Access Methods for Play Equipment

Access Methods for Play Equipment

Public Playground Safety Handbook

CPSC Publication 325

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

5.2 Access Methods to Play Equipment Access to playground equipment can take many forms, such as conventional ramps, stairways with steps, and ladders with steps or rungs. Access may also be by means of climbing components, such as arch climbers, climbing nets, and tire climbers (see Figure 6). As children develop, they gain better balance and coordination, so it is important to pick appropriate access methods based on the age group. Table 5 shows the most common methods of access and the youngest appropriate age group. Access to platforms over 6 feet high (except for free-standing slides) should provide an intermediate standing surface so that the child can pause and make a decision to keep going up or find another way down. Children generally master access before egress, that is, they can go up before they can get back down a difficult component. Therefore, if there are more difficult access methods, it is important to have easier components for egress.

5.2.1 Ramps, stairways, rung ladders, and stepladders Ramps, stairways, rung ladders, and step ladders each have different recommendations for slope and tread dimension, but the steps or rungs always should be evenly spaced - even the spacing between the top step or rung and the surface of the platform. Table 6 contains recommended dimensions for: access slope; tread or rung width; tread depth; rung diameter; and vertical rise for rung ladders, step ladders, and stairways. Table 6 also contains slope and width recommendations for ramps. However, these recommendations are not intended to address ramps designed for access by wheel-chairs.

• Openings between steps or rungs and between the top step or rung and underside of a platform should prevent entrapment.

• When risers are closed, treads on stairways and ladders should prevent the accumulation of sand, water, or other materials on or between steps.

• Climbing equipment should allow children to descend as easily as they ascend. One way of implementing this recommendation is to provide an easier, alternate means of descent, such as another mode of egress, a platform, or another piece of equipment. For example, a stairway can be added to provide a less challenging mode of descent than a vertical rung ladder or flexible climbing device (seeTable 5).

• For toddlers and preschool-age children, offering an easy way out is particularly important since their ability to descend climbing components develops later than their ability to climb up the same components.

 

5.2.2 Rungs and other hand gripping components Unlike steps of stairways and step ladders that are primarily for foot support, rungs can be used for both foot and hand support.

• Rungs with round shapes are easiest for children to grip.

• All hand grips should be secured in a manner that pre-vents them from turning.

• Toddlers:

– Handrails or other means of hand support should have a diameter or maximum cross-section between 0.60 and1.20 inches.

– A diameter or maximum cross-section of 0.90 inches is preferred to achieve maximal grip strength and benefit the weakest children.

• Preschool- and school-age:

– Rungs, handrails, climbing bars, or other means of hand support intended for holding should have a diameter or maximum cross-section between 0.95 and 1.55 inches.

– A diameter or maximum cross-section of 1.25 inches is preferred to achieve maximal grip strength and benefit the weakest children.

 

5.2.3 Handrails

Handrails on stairways and step ladders are intended to provide hand support and to steady the user. Continuous handrails extending over the full length of the access should be provided on both sides of all stairways and step ladders, regardless of the height of the access. Rung ladders do not require handrails since rungs or side supports provide hand support on these more steeply inclined accesses.

5.2.3.1 Handrail height Handrails should be available for use at the appropriate height, beginning with the first step. The vertical distance between the top front edge of a step or ramp surface and the top surface of the handrail above it should be as follows:

• Toddlers: between 15 and 20 inches.

• Preschool-age: between 22 and 26 inches.

• School-age: between 22 and 38 inches.

 

5.2.4 Transition from access to platform Handrails or handholds are recommended at all transition points (the point where the child must move from the access component to the play structure platform).

• The handhold should provide support from the access component until the child has fully achieved the desired posture on the platform.

• Any opening between a handrail and an adjacent vertical structure (e.g., vertical support post for a platform or vertical slat of a protective barrier) should not pose an entrapment hazard.

• Access methods that do not have handrails, such as rung ladders, flexible climbers, arch climbers, and tire climbers, should provide hand supports for the transition between the top of the access and the platform.

For more information, please contact DunRite Playgrounds!