Regulations
CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's—Public Handbook for Playground Safety
All documents are provided by US/CPSC are free of charge. Click on the LINKS below to access your free copy now:
CPSC Pub. No. 325 1991—Handbook for Public Playground Safety
CPSC Pub. No. 325 1997—Handbook for Public Playground Safety
CPSC Pub. No. 325 2010—Public Playground Safety Handbook (most current)
CPSC Injury Data 2001–2008—Injuries and Investigated Deaths Associated with Playground Equipment
CPSC Injury Data 2009–2014—Injuries and Investigated Deaths Associated with Playground Equipment
CPSC Pub. No. 324 2005—Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook
Note: CPSC is currently updating the handbook—2025 release date TBD.
ASTM Standards
American Society for Testing & Materials—Standards for Manufacturers
There are costs for these publications. Publication dates and costs are subject to change. If you join ASTM as a member you get one free Volume and others at a discounted rate. See the more popular documents:
F 1487-21—Standard for Playground Equipment for Public Use Ages 2–12 (Cost: $98)
F 2373-11—Standard for Playground Equipment for Public Use Ages 6—23 months (Cost: $85)
F 1292-18—Standard for Safety Surfacing Around Playground Equipment (Cost: $72)
F 2049 -11(2017)—Standard for Fencing for Outdoor Play Areas (Cost: $54)
F 1951-21—Standard for Accessible Surfacing (Cost: $60)
F 3101-21—Fitness Equipment in a Non-Supervised Setting (Cost: $92)
F 3313-20—Impact Attenuation as Tested IN THE FIELD (Cost: $69)
How can you get your own copy?
For Abstracts as well as pricing log on to www.ASTM.org and search “Playgrounds”—numerous documents will be displayed. Click on the title for the abstract and cost. If you have a specific document of interest type in (for example): “F-1487”. You will get the abstract and pricing.
IPEMA—International Play Equipment Manufacturer's Association
IPEMA coordinates and verifies 3rd party testing compliance—verifying many of the published ASTM Standards. For more information visit ipema.org.
ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act
ADA Guide—Published by the US Department of Justice. This is the "how to" document used throughout the entire Industry.
ADA Play Guide 2005—ACCESSIBLE PLAY AREAS: A Summary of Accessibility Guidelines for Play Areas
Developed by the KOMPAN Playground Company and Published by the US Department of Justice—this is the "how to" document used throughout the entire Industry.ADA Play Types
We invite you to use this document to ensure you have a balanced play environment. The Playground Regulations require a certain number of ground level "PLAY TYPES"—based on the number of elevated events.Play Areas Final Rule—Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board: 36 CFR Part 1191 Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities; Play Areas; Final Rule
This is the actual Final Rule from November, 2000—A tad tricky to navigate (which is a primary reason the design Guide was created).2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design
This is the current ADA document—a must have for anyone designing practically anything. Play Area Regs are found in Chapter 10.2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design
From ADA.gov, see Section 1008.Crib Sheet 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design
When you hunt through the 2010 ADA Standard—there is no published index—so this is a helpful guide we put together identifying Play Area information.Outdoor Guide—Outdoor Developed Areas: A Summary of Accessibility Standards for Federal Outdoor Developed Areas, May 2014
Trails, camping, picnic, viewing areas, and beaches.