Information about Play Area Safety Surfaces:

Accessibility Guidelines for Play Areas - Economic Assessment

The purpose of this assessment is to discuss and, where possible, quantify the costs and benefits of the final accessibility guidelines for play areas issued by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) under the authority of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Play Mats - United Kingdom

Play Matts are a robust combination of recycled PVC and rubber, incorporating UV protection. The mats are designed to ensure that, when professionally fitted, they provide a non-slip, safer surface for children's playgrounds.

Michigan Designation of Inertness for Tire Material

You can download a PDF file from General Documents and Operational Memos concerning inertness of rubber used as a safety cushion under playground equipment.

Scrap Tire News

The source for information about the scrap tire and rubber industry.

EPA Regional Offices

Locate your local Environmental Protection Agency from this page.

EPA Crumb Rubber Information

General questions from the public concerning "crumb rubber" (shreaded recycled rubber).

Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines for Playground Surfaces - EPA

Playground surfaces can contain recovered rubber and PVC materials that are often more desirable than wood chips, sand, or asphalt, because they can provide more cushioning and thereby may be safer for children. You can find playground surfaces made with recovered materials at schools, military bases, and housing developments.

Recyclable Materials - SCRAP TIRES

Published by the Recycling Council of Ontario: Fact sheet about recycling scrap tires.

Scrap Tire References

Rubber Manufacturers Association: The largest single source of facts, figures and information on scrap tire management and markets.

The Use of Scrap Tire as Playground Material

Two types of rubber playground surfacing material are on the market today: loose fill and solid mats. Loose fill generally consists of chips of rubber ranging from one half inch to three quarters inch in size. All non-rubber materials are removed, and the chips are washed before being placed on the play ground.

State Scrap Tire Regulators

Mailing and E-mail List for State scrap tire regulators provided by the Rubber Manufacturers Association.

Crumb Rubber in California

List of granulated and crumb rubber producers and suppliers in California compiled by California's Integrated Waste Management Board.

Northeast Recycling Council (NERC)

NERC's MISSION is to minimize the amount of materials requiring disposal by promoting the environmental and economic benefits of recycling and source reduction in the Northeast.

Granulated Rubber

Information about granulated rubber and other uses for recycled tires from the Bureau of International Recycling.

North American Recycled Rubber Association

Created in August 1994 to bring together the various stakeholders affiliated with the recycled rubber industry.

International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association

IPEMA's philosophy is simple: To represent and promote an open market for manufacturers of playground equipment and surfacing.

National School Supply and Equipment Association

NSSEA is a not-for-profit international trade organization serving the school market since 1916.

Public Playground Safety Checklist

Consumer Product Safety Commission: Public Playground Safety Checklist (CPSC Document #327).

Handbook for Public Playground Safety (pdf)

Consumer Product Safety Commission: Handbook for Public Playground Safety (47 page PDF file - CPSC Document #325).

Soft Contained Play Equipment Safety Checklist

Consumer Product Safety Commission: Soft Contained Play Equipment Safety Checklist (CPSC Document #328).

Consumer Product Safety Commission

CPSC is an Independent Federal (U.S.A.) Regulatory Agency. CPSC works to save lives and keep families safe by reducing the risk of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products.

State Contacts for Product Safety

Lists of product safety liaisons from the CPSC (Consumer Protection Safety Commission), States, and US Territories.

Canadian Standards Association

The Canadian Standards Association is a not-for-profit membership-based association serving business, industry, government and consumers in Canada and the global marketplace.

Canadian Parks and Recreation Association

(l'Association canadienne des parcs et loisirs): CPRA exists to build healthy communities and enhance the quality of life and environments for all Canadians through collaboration with our members and partners.

Safety Standards published by American Society for Testing and Materials:

• ASTM D2240-02: Standard Test Method for Rubber Property—Durometer Hardness
• ASTM F355-01: Standard Test Method for Shock-Absorbing Properties of Playing Surface Systems and Materials
• ASTM F963-96ae2: Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety
• ASTM F1148-00: Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Home Playground Equipment
• ASTM F1292-99: Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment
• ASTM D1349-99: Standard Practice for Rubber-Standard Temperatures For Testing
• ASTM F1487-01e1: Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use
• ASTM F1951-99: Standard Specification for Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment
• ASTM F1957-99: Standard Test Method for Composite Foam Hardness-Durometer Hardness
• ASTM F2075-01a: Standard Specification for Engineered Wood Fiber for Use as a Playground Safety Surface Under and Around Playground Equipment