Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 06/10/2021

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Handbook for Playground Safety 5.3.6.2 Slide platform All slides should be provided with a platform with sufficient length to facilitate the transition from standing to sitting at the top of the inclined sliding surface. Embankment slides are exempt from platform requirements because they are on ground level; however, they should not have any spaces or gaps as noted below. The platform should: • Be at least 19 inches deep for toddlers. • Be at least 14 inches deep for preschool -age and school -age children. • Be horizontal. • Be at least as wide as the slide chute. • Be surrounded by guardrails or barriers. • Conform to the same recommendations as general platforms given in §5.1.1. • Not have any spaces or gaps that could trap strings, clothing, body parts, etc. between the platform and the start of the slide chute. • Provide handholds to facilitate the transition from standing to sitting and decrease the risk of falls (except tube slides where the tube perimeter provides hand support). These should extend high enough to provide hand support for the largest child in a standing position, and low enough to provide hand support for the smallest child in a sitting position. • Provide a means to channel a user into a sitting position at the entrance to the chute, such as a guardrail, hood, or other device that discourages climbing. 5.3.6.3 Slide chutes 5.3.6.3.1 Embankment slides • The slide chute of an embankment slide should have a maximum height of 12 inches above the underlying ground surface. This design basically eliminates the hazard of falls from elevated heights. • Embankment slides should follow all of the recommenda- tions given for straight slides where applicable (e.g., side height, slope, use zone at exit, etc.). • There should be some means provided at the slide chute entrance to minimize the use of embankment slides by children on skates, skateboards, or bicycles. 5.3.6.3.2 Roller slides • Roller slides should meet applicable recommendations for other slides (e.g., side height, slope, use zone at exit, etc.). • The space between adjacent rollers and between the ends of the rollers and the stationary structure should be less than 3/16 inch. • Frequent inspections are recommended to insure that there are no missing rollers or broken bearings and that the rollers roll. 5.3.6.3.3 Spiral slides • Spiral slides should follow the recommendations for straight slides where applicable (e.g., side height, slope, use zone at exit, etc.). • Special attention should be given to design features which may present problems unique to spiral slides, such as lateral discharge of the user. • Toddlers and preschool -age children have less ability to maintain balance and postural control, so only short spiral slides (one 360° turn or less) are recommended for these age groups. 5.3.6.3.4 Straight slides • Flat open chutes should have sides at least 4 inches high extending along both sides of the chute for the entire length of the inclined sliding surface. • The sides should be an integral part of the chute, without any gaps between the sides and the sliding surface. (This does not apply to roller slides). • Slides may have an open chute with a circular, semicircu- lar or curved cross section provided that: A. The vertical height of the sides is no less than 4 inches when measured at right angles to a horizontal line that is 8 inches long when the slide is intended for toddlers, 12 inches long when the slide is intended for preschool -age children, and 16 inches long when the slide is intended for school -age children (Figure 18); or B. For any age group, the vertical height of the sides is no less than 4 inches minus two times the width of the slide chute divided by the radius of the slide chute curvature (Figure 19). 32