At the end of March 1998, the latest version of the CSA Z614 National Standard for

Playspaces was unveiled and the full ramifications are still being assessed. The

incorporation of a performance requirement and maintenance of protective surfacing will effect the designers, purchasers, regulators, contractors and installers, owners, day care board members, employees and maintainers of the playspace. They will all have their part to play and carry associated liability. The requirement that all playground surfaces irrespective of date of installation be maintained to the performance standard of clause 10 is a potential concern to many. Those who now have specific responsibilities under the standard are those performing maintenance. For this group the definition of maintenance has changed and if they portray themselves as professionals such as landscape contractors or City maintenance personnel, they will be held to a higher level of care and therefore liability than most others involved in the playground industry.

The effect of the new standard will require that all playground protective surfacing be

installed and maintained to the performance requirements of the ASTM F1292 test

procedure for playground surfacing from the fall height specific to the particular piece of playground apparatus. The CSA Z614 stipulates the place to measure the fall height from, however the general rule is the highest accessible height except for a roof. Due diligence requires that the location for the fall height reflect what is found at the playground in reality.

Impact attenuation and measurement of forces at the time of impact are the only

measures for playground protective surfacing. The pass/fail criteria (less than 200 g’s

and less than 1,000 HIC) are the levels at which one can expect a life threatening injury. The CSA standard recommends that all installed surfaces be tested at the site of installation to ensure that these force levels are not exceeded. Site tests can easily be performed with a free fall triaxial hemispherical headform or with some difficulty with a fixed uniaxial apparatus.