FAQs
Why should I have my playground inspected?
Playground inspections are important to have because they help to keep your playgrounds up to standards, and they help to keep the children safe from harm. When kids play anything can happen, and if you can find and fix small problems that may occur around them then it will be worth the time. If an accident does happen you can be liable for a lawsuit, unless you have the document saying that you have had the playground inspected and it is up to standards. Read the rest of our FAQs for more answers to our most common questions about playground safety inspections.
Do I have to have my playground inspected?
In most states you do not have to. There are only fifteen states in America who have adopted the CPSC guidelines, in whole or part, to have playgrounds inspected. In other states the inspection can still be done, but it is only voluntary, not mandatory. Just remember that no matter where you live, kids will play in playgrounds, and if something were to happen to one of them the consequences will be bad for you, the owner of the playground.
Which states require playground inspections?
Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
What are the rules which playground inspectors use as their guidelines?
Playground inspections are based on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) public playground safety guidelines and some of the ASTM International standards. Those ASTM standards are the F1487-05, “Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use,” the F2223-04, “Standard Guide for ASTM Standards on Playground Surfacing”, the F1292 “Impact Attenuation”, and the F1951 “Accessibility”.
Are playground inspectors qualified to check playgrounds?
In order to be certified as a Playground Safety Inspectors, they have to be trained by the National Recreation and Park Association’s National Playground Safety Institute. Inspectors attend a training course and have to take an examination that is administered by the NRPA.
What does a playground inspection consist of?
As playground inspector, he will examine your equipment, your playground surfacing, the playground borders, and any other item that is found around the play area.He will take measurements and photos to compare the condition of the equipment with the prevailing CPSC and ASTM safety standards.
There are two types of playground safety reports, the inspection reports and the audit reports. Both these kinds of playground inspections involve a complete examination of your playground, including equipment, surfacing, and borders. In both cases, these conditions are compared with the prevailing CPSC and ASTM safety standards, and the results are issued to you in a written report.
What’s the difference between a playground inspection and a playground audit?
Playground inspection reports identify only the problems with your playground that do not comply with the standards of the CPSC guidelines or ASTM standards. These reports are not very long in length compared to the playground audit reports.
Playground audit reports are approximately 50 – 60 pages in length, and give a very thorough account of your playground.
Are playground inspections and audits confidential?
Playground inspections and audits are confidential. According to the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Code of Conduct, inspectors shall “sustain and advance the integrity, honor and veracity of their certification by … never providing findings … to anyone other than the playground owner unless authorized by the owner to do so.” In other words, no inspector can share information about your playground with any other source, including parents, teachers, and government agencies, without your permission.
