Hazard Identification
34%of exam
Surfacing
18%of exam
Playground Environment
17%of exam
Audit, Inspection, Maintenance
15%of exam
Risk Management
11%of exam
Quick Facts
- Exam
- CPSI (NRPA)
- Items
- 100 (95 scored, 5 beta)
- Time
- 2 hours
- Choices
- A through D
- Guessing
- No penalty
- Pass
- Criterion-referenced cut score
- Passing %
- Not published by NRPA
- Item split
- 34/18/17/15/11
- Aid
- Table of Dimensions provided
- Delivery
- PSI test centers
- Age
- 18 or older
- Valid
- 3 years
- Renew
- 2.0 CEUs or exam
- Handbook
- Effective 8/18/2025
Entrapment Range
Over 3.5, under 9 is entrapment
Under 3.5 in: torso blocked9 in: head passesIn between: test itTest all dimensions
Head vs Partial Entrapment
Completely bounded
- Perimeter fully closed
- Torso then head templates
- 3.5 to 9 in range
Partially bound
- Open on one side
- Neck enters, head stuck
- Angle over 55 degrees
Closed loop vs open angle
Is It an Entrapment?
- Opening bounded by ground→Not applicable(No test needed)
- Torso template will not pass→Pass(Stop testing)
- Torso passes, head passes→Pass(Free passage)
- Torso passes, head stuck→Fail(Head entrapment)
- Flexible net opening→Probes under 50 lbf(30 lb for toddlers)
- Perimeter not closed→Partially bound probe(Watch 55 degrees)
- Limited depth opening→Test planes A, B(Both must pass)
Hazard Priority
- Hazard
- Danger child cannot see
- Risk
- Challenge child chooses
- CPSI job
- Identify, rank, remove hazards
- Rank by
- Foreseeable injury consequences
- Document
- Cite specific standard section
- Then
- Set inspection system
- ER injuries yearly
- Over 190,000 (2021-2023)
- Top hazard pattern
- Equipment hazards, 38%
- Second pattern
- Falls, 29%
- Study base
- 1,775 incidents, 2009-2014
- Deaths involved
- Entanglement, falls, tip over
Projection Gauge Sizes
Gauges 1, 2, and 3.5 inches
Small: 1 inMiddle: 2 inLarge: 3.5 inFail beyond any face
Entanglement vs Protrusion
Entanglement
- Catches clothing or cords
- Strangulation risk
- Diameter grows outward
Protrusion
- Impact injury
- Impalement or laceration
- Fails projection gauge
Catches versus strikes
Entanglement + Impalement
- Growing projection
- Diameter increases outward: fail
- Bolt threads
- Max 2 past nut
- S-hook gap
- 0.04 in maximumDime
- In-filled connector
- Exempt from hook rule
- Free-swinging ropes
- Not recommended
- User-tied ropes
- Remove immediately
- Helmets, drawstrings
- Never on equipment
- Strangulation sources
- Ropes, leashes, helmets, drawstrings
Protrusion Gauges
- Small gauge
- 1 in outside diameter
- Middle gauge
- 2 in outside diameter
- Large gauge
- 3.5 in outside diameter
- Fail
- Extends beyond any gauge
- Swing and slide gauge
- 1/8 in maximum rise
- Slide clearance zone
- 21 in side clearance
- Fence protrusions
- None below 54 in
Entrapment Openings
- Hazard range
- Over 3.5 in, under 9 in
- Under 3.5 in
- Torso cannot enter
- 9 in or more
- Largest head passes
- Ground-bounded
- Not subject to rule
- Head-first entry
- Head in, turns, stuck
- Feet-first entry
- Body passes, head does not
- One dimension in range
- Evaluate all dimensions together
- Partially bound angle
- Must exceed 55 degrees
- Angle exception
- Lowest leg horizontal or below
Entrapment Fixtures
- Small torso template
- 3.5 in thick, 6.2 in wide
- Toddler torso template
- 3.0 by 5.0 in
- Large head template
- 9 in diameter
- Test order
- Torso first, then head
- Pass
- Torso will not enter
- Fail
- Torso in, head stuck
- Flexible opening force
- 50 lbf per F1487
- CPSC toddler force
- 30 lb toddler playgrounds
- Limited depth openings
- Test planes A and B
Crush and Shear
- General probe
- 0.62 in neoprene rod
- Merry-go-round probe
- 0.30 in rod
- Roller slide gap
- Under 0.19 in
- Two questions
- Body part in? Closing force?
