement.
Merry-Go-Round Fall Height
The distance between the perimeter of the platform where a child could sit or stand the protective surfacing beneath it.
Sliding Pole Fall Height
The distance between the platform and the protective surfacing beneath it.
Balance Beam Fall Height
The fall height of a balance beam is the distance between the top of the walking surface and the protective surfacing beneath it.
Upper Body Eequipment
The fall height of upper body equipment is the distance between the highest part of the equipment and the protective surface below.
T/F: Vertical sliding poles are more challenging than some other types of climbing equipment. They require upper body strength and coordination to successfully slide down the pole.
True
Track Rides T/F: Track rides are a form of upper body equipment where the child holds on to a handle or other device that slides along a track above his or her head. The child then lifts his or her feet and is carried along the length of the track
True
When a merry-go-round is at least 20 inches in diameter... T/F: Children should be provided with a secure means of holding on.
True
When a merry-go-round is at least 20 inches in diameter... T/F: The rotating platform of a merry-go-round should not have any sharp edges
True
When a merry-go-round is at least 20 inches in diameter... T/F: The rotating platform should be continuous and approximately circular
True
When a merry=go-round is at least 20 inches in diameter... T/F: Merry-go-round platforms should not have any up and down (oscillatory) motion
True
Log Rolls Log rolls help older children master _______ skills and increase ________
Balance Strength
When connected to the ground, the anchoring devices should be installed _____ ______ _____ and _______ the base of the protective surfacing material.
Below ground level Beneath
How does a Log Roll work?
Children must balance on top of the log as the spin it with their feet
How does a Merry-Go-Round work?
Children usually sit or stand on the platform while other children or adults push the merry-go-round to make it rotate.
T/F: Merry-go-rounds may present a physical hazard to preschool-age children who have little or no control over such products once they are in motion.
True Children in this age group should always be supervised when using merry-go-rounds.
The diameter of sliding poles should be no greater than _._ inches
1.9
The horizontal distance out to the first handhold should be... No greater than __ inches but not directly _____ the platform when access is from a ________ At least _ inches but no greater than __ inches when access is from _______ _____
10 Above Platform 8 10 Climbing Rungs
The horizontal distance out to the first handhold should be: No greater than __ inches but not directly above the platform when access is from a ________
10 Platform
When a merry-go-round is at least 20 inches in diameter... A means should be provided to limit the peripheral speed of rotation to a maximum of __ ft/sec.
13
When a merry-go-round is at least 20 inches in diameter... The standing/sitting surface of the platform should have a maximum height of... Preschool: School Age:
14 inches above the protective surface 18 inches above the protective surface
Sliding Poles The upper access area through the guardrail or barrier should be __ inches wide at most
15
The perimeter of any opening in a net structure should be less than __ inches or greater than __ inches
17 28
Climbers should not have climbing bars or other rigid structural components in the interior of the climber onto which a child may fall from a height of greater than __ inches.
18
The highest point of the rolling log should be a maximum of __ inches above the protective surface below.
18
Sliding Poles The horizontal distance between a sliding pole and any structure used for access to the sliding pole should be between __ and __ inches
18 20
When a merry-go-round is at least 20 inches in a diameter... The difference between the minimum and maximum radii of a non-circular platform should not exceed _ inches
2 (See Figure 15, p. 35, CPSC)
Merry-Go-Round Use Zone The use zone may not overlap other use zones, unless the rotating equipment is less than __ inches in diameter and the adjacent equipment allows overlap.
20
Toddlers: The maximum fall height for free standing and composite climbing structures should be __ inches
32
Two track rides next to each other should be at least _ feet apart
4
_-year-olds are generally the youngest children able to use upper body devices like these
4
When a merry-go-round is at least 20 inches in diameter... The surface of the platform should not have any openings between the axis and the periphery that permit a rod having a diameter of _/__ inch to penetrate completely through the surface.
