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REPRINT/REMINDER
Playground
Equipment – Permit, Code and Compliance items
More 200,000 children
are treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms each year for injuries
associated with playground equipment. Handbook for Public Playground
safety,2007,USCPSC
NJ Department
of Community Affairs adopted playground safety guidelines pursuant to P.L.
1999, c.50 (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-123.9 et seq.) as part of the Uniform
Construction Code as the Playground Safety Subcode,
N.J.A.C. 5:23-11. This subcode requires the upgrade and improvement of all
playgrounds.
The upgrade of all playground elements
is required by October 18, 2007 for all governmental and for-profit private
entities. The
definition of a playground is “an improved area designed, equipped,
and set aside for play of six or more children, which is not intended for
use as an athletic playing field or athletic court, and shall include any
play equipment, surfacing, fencing, signs, internal pathways, internal land
forms, vegetation, and related structures.”
Compliance deadlines are as follows:
* October 18, 2004 -
All governmental, nonprofit and for-profit private entities operating
playgrounds shall upgrade their playgrounds by replacement or improvement as
necessary to comply with this subcode for surfacing.
* October 18, 2007 -
All governmental and for-profit private entities operating playgrounds shall
upgrade their playgrounds by replacement or improvement as necessary to
comply with this subcode for all other elements, or, in the case of
governmental entities, at such earlier date as State funds are made
available for such purpose.
* October 18, 2014 -
All nonprofit entities operating playgrounds shall upgrade their playgrounds
by replacement or improvement as necessary to comply with this subcode for
all other elements.
NOTE: All construction or alteration of
playgrounds, playground equipment and surfacing that are subject to the
Playground Safety Subcode also are required to comply with the applicable
provisions of the Barrier-Free Subcode (N.J.A.C. 5:23-7). In accordance
with N.J.A.C. 5:23-7.19(d) and ICC/ANSI A117.1-03, Sections 302 and 303,
surfaces of all routes and spaces required to be accessible shall be stable,
firm and slip-resistant. Sand and gravel can not be used as surfacing
materials when new equipment is being installed, or a new safety surface is
being put in place, and the barrier-free subcode is applicable.
Playground upgrades and new installations are
required to comply with the 1997 edition of the "Handbook for Public
Playground Safety" (HPPS), Pub. No. 325, which is produced by the United
States Consumer Product Safety Commission and adopted by reference as the
Playground Safety Subcode. The HPPS guidelines govern design, installation,
inspection and maintenance of playgrounds and playground equipment. These
guidelines can be found on the Internet at:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/325.pdf.
Lastly, permits are
required for any element of playground construction that is subject to the
permit requirements of the State Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C 5:23.
Source:
NJ Department of
Community Affairs, Division of Codes and Standards
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