- Source
- Parts moving during use
- Classic example
- Seesaw fulcrum
Misc Hazards
- Suspended hazard
- Within 45 degrees, under 7 ft
- Loop perimeter
- Under 5 in
- Short rope exempt
- 7 in or less
- Thick component exempt
- 1 in minimum cross-section
- Sharp edges
- Round corners, cap tubes
- Tripping
- Footings below surfacing
- Used tires
- Check exposed steel belts
- Overhead clearance
- 84 in minimum
- Solid fence indentations
- Under 0.375 in deep
Table 2 Depths
Sand 4, gravel 5, mulch 7, chips 10
All at 9 in compressedInstall 12 inRubber 6 in: 10 ftNever below 9 in
Critical vs Fall Height
Critical height
- Belongs to surfacing
- Rated by ASTM F1292
- Protection ceiling
Fall height
- Belongs to equipment
- Highest play surface
- Measured to surfacing
Critical must meet fall
How Much Surfacing?
- Tested material available→Manufacturer critical height(From F1292 report)
- No test data→CPSC Table 2(Non-impact-tested only)
- Fall height 10 ft→Wood chips 9 in(Or rubber mulch)
- Fall height 4 ft→Sand 9 in(Lowest rated option)
- Installing wood chips→Fill to 12 in(Compresses 25%)
- Installing rubber mulch→Fill to 8 in(6 in compressed)
- Confirming installed surface→ASTM F3313 field test(As installed)
Surfacing Standards
- F1292
- Lab impact attenuation
- F3313
- Field impact test
- F2075
- Engineered wood fiber
- F3012
- Loose-fill rubber
- F1951
- Accessible surface systems
- F2223
- Guide to surfacing standards
- Thresholds
- Gmax 200, HIC 1000
- Never acceptable
- Asphalt, concrete, dirt, grass
- Also unacceptable
- CCA mulch, untested mats
- Not required under
- Sandboxes, ground-level play
Lab vs Field Test
ASTM F1292
- Laboratory sample
- Rated critical height
- Manufacturer supplies data
ASTM F3313
- Installed surface
- Tested on site
- Confirms field performance
Rating vs installed reality
Where Is Fall Height?
- Swing→Pivot point
- Slide→Transition platform
- Merry-go-round→Platform perimeter
- Platform→Top of platform
- Upper body equipment→Highest part
- Composite structure→Highest fall height
- Anything else→Highest designated play surface
Loose-Fill Depths
- Sand
- 9 in compressed: 4 ft
- Pea gravel
- 9 in compressed: 5 ft
- Wood mulch
- 9 in compressed: 7 ft
- Wood chips
- 9 in compressed: 10 ft
- Rubber mulch
- 6 in compressed: 10 ft
- Install depth
- 12 in; rubber 8 in
- Compression
- At least 25% over time
- Never maintain below
- 9 in; rubber 6 in
- Table 2 applies
- Only non-impact-tested fill
Fall Height Points
- Critical height
- Surfacing rating from F1292
- Fall height
- Highest play surface down
- Rule
- Critical height meets fall height
- Swings
- Measured from pivot point
- Slides
- Measured from transition platform
- Merry-go-round
- Platform perimeter
- Upper body equipment
- Highest part of equipment
- Composite structure
- Use maximum fall height
- Toddler climbers
- Maximum 32 in
Surfacing Maintenance
- Watch areas
- Under swings, slide exits
- Depth marks
- Mark posts at minimum
- Wear mats
- Install flush with surfacing
- Frozen surfacing
- Keep children off equipment
- Standing water
- Compacts and decomposes mulch
- Over hard surface
- Drainage base, geotextile, loose fill
- Toddler playgrounds
- Avoid loose-fill surfacing
- Dark unitary surfaces
- Can blister bare feet
Guardrail Heights
Guardrail tops 29 and 38 inches
Preschool guardrail: 20-30 in fallPreschool barrier: over 30 inSchool guardrail: 30-48 in fallSchool barrier: over 48 in
Guardrail vs Barrier
Guardrail
- Stops accidental falls
- Climbing over possible
- Openings may exceed 9 in
Barrier
- Stops accidental falls
- Discourages climbing over
- Blocks small torso probe
Barrier does all three
Guardrail or Barrier?
