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

505 mm above adjacent surfaces. The top of the guardrail must be 765
mm above the platform. The guardrail should not have openings between
87 mm and 228 mm to avoid the possibility of head entrapment.
To prevent finger entrapment, there must be no openings in the fence
between 9 mm and 25 mm wide.
� Protective barriers must be provided for all children on all platforms
greater than 760 mm above adjacent surfaces. The protective barrier
must be 740 mm above the platform, with no openings greater than 75
mm and no horizontal footholds.
� Maximum platform height for infants is 455 mm above adjacent floor
level.
� Maximum platform height for toddlers is 915 mm above adjacent floor
level.
� Maximum platform height for pre-school children is 1370 mm above
adjacent floor level.
� Pathways under trees and constructed elements must have a minimum
of 2035 mm headroom.
� There must be a fall zone with a resilient surface under all climbing and
moving fixed play equipment from which children could fall as per the
current CPSC and local licensing. This is typically 1830 mm radius.
Criteria for resilient surfaces are discussed below.
� There must be a 1830 mm clear radius approach zone to all play equipment,
not including the fall zone. A tricycle path cannot run through a
fall zone area.
6.7.4 Shading:
The correct mix of sun and shade is vitally important. At least 50 percent of
the play area should be exposed to sunlight at any time during the morning
and afternoon when the play yard will be used. The degree and orientation
of shade depends on local climatic conditions. Shade areas, including
porches, gazebos, and other structures, should provide a minimum shaded
area of 1832 mm in any direction. Shading structures and materials that
may be used include trees, exterior screened rooms, park shelters and
structures, awnings, and umbrellas. See also 6.4.5.
6.7.5 Play Yard Surfaces:
Surfaces for play yards, based on their physical properties, can be
categorized into three general types: resilient, hard, and grass/turf. A variety
of ground surface texture is required in a playground.
PBS-140 - July 2003
CHAPTER 6: SITE DESIGN
6.7.6 Resilient Surfaces:
Resilient surfaces serve to reduce the impact from falls and are required in
specific equipment areas referred to as “fall zones.” Refer to ASTM F-355
(most recent addition), Shock Absorbing Properties of Playing Surface
Systems and Materials, and the most recent publication of the Consumer
Product Safety Commission’s Handbook for Public Playground Safety, for
specific requirements concerning these resilient surfaces. Examples of
approved resilient surface materials are pre-engineered wood accessible
hardwood (not simply wood mulch), preformed rubber matting, and pouredin-place
rubberized surfaces. Water needs to drain through these surfaces
and off the property.
Following EPA’s Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG), rubber
play yard surfacing materials should be made from at least 90-100%
recycled tire rubber, including rubber pavers as well as loose granulated
rubber surfacing, where appropriate, and where the product meets GSA’s
needs.
The fall-absorbing properties of each will depend upon the installed
thickness and the method or system of installation. However, whichever
type of fall attenuation is used, the CPSC recommendations and
requirements must be achieved. These surfaces vary dramatically in cost.
The least expensive are the loose fill variety which typically require a much
higher level of maintenance to ensure that the required depth is maintained
greatly increasing the life-cycle cost. This trade-off needs to be recognized,
during the design process. The designer may recommend the more
expensive rubberized solutions for ease of maintenance, but should receive
written assurances that its impact-absorptive properties are not lessened
by exposure to sunlight and the color will not fade significantly. Adequate
drainage must be provided under any resilient material, including wood
chips. A combination of materials such as grass, resilient surface, and
pre-engineered wood chips incorporates the advantages of each material
and renders a more natural, less institutional appearance than any one
alone.
The designer should also note the following:
� Organic materials, such as wood chips, bark chips, and pre-engineered
wheel chair accessible processed wood fibers, have good impact-absorbing
potential, but require proper maintenance to ensure proper, consistent
depth.
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