PLAYGROUNDS AND
ACCESS REQUIREMENTS
2012 California and Pacific Southwest Recreation
and Park Training Conference
Thursday, March 22, 2012
SPEAKERS
John N. McGovern, JD, President
Recreation Accessibility Consultants LLC
224/293-6451 or [email protected]
SPEAKERS
Sam “Butch” DeFillippo,
Managing Partner
PlaySafe LLC
505/899-9532 or [email protected]
SESSION PURPOSE
Discuss playground rulemaking
Discuss surfaces and access
Discuss ground level play components and access
Discuss elevated play components and access
SESSION PURPOSE
Discuss smart practices
Discuss incentive scoping
Identify resources
The 2010 Standards:
A Whole New Ballgame
Modifies the 1991 Standards for the built environment
Adopted by the International Building Code (IBC)
Includes standards for playground surfaces, ground level
play components, elevated play components, and incentive
scoping
NOTHING in this is new…all published in 2000 and 2002
Effective Dates for playgrounds at
title II and III entities
Regs published in Federal Register September 14, 2010
Evaluate existing playgrounds with 2010 Standards NOW
2010 Standards for new construction, and application to
existing sites, became effective March 15, 2012
Clarification Regarding
Program Access Test
The 35.150 Program Access test remains the same…vague
and subjective, it flexes in relation to the number of and
location of similar sites and services at those sites
It is not about the playground…it is about the activity or
opportunity available at that building or site
It helps to treat this as a planning exercise
Greenacre Parks and Recreation Agency
Preliminary Playground Program Access Map
Playgrounds with changes
recommended:
Playgrounds with no change:
Playgrounds currently accessible:
Parks without Playgrounds:
Our advice…Regarding
the Program Access Test
Have a one-of-a-kind site (one pool, one ice rink, one senior center, one
marina, one community center) in the jurisdiction? Stop fretting about
it…make it accessible unless it is technically infeasible to do so.
Have multiple similar sites (playgrounds, sports fields, sports courts, picnic
areas, shelters)? Aim for a minimum of one of every three similar sites
being made accessible.
21 playgrounds? Aim for 7 and disperse through the community…
9 softball fields? Aim for 3 and disperse through the community…
PLAYGROUNDS
New (March 15, 2012) must use 2010 Standards
Evaluate existing sites against the 2010 Standards
and Apply the DOJ program access test
PLAYGROUND SURFACES
Playground surfaces intended to be accessible
must comply with ASTM F 1951 (see 1008.2.6)
Firm, maneuverable, and within a use zone,
impact attenuating per ASTM F 1292
PLAYGROUND SURFACES (part II)
Locations of accessible surfaces:
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
accessible route
component egress
spaces surrounding GL components
slide egress
signs
amenities
benches, and
entries (see 1008.2.6)
PLAYGROUND SURFACES (part II)
SURFACE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT: see
1008.2.6.1 where agencies are required to regularly
inspect and frequently maintain accessible surfaces.
Hourly?
Daily?
Weekly?
Monthly?
Playground surfaces –Poured in Place
(PIP); Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF)
ACCESSIBLE ROUTE (AR)
New AR must comply with Chapter 4 and 1008.2 of 2010
Standard, including GLPC 80” clearance requirement
Transfer system is an acceptable part of an AR (1008.2.1
exception 1) for access to elevated play components
Can go through one play component to reach another as a
part of the AR (1008.2.1 exception 2)
PLAYGROUND AR DETAILS
60” clear width 1008.2.4.1 on ground
36” clear width ground to deck
If ramp ground to deck max 8.33% slope per 1008.2.5.2
Transfer system platform 11” to 18” above ground (see
1008.3.1.2) and 14” deep by 24” wide (1008.3.1.1)
Compliant Transfer Systems
GROUND LEVEL PLAY
COMPONENTS (GLPC)
240.2.1 requires one of each type be served by AR and be dispersed
throughout the playground
“Types” not defined, but guidance identifies:
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•
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Swings
Slides
Climbers
Rockers
Spinners
THINK A BIT OUT
OF THE BOX ON
THIS SUBJECT
add Interactives
add Manipulables
GLPC - SWINGS
GLPC - SLIDE
GLPC - CLIMBER
ELEVATED PLAY COMPONENTS (EPC)
240.2.2 requires 50% of EPC be reached by ramp or transfer
If 20 or more EPC, ramp and transfer must reach minimum
50% and ramps must reach minimum of 25%
Though transfer systems are permitted and compliant, they
are ineffective…most children with mobility impairments
either cannot, or choose not, to transfer
Playground with ramp access
Playground with Significant Use of
Ramps Instead of Transfers
PLAYGROUND INCENTIVE SCOPING
Ramps are preferred over transfer systems
If there is no ramp, or if ramp reaches less
than 50% of EPC, incentive scoping applies
and the site MUST have additional accessible
GLPCs (see 240.2.1.2)
PLAYGROUND SMART PRACTICES
Ramps are preferred over transfer systems
Create a designated entry
Use a descending step
Use more than one transfer system
Playground that complies and in fact
exceeds minimum requirements
Incentive Scoping table 240.2.1.2
2 to 4 EPC
5 to 7 EPC
8 to 10 EPC
11 to 13 EPC
14 to 16 EPC
17 to 19 EPC
20 to 22 EPC
23 to 25 EPC
26 or more EPC
1 GLPC accessible
2 GLPC accessible
3 GLPC accessible
4 GLPC accessible
5 GLPC accessible
6 GLPC accessible
7 GLPC accessible
8 GLPC accessible
8 plus 1 more for each
additional 3 over 25
of 1 type
of 2 types
of 3 types
of 3 types
of 3 types
of 3 types
of 4 types
of 4 types
of 5 types
CLOSE and RESOURCES
John McGovern at [email protected]
Sam “Butch” DeFillippo, at [email protected]
Department of Justice at 202/514-0301 or www.ada.gov
Access Board at 202/272-0080 or www.access-board.gov