- Toddler, above 18 in→Barrier(Top 24 in)
- Preschool, 20 to 30 in→Guardrail(Top 29 in)
- Preschool, over 30 in→Barrier(Bottom under 3.5 in)
- School-age, 30 to 48 in→Guardrail(Top 38 in)
- School-age, over 48 in→Barrier(Top 38 in)
- Climber or stair entry→Neither required(Interferes with use)
- Preschool layered platform→Neither required(20 in or less)
Age Groups
- Toddler
- 6 through 23 months
- Preschool-age
- 2 through 5 years
- School-age
- 5 through 12 years
- Overlap at 5
- Child development is fluid
- Inspect to
- Intended age of playground
- School-age only
- Fulcrum seesaws, sliding poles
- Not for toddlers
- Merry-go-rounds, loose fill
- Full bucket swings
- Under 4, adult assistance
- Toddler standard
- ASTM F2373
- Toddler platforms
- No more than 32 in
Use Zone Rule
Six feet out; swings twice pivot height
Stationary: 6 ftSwing front, rear: 2x pivotSlide over 6 ft: max 8Spacing: 6 or 9 ft
Preschool vs School-Age
Ages 2-5
- Guardrail top 29 in
- Barrier above 30 in
- No fulcrum seesaws
Ages 5-12
- Guardrail top 38 in
- Barrier above 48 in
- Sliding poles allowed
Heights rise with age
Guardrails and Barriers
- Toddler guardrail
- Not recommended
- Toddler barrier top
- 24 in or higher
- Toddler barrier when
- Fall height 18 in up
- Toddler barrier bottom
- Under 3 in
- Preschool guardrail top
- 29 in or higher
- Preschool guardrail when
- Fall height 20-30 in
- Preschool guardrail bottom
- Over 9, up to 23
- Preschool barrier when
- Fall height over 30 in
- School guardrail top
- 38 in or higher
- School guardrail when
- Fall height 30-48 in
- School guardrail bottom
- Over 9, up to 28
- School barrier when
- Fall height over 48 in
- Barrier bottom
- Under 3.5 in
- Barrier top
- Same as guardrail top
- Open clearance
- 15 in without top rail
- Exception
- Climbers, stair entries, transfers
Swing Clearance Numbers
Structure 30, swings 24, ground 12
Belt to structure 30 inBetween belts 24 inSeat to ground 12 inSplay 20 in
Toddler vs Preschool
6-23 months
- Barriers only, 24 in
- Climbers under 32 in
- ASTM F2373 applies
2-5 years
- Guardrails permitted
- Merry-go-rounds allowed
- ASTM F1487 applies
Toddlers get barriers only
Use Zone Numbers
- Stationary equipment
- 6 ft all directions
- Overlap allowed
- Surfaces under 30 in
- Low equipment spacing
- At least 6 ft apart
- High equipment spacing
- At least 9 ft apart
- Single-axis swing
- Front and rear: twice pivot
- Swing sides
- 6 ft; may overlap
- Multi-axis swing
- 6 ft plus suspender length
- Slide 6 ft or lower
- 6 ft exit zone
- Slide over 6 ft
- Slide height, max 8 ft
- Rotating equipment
- 6 ft beyond platform
- Never overlap
- Swing front, rear; slide exit
- Parallel slides
- Exit zones may overlap
Swing Clearances
- Seat to structure
- Belt 30 in; toddler 20
- Between swings
- Belt 24 in; toddler 20
- Seat to ground
- Belt 12 in; toddler 24
- Side-to-side splay
- 20 in all types
- Per bay
- No more than two
- Full bucket pivot
- Over 47, up to 96
- Tire swing to upright
- 30 in minimum
- Tire seat clearance
- 12 in minimum
- Swing projections
- 1/8 in maximum
- Not allowed
- Swings on composite structures
Slide Dimensions
- Sidewall height
