PBS 140 Child Care Center Design Guide - The Whole Building ...

APPENDIX G
Playground Solicitation Requirements
Legislation, Executive Order number 13101, and GSA Order mandate
buying products that reduce environmental impact. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a list of designated products,
commonly referred to as the CPG (Comprehensive Procurement
Guidelines). The CPG items are those which Federal agencies are required
to purchase. EPA has established specified amounts of post-consumer
materials required as the recycled content for each designated item. To
date, EPA has grouped a total of 54 CPG items into 8 product categories.
Two specific product categories (Park and Recreation Equipment and
Playground Surfacing) apply to the development of GSA play yards.
As the first step in a play yard plan, the coordinator and designer must
consider what size and type of equipment is optimal for the specific project.
At this point, it is necessary to consider CPG requirements for recycled
content materials as identified under “Park and Recreation Equipment.”
This general heading includes requirements for park benches & picnic
tables, playground equipment, playground surfaces, and plastic fencing.
www.epa.gov/cpg
If metal structures are specified, such as Little Tikes, Commercial, etc.,
identify vendors on GSA schedule who offer that kind of product. The
vendor’s proposal must include the proportion of recycled material that is
in the product. The standard is:
— Steel 4 16% (postconsumer) /25–30% (total) 67% (postconsumer)
— Aluminum 25% (postconsumer) /25% (total)
— Plastic 3 90–100% (postconsumer)/100% (total)
— Plastic Composites 50–75% (postconsumer)/95–100% (total)
APPENDIX G
If you decide on composite plastic-type structures (such as Grounds for
Play – Trex, etc.), then you would need to check into vendors that offer
this kind of product. The vendor’s proposal must include the proportion
of recycled material in the product. The standard is:
— Plastic 3 90–100% (postconsumer)/100% (total)
— Plastic Composites 50–75% (postconsumer)/95–100% (total)
Avoid wood playground equipment and landscaping elements, as per the
Design Guide (P100). There are better alternatives that do not have the
problems of wood on play yards. Exceptions include marine plywood
such as the kind used in many of the Kompan-type pieces, as well as
engineered wood fiber impact resistance surfacing. Then you would check
into vendors that offer this kind of product and request as part of their
proposal the amount of recycled material that is used as part of the
structures. The standard is:
— Structural Fiberboard Recovered Materials - 80-100%
— Laminated Paperboard Postconsumer Paper - 100%
You may or may not be seeking proposals for the fall zone surfaces as
part of the same scope of work. Regardless of your approach to this
purchase, you must first consider what type of fall zone material is most
appropriate for the specific application. If you decide to go with a rubber
mat, poured in place rubber surface or rubber pieces, recycled material
must be used. The standard is:
— Plastic or Rubber 90–100% (postconsumer)
If you decide to go with an engineered wood fiber (fibar) the standard is:
— Wood/Paper 100% (total)
PBS-140 - July 2003 G-1