5/16
Merry-Go-Round Use Zone The use zone should extend a minimum of _ feet beyond the perimeter of the platform
6
The use zone should extend a minimum of _ feet in all directions from the perimeter of the stand alone climber
6
Sliding Poles The pole should extend at least __ inches above the level of the platform or structure used for access to the sliding pole
60
The maximum height of overhead rings measured from the center of the grasping device to the protective surfacing should be... Preschool-Age: School-Age:
60 inches 84 inches
Track Rides The handle should be between __ and __ inches from the surfacing and follow the gripping recommendations (learn later)
64 78
If overhead swinging rings are suspended by chains, the maximum length of the chains should be _ inches
7
The horizontal distance out to the first handhold should be At least _ inches but no greater than __ inches when access is from ________ _____
8 10 Climbing rungs
The space between adjacent rungs of overhead ladders should be greater than _ inches to prevent entrapment
9
When a merry-go-round is at least 20 inches in diameter... The underside of the perimeter of the platform should be no less than _ inches above the level of the protective surfacing beneath it.
9
The center-to-center spacing of horizontal ladder rungs should be... Preschool-Age (4-5 years): School-Age:
< or = 12 inches < or = 15 inches
The maximum height of the take-off/landing platform above the protective surfacing should be... Preschool-Age: School-Age:
< or = 18 inches < or = 36 inches
The maximum height of the take-off/landing platform above the protective surfacing should be... Preschool-age (4-5 years): School-age:
< or = 18 inches < or = 36 inches
The maximum height of a horizontal ladder (i.e., measured from the center of the grasping device to the top of the protective surfacing below) should be... Preschool-Age (4-5 years): School-Age:
< or = 60 inches < or = 84 inches
Fulcrum Seesaws The typical seesaw (AKA "teeter totter") consists of what
A board or pole with a seat at each end supported at the center by a fulcrum
What do flexible climbers use for climbing?
A grid of ropes, chains, cables, or tires
Log rolls should have _________ to assist with balance
Handholds
How are tires used for flexible climbers?
May be secured tread-to-tread to form a sloping grid May be suspended individually by chains or other means.
Balance Beams should be no higher than Toddlers: Preschool-Age: School-Age:
N/A 12 inches 16 inches
Log Rolls When not part of a composite structure, the use zone may overlap with neighboring equipment if the other piece of equipment allows ___________ use zones and... There is at least _ feet between equipment when adjacent designated play surfaces are no more than __ inches high; or, There is at least _ feet between equipment when adjacent designated play surfaces are more than __ inches high
Overlapping 30 30
The use zone of a climber may overlap with neighboring equipment if the other piece of equipment allows ___________ use zones and... There is at least _ feet between equipment when adjacent designated play surfaces are no more than 30 inches high, or... There is at least _ feet between equipment when adjacent designated play surfaces are more than 30 inches high
Overlapping 6 9
Horizontal ladders intended for preschool-age children should have rungs that are ________ to one another and ______ spaced
Parallel Evenly
When a merry-go-round is at least 20 inches in diameter... No components of the apparatus, including handgrips, should extend beyond the _________ of the platform
Perimeter
Unlike other egress methods, there is no _______ or ____, so a child cannot change his or her mind
Reverse Stop
What shape should climbing rungs be, generally?
Round
What do arch climbers consist of?
Rungs attached to convex side supports
T/F: The first handhold on either end of upper body equipment should not be placed directly above the platform or climbing rung used for mount or dismount.
True This minimizes the risk of children hitting rigid access structures if they fall from the first handhold during mount or dismount.
T/F: The first handhold on either end of upper body equipment should not be placed directly above the platform or climbing rung used for mount or dismount
True This minimizes the risk of children impacting rigid access structures if they fall from the first handhold during mount or dismount
T/F: Track rides require significant upper body strength and the judgment to know when it is safe to let go These skills are not developed until children reach...
True School-Age
All rungs should be secured in a manner that prevents them from _______
Turning
Horizontal (overhead) ladders are a type of climber designed to build _____ ____ _______ They are designed to allow children to move across the ladder from end to end using only their _____
Upper body strength Hands