- 4 in minimum
- Transition platform
- 14 in deep minimum
- Toddler platform
- 19 in deep minimum
- Exit region length
- 11 in minimum
- Slide 48 in or lower
- Exit max 11 in
- Slide over 48 in
- Exit 7 to 15 in
- Exit angle
- 0 to minus 4 degrees
- Average slope
- 30 degrees; toddler 24
- Tube slide
- 23 in interior diameter
- Embankment slide
- Chute 12 in above ground
- Toddler chute width
- 8 to 12 in wide
- Toddler/preschool spiral
- One 360 degree turn maximum
Site and Layout
- Age separation
- Buffer zone between areas
- Moving equipment
- Corner, side, or edge
- Slide exits
- Keep out of congestion
- Sight lines
- Caregivers must see children
- Signs
- State intended age group
- Fence ground clearance
- 4 in maximum; height 48 in
- Fence vertical spacing
- 1-3/4 in; rails under 45
- Hardware
- Not removable without tools
- Wood
- No CCA-treated products
- Site checks
- Drainage, shade, travel routes
Accessibility Numbers
- Elevated route
- 50% of elevated components
- 20 or more components
- Ramps connect 25%
- Under 20 components
- Transfer system may serve
- Transfer platform
- 11 to 18 in
- Accessible route width
- 60 in minimum
- Ramp clear width
- 36 in minimum
- Ramp run
- 144 in maximum
- Overhead clearance
- 80 in minimum
- Surface standard
- F1951 firmness and stability
Audit vs Inspection
Audit
- One-time baseline
- Whole play area
- Against current standards
Inspection
- Recurring check
- Condition versus baseline
- Routine or detailed
Baseline vs recurring check
Found a Hazard?
- Seriously dangerous now→Remove or block access(Notify owner)
- Only caution tape available→Not acceptable(Does not stop children)
- Rope tied by users→Remove immediately(Strangulation risk)
- Broken or worn part→Manufacturer replacement part(Follow instructions)
- Equipment not in standards→General performance rules(Entrapment, protrusion, use zone)
- Recalled model suspected→Check site history file(Gauges will not find)
Inspection Types
- Audit
- Baseline against current standards
- Routine inspection
- Recurring condition check
- Detailed inspection
- Moving and wearing parts
- First authority
- Manufacturer recommended schedule
- Frequency drivers
- Type, age, use, climate
- Check most often
- Schools and child care
- Routine finds
- Breakage, debris, vandalism, rot
- Dirty Dozen
- NPPS hazard checklist, not audit
Inspection Forms
- Audit form
- Equipment, maker, model, age
- Citation
- Specific standard section
- Priority
- Rank by injury potential
- Action
- Recommended corrective action
- Signature
- Inspector signs and dates
- Route
- Systematic; nothing skipped
- Fallback checklist
- CPSC Handbook Appendix A
Corrective Action
- Repairs
- Manufacturer parts and instructions
- User modifications
- Remove immediately
- Out of service
- Remove or block access
- Caution tape
- Not sufficient alone
- Notify owner
- Promptly and in writing
- Nonlisted equipment
- Apply general performance rules
- Recalls
- Track CPSC and manufacturer alerts
Code of Conduct
Safety, cite, prioritize, warn, consent
Current standard of careOmit no adverse findingOwner consent requiredFindings to owner only
Hazard vs Risk
Hazard
- Child cannot see
