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Handbook for Playground Safety <br />5.2.2 Rungs and other hand gripping components <br />Unlike steps of stairways and step ladders that are primarily <br />for foot support, rungs can be used for both foot and hand <br />support. <br />• Rungs with round shapes are easiest for children to grip. <br />• All hand grips should be secured in a manner that pre- <br />vents them from turning. <br />• Toddlers: <br />— Handrails or other means of hand support should have <br />a diameter between 0.60 and 1.20 inches. <br />— A diameter of 0.90 inches is preferred to achieve maxi- <br />mal grip strength and benefit the weakest children. <br />• Preschool- and school -age: <br />— Rungs, handrails, climbing bars, or other means of hand <br />support intended for holding should have a diameter <br />between 0.95 and 1.55 inches. <br />— A diameter of 1.25 inches is preferred to achieve maxi- <br />mal grip strength and benefit the weakest children. <br />5.2.3 Handrails <br />Handrails on stairways and step ladders are intended to pro- <br />vide hand support and to steady the user. Continuous <br />handrails extending over the full length of the access should <br />be provided on both sides of all stairways and step ladders, <br />regardless of the height of the access. Rung ladders do not <br />require handrails since rungs or side supports provide hand <br />support on these more steeply inclined accesses. <br />5.2.3.1 Handrail height <br />Handrails should be available for use at the appropriate <br />height, beginning with the first step. The vertical distance <br />between the top front edge of a step or ramp surface and the <br />top surface of the handrail above it should be as follows: <br />• Toddlers: between 15 and 20 inches. <br />• Preschool -age: between 22 and 26 inches. <br />• School -age: between 22 and 38 inches. <br />5.2.4 Transition from access to platform <br />Handrails or handholds are recommended at all transition <br />points (the point where the child must move from the access <br />component to the play structure platform). <br />• The handhold should provide support from the access <br />component until the child has fully achieved the desired <br />posture on the platform. <br />• Any opening between a handrail and an adjacent vertical <br />structure (e.g., vertical support post for a platform or ver- <br />tical slat of a protective barrier) should not pose an <br />entrapment hazard. <br />• Access methods that do not have handrails, such as rung <br />ladders, flexible climbers, arch climbers, and tire climbers, <br />should provide hand supports for the transition between <br />the top of the access and the platform. <br />5.3 Major Types of Playground Equipment <br />5.3.1 Balance beams <br />• Balance beams should be no higher than: <br />• Toddlers: not recommended. <br />• Preschool -age: 12 inches. <br />• School -age: 16 inches. <br />5.3.1.1 Fall height <br />The fall height of a balance beam is the distance between <br />the top of the walking surface and the protective surfacing <br />beneath it. <br />5.3.2 Climbing and upper body equipment <br />Climbing equipment is generally designed to present a <br />greater degree of physical challenge than other equipment <br />on public playgrounds. This type of equipment requires the <br />use of the hands to navigate up or across the equipment. <br />"Climbers" refers to a wide variety of equipment, such as but <br />not limited to: <br />• Arch climbers <br />• Dome climbers <br />• Flexible climbers (usually chain or net) <br />• Parallel bars <br />• Sliding poles <br />• Spiral climbers <br />• Upper body equipment (horizontal overhead ladders, <br />overhead rings, track ride). <br />23 <br />