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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commis-
sion (CPSC) estimates that about 100,000 play-
to the ground surface are treated annually in U.S.
hospital emergency rooms. Injuries involving this
hazard pattern tend to be among the most serious of
all playground injuries, and have the potential to be
fatal, particularly when the injury is to the head. The
can be a major factor in determining the injury caus-
ing potential of a fall. It is self evident that a fall onto
a shock-absorbing surface is less likely to cause a
serious injury than a fall onto a hard surface. Play-
surfaces such as concrete or asphalt and while grass
hard packed earth in areas of high traffic. Shredded
bark mulch, wood chips, fine sand or fine gravel are
considered to be acceptable shock-absorbing sur-
faces when installed and maintained at a sufficient
Table 1 lists the maximum height from
which a child would not be expected to sustain a
life-threatening head injury in a fall onto different
loose-fill surfacing materials if they are installed and
TABLE 1 — FALL HEIGHT IN FEET FROM WHICH A LIFE THREATENING HEAD
Type of Material
Double Shredded Bark Mulch
Wood Chips
Fine Sand
Fine Gravel
Shredded Tires***
*This information has been extracted from the CPSC publications "Playground Surfacing--Technical Information Guide" and "Handbook for Public
Playground Safety." Copies of these reports can be obtained by sending a postcard to the: Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission, Washington, D.C., 20207 or call the toll-free hotline: 1-800-638-2772.
***This data is from tests conducted by independent testing laboratories on a 6-inch depth of uncompressed shredded tire samples produced by
showing the critical height of the material when it was tested in accordance with ASTM F1292.
**The maximum fall height for this product is 5 feet. We recommend using 6"
INJURY WOULD NOT BE EXPECTED
6 in. depth
6
6
5
6
10-12
of Double Shredded Bark Mulch.**
maintained at depths of 6, 9, and 12 inches. How-
ever, it should be recognized that all injuries due to
falls cannot be prevented no matter what surfacing
material is used.
It is recommended that a shock-absorbing
material should extend a minimum of 6 ft. in all di-
such as climbers and slides. However, because
children may deliberately jump from a moving swing,
the shock absorbing material should extend in the
front and rear of a swing a minimum distance of 2
times the height of the pivot point measured from
a point directly beneath the pivot on the supporting
structure.
This information is intended to assist in
comparing the relative shock-absorbing properties
of various materials. No particular material is recom-
mended over another. However, each material is only
effective when properly maintained. Materials should
be checked periodically and replenished to main-
tain correct depth as determined necessary for your
availability of the material in your area, and its cost.
9 in. depth
10
7
5
7
N/A
12 in. depth
11
12
9
10
N/A
5
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