ASTM F1951-21

Standard Specification for Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment

ABSTRACT
This specification establishes minimum characteristics for those factors that determine accessibility. This specification applies to all types of materials that can be used under and around playground equipment. Playground surfaces represented as complying with this specification shall meet all applicable requirements regarding accessibility specified herein. Wheelchair work measurement method - straight propulsion and wheelchair work measurement method – turning shall be performed to conform with the requirements specified.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
7.1 The purpose of this specification is to establish quantitative measurements for wheelchair work that are related to the firmness and stability of a surface material or surface system used as the accessible route and clear ground space at components within a playground.  
7.2 The specification provides a uniform means of objectively quantifying the performance of different playground surfacing materials.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification establishes minimum characteristics for those factors that determine accessibility. This specification applies to all types of materials that can be used as the accessible route through the play area, under and around playground equipment.  
1.2 The material used as the accessible route through the play area, under and around playground equipment that meets this specification must also comply with Specification F1292 or Test Method F3351, or both, if the surface is within the fall zone.  
1.3 Surface systems in compliance with this specification will not prevent all types of injuries from occurring when the surface is used.  
1.4 The SI unit of work is the joule (J), which is defined as the work expended by a force of one newton through a displacement of one meter. The dimensionally equivalent newton-meter (N*m) shall be used only if it is followed by the term “work” so it is not confused to be a torque value. (1 N*m = 0.73756215 pound-force-feet).  
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard; see IEEE/ASTM SI 10 for further details.  
1.6 The following precautionary statement pertains only to the test method portions of this specification: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2021
• ICS: 97.200.40 - Playgrounds
• Technical Committee: F08 - Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities
• Drafting Committee: F08.63 - Playground Surfacing Systems

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:F1951 −21 An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems Under
1
and Around Playground Equipment
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1951; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The federal accessibility standards require newly constructed and altered public playgrounds by
2
accessibletoandusablebypeoplewithdisabilities.BoththeArchitecturalBarriersAct andthe2010
3
ADA Standards for Accessible Design require accessible surfaces, including the accessible route
within the play area to be firm and stable.At this time, there is no standard specification to measure
firmnessandstability,whichisrelatedtotheworkforapersonwithamobilityimpairmenttotraverse
asurface,thushighlightingtheneedforasystematicandconsistentmeansofevaluatingthecapability
of surface systems.The goal of this specification is to establish a uniform means to measure the work
for a person with mobility impairment to traverse surface systems in order to provide the potential
buyer with performance specifications to select materials and maintain the surface as an accessible
surface through the accessible route and at accessible playground equipment.
1. Scope 1.5 Thevaluesstatedininch-poundunitsaretoberegarded
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
1.1 This specification establishes minimum characteristics
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
forthosefactorsthatdetermineaccessibility.Thisspecification
and are not considered standard; see IEEE/ASTM SI 10 for
applies to all types of materials that can be used as the
further details.
accessible route through the play area, under and around
1.6 The following precautionary statement pertains only to
playground equipment.
the test method portions of this specification: This standard
1.2 The material used as the accessible route through the
does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,
play area, under and around playground equipment that meets
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this
thisspecificationmustalsocomplywithSpecificationF1292or
standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environ-
Test Method F3351, or both, if the surface is within the fall
mental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
zone.
limitations prior to use.
1.3 Surface systems in compliance with this specification
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
will not prevent all types of injuries from occurring when the
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
surface is used.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1.4 The SI unit of work is the joule (J), which is defined as
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
the work expended by a force of one newton through a
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
displacement of one meter. The dimensionally equivalent
newton-meter (N*m) shall be used only if it is followed by the
2. Referenced Documents
term “work” so it is not confused to be a torque value. (1 N*m
4
= 0.73756215 pound-force-feet).
2.1 ASTM Standards:
IEEE/ASTM SI 10American National Standard for Use of
theInternationalSystemofUnits(SI):TheModernMetric
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F08 on Sports
Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of System
Subcommittee F08.63 on Playground Surfacing Systems.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2021. Published September 2021. Originally
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as F1951–14. DOI:
4
10.1520/F1951-21. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
2
Applicable to facilities owned, operated or leased by the federal government. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Applicable to facilities owned, operated or leased by units of state or local Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
government and public accommodations. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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F1951−21
E177Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in 3.1.8 loose fill system, n—a
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F1951 − 14 F1951 − 21 An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems Under
1
and Around Playground Equipment
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1951; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The federal accessibility standards require newly constructed and altered public playgrounds by
2
accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. Both the Architectural Barriers Act and the 2010
3
ADA Standards for Accessible Design need for require accessible surfaces, including the accessible
route within the play area to be firm and stable. At this time, there is no standard specification to
measure firmness and stability, which is related to the work for a person with a mobility impairment
to traverse a surface, thus highlighting the need for a systematic and consistent means of evaluating
the capability of surface systems to provide access to playgrounds has been amplified by the passage
of the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act. systems. The goal of this specification is to establish
a uniform means to measure the characteristics of work for a person with mobility impairment to
traverse surface systems in order to provide the potential buyer with performance specifications to
select materials for use and maintain the surface as an accessible surface under and around through
the accessible route and at accessible playground equipment.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification establishes minimum characteristics for those factors that determine accessibility. This specification applies
to all types of materials that can be used as the accessible route through the play area, under and around playground equipment.
1.2 The material used as the accessible route through the play area, under and around playground equipment that meets this
specification must also comply with Specification F1292 or Test Method F3351, or both, if the surface is within the fall zone.
1.3 This specification does not imply that an injury cannot be incurred if the surface system complies with this specification-
.Surface systems in compliance with this specification will not prevent all types of injuries from occurring when the surface is used.
1.4 The SI unit of work is the joule (J), which is defined as the work expended by a force of one newton through a displacement
of one meter. The dimensionally equivalent newton-meter (N*m) shall be used only if it is followed by the term “work” so it is
not confused to be a torque value. (1 N*m = 0.73756215 pound-force-feet).
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee F08.63 on Playground Surfacing Systems.
Current edition approved June 1, 2014Aug. 1, 2021. Published July 2014September 2021. Originally approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 20092014 as
F1951 – 09b.F1951 – 14. DOI: 10.1520/F1951-14.10.1520/F1951-21.
2
Applicable to facilities owned, operated or leased by the federal government.
3
Applicable to facilities owned, operated or leased by units of state or local government and public accommodations.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F1951 − 21
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard. (Seestandard; see IEEE/ASTM SI
10.) for further details.
1.6 The following precautionary statement pertains only to the test method portions, Sections portions 6 and 7, of this
specification: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of Inter
...