- Must be removed
- Cited to standard
Risk
- Child chooses challenge
- Visible and developmental
- Keep graduated challenge
Remove hazards, keep challenge
Records and Files
- Retain
- Inspections, repairs, checklists
- Site history file
- Cumulative record per playground
- Contents
- Drawings, installs, audits, incidents
- Surfacing documents
- F1292 critical height data
- Depth data
- Minimum fill depth, toxicity
- Accessibility data
- F1951 firmness and stability
- Equipment documents
- Spec and installation instructions
- Injury reports
- Retain to expose patterns
- Investigate
- Even without a claim
ASTM vs CPSC Handbook
ASTM F1487
- Voluntary consensus standard
- Written by ASTM
- Purchased from ASTM
CPSC Handbook 325
- Federal guidance
- Free download
- Read every page
Standard vs federal guidance
Code of Conduct
- Paramount
- Safety of playground users
- Standard of care
- Most current ASTM, CPSC
- Document all
- Omit no adverse findings
- Cite
- Specific criterion document section
- Prompt warning
- Seriously dangerous conditions first
- Consent
- Owner knowledge and consent
- Confidentiality
- Findings to owner only
- No conflicts
- Never to promote sales
- Penalty
- Loss of certification
Common Traps
Guardrail vs barrier
Guardrail stops falls only ≠ Barrier also blocks climbing
Critical vs fall height
Critical height is surfacing ≠ Fall height is equipment
Audit vs inspection
Audit sets the baseline ≠ Inspection checks against it
Lab vs field test
F1292 rates the material ≠ F3313 tests installed surface
Table 2 misuse
Table 2 is untested fill ≠ Tested data always wins
Grass is not surfacing
Grass and dirt fail ≠ Only F1292-tested materials pass
Entrapment range direction
Under 3.5 in passes ≠ 9 in or more passes
Flexible opening force
F1487 lists 50 lbf ≠ CPSC toddler test 30 lb
Fall height measuring point
Swing from pivot point ≠ Slide from transition platform
Caution tape is not removal
Tape does not stop children ≠ Remove or block access
Passing score myth
70% is not published ≠ NRPA uses criterion-referenced cut
Hazard vs risk
Remove hazards children miss ≠ Keep challenge children choose
Last Minute
- 1.100 items, 2 hours, A-D
- 2.Hazard ID is 34 items
- 3.Surfacing 18, environment 17
- 4.Audit 15, risk 11, beta 5
- 5.No published passing percentage
- 6.Entrapment: over 3.5, under 9
- 7.Torso first, then head template
- 8.Projection gauges 1, 2, 3.5 in
- 9.S-hook gap under 0.04 in
- 10.Crush probe 0.62 in rod
- 11.Suspended: within 45, under 7 ft
- 12.Guardrail tops 29 and 38 in
- 13.Barrier triggers over 30, over 48
- 14.Use zone 6 ft minimum
- 15.Swings twice pivot height, no overlap
- 16.Slide exit zone max 8 ft
- 17.Loose fill never below 9 in
- 18.Wood chips 9 in: 10 ft
- 19.Gmax 200, HIC 1000
- 20.Critical height meets fall height
- 21.Fall height: pivot, transition platform
- 22.Toddler 6-23 months; preschool 2-5
- 23.Grass, dirt, asphalt never acceptable
- 24.Transfer platform 11 to 18 in
- 25.Ramps if 20 elevated components
- 26.Audit baseline; inspection recurring
- 27.Cite the standard section
- 28.Certification 3 years, 2.0 CEUs
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