Playgrounds are a year-round, go-to destination for young families looking to get out of the house and burn off some energy. These lively spaces are filled with laughter, games, and adventure, but behind the fun lies a serious responsibility: keeping kids safe. 

Every year, thousands of Canadian children are injured in playgrounds, most often due to falls. 

In Canada, CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z614 “Children’s Playspaces and Equipment” sets the benchmark for designing, installing, maintaining, and inspecting playgrounds and playground equipment intended for use by children aged 18 months to 12 years. While compliance with this standard cannot prevent all injuries, well designed, constructed, and maintained playspaces create a foundation for safety.

This article explores some of the key safety requirements outlined in CAN/CSA-Z614, to ensure that fun doesn’t come at the cost of safety.  

Built to Play: Playgrounds Design and Installation 

Before the first swing is hung or slide is set, safety starts with proper design and installation. The playground owner or operator is responsible for ensuring that all equipment is installed according to the manufacturer’s or designer’s instructions. These instructions must be detailed and specific. 

It may seem obvious, but once installed, playground equipment must be structurally sound. The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that the equipment passes all structural integrity tests, but it is up to the owner to ensure that the installation has been done correctly.  

Well-installed playground equipment is the first step toward a safe and fun experience. 

The Ground Beneath Their Feet: Protective Surfacing 

One of the most important aspects of playground safety is what is underfoot. Since falls are a common cause of injury on playgrounds, the surface beneath the play equipment plays a huge role in cushioning those tumbles.  

CAN/CSA-Z614 requires that protective surfacing be provided under and around playground equipment like slides, swings, climbing structures, seesaws, and bounce pads – anywhere there is a risk of falling from height. The standard outlines specific requirements for impact attenuation – in other words, how well the surface absorbs shock. Materials like engineered wood fiber, rubber mulch, poured-in-place rubber, and synthetic turf are commonly used because they meet the standard’s impact attenuation requirements, whereas hard surfacing materials, such as asphalt or concrete are generally considered off-limits.  

Each type of surfacing material has pros and cons that should be considered prior to purchase. Factors such as product performance, life expectancy, and maintenance requirements must all be considered. 

Loose fill materials, such as sand, pea gravel, wood mulch, and rubber mulch, have great shock-absorbing properties when installed at a sufficient depth. These materials are also usually low cost and easy to install. However, loose fill surfacing can shift or deteriorate over time, especially in high-traffic areas, and requires more regular monitoring and attention to ensure proper coverage is maintained. 

Photo Credits: Townsend Lumber Inc. / ParkMat (left), SpectraTurf  / Loose Rubber Mulch (right)

Unitary materials, like synthetic turf or rubber mats, are typically more expensive, however need less frequent maintenance. These materials will lose their protective capabilities over time and will eventually need replacement.  

Photo Credit: MRC Recreation / RubberBond ELEVATE

But it’s not just about choosing the right material – it’s also about depth and coverage. The area of the protective surface around each piece of playground equipment is dependent on the type of equipment. For example, the area of protective surfacing below a swing should extend well beyond the swing’s range of motion on each side.  

Additionally, loose fill surfacing materials must be installed at an adequate depth to absorb the impact of a fall from the highest point of the equipment. For most loose fill materials, a minimum depth of 12 inches is recommended.  

Keeping It Safe: Maintenance and Inspections 

Even the safest playgrounds can become hazardous without regular upkeep. That’s why maintenance and inspections are an integral part of CAN/CSA-Z614.  

Playground owners and their representatives (such as custodians or maintenance staff) should develop and follow a schedule that includes daily or weekly visual inspections, monthly detailed inspections (to check for wear and tear, missing components, loose fasteners, etc.), and annual comprehensive inspections.  

Daily inspections should include a visual review of each piece of playground equipment to document any obvious hazards such as damaged equipment and should include a review of the protective surfacing material. A checklist should be used to guide these inspections and ensure consistency. Annual inspections should result in a written report detailing the results of the daily/weekly and monthly inspections, any remedial actions taken or planned, the results of any protective surfacing testing, and any other pertinent information. 

Don’t Forget: Supervision Matters! 

While standards and inspections are essential, active supervision is still one of the best, most important ways to keep kids safe. Adults should be present to guide safe play and ensure that equipment is being used appropriately.