ASTM F2373-08

Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Public Use Play Equipment for Children 6 Months through 23 Months

SCOPE
1.1 This consumer safety performance specification provides safety and performance requirements for various types of public use play equipment such as, but not limited to, composite play structures, climbing structures, to-fro swings, spring rocking equipment, and slides. It is intended to apply to play equipment that is used in places of public assembly, including early care and education facilities, parks, or playgrounds. Public use play areas for children in this age range include both indoor (classroom) settings and outdoor playgrounds. Where appropriate, distinctions will be made between indoor and outdoor settings where there is supervision (for example, a play area that is part of an early care and education facility), and settings with unlimited access (for example, public playgrounds and parks).  
1.2 The range of users encompassed by this consumer safety performance specification is the 5th percentile 6 month old through the 95th percentile 23 month old.
1.3 The purpose of this specification is to reduce the potential for life threatening and debilitating injuries.
1.4 Accessory toys attached to play equipment must meet all relevant standards including this consumer safety performance specification.
1.5 Home playground equipment, amusement park equipment, sports equipment, fitness equipment, soft contained play equipment, tricycles, toys, juvenile care products such as, but not limited to, infant swings, play yards, expansion gates, and expandable enclosures, furniture (including child-sized house play furnishings and sand/water tables intended primarily for indoor use), bassinets and cradles, infant walkers, bouncer seats, jumpers, infant stationary activity centers, and infant carriers are not included in the scope of this specification.
1.6 This consumer safety performance specification includes the following sections:
  TitleSection Scope1 Referenced Documents2  ASTM Standards2.1  ANSI Standards2.2  Federal Standards2.3  CPSC Documents2.4  UL Standard2.5  European Standard2.6 Terminology3 Materials and Manufacture4  General Requirements4.1  Fasteners4.2  Toxic or Hazardous Substances4.3  Stuffing, Loose Fillers, and Padding Materials4.4 General Requirements5  Compliance Documentation5.1  Small Parts5.2  Asphyxiation Hazard5.3 Performance Requirements6  Head and Neck Entrapment6.1  Sharp Points and Sharp Edges6.2  Protrusions6.3  Entanglement Hazards6.4  Crush and Shear Points6.5  Ventilation6.6  Closures6.7  Suspended Hazards6.8 Requirements for Access and Egress 7  Access and Egress Components That Shall
Not Be Used7.1  Adjacent Platforms7.2  Step Ladders, Stairways, Flexible Access
Components, and Access Ramps7.3  Climbing Equipment Used for Access and Egress 7.4  Handrails and Other Means of Hand Support7.5 Requirements for Platforms, Landings, and Other
Designated Play Surfaces8  Platforms and Similar Surfaces8.1  Adjacent Platforms8.2  Protective Barriers8.3 Equipment Specifications9  Equipment That Shall Not Be Used9.1  Climbing Equipment9.2  Slides9.3  Spring Rocking Equipment Intended for Use Without
Adult Assistance9.4  To-Fro Swings9.5 Structural Integrity and Stability10  General Requirements10.1  Structural Integrity Tests for Rungs, Steps, and
Horizontal Supporting Members10.2  Structural Integrity and Stability Tests for
Platforms and Ramps10.3  Test for Dynamic Strength of Barriers and Handrails10.4  Structural Integrity and Stability Tests for Slides 10.5  Structural Integrity Test for Spring Rocking Equipment10.6  Structural Integrity and Stability Tests for Swings10.7 Play Equipment Use Zones, Non-Encroachment Zones,
and Placement11  General Use Zone Requirements11.1  Exemptions from Use Zone Requirements11.2  General Non-Encroachment Zone Requirements11.3  Use Zones for Play Structures Having No Moving
Components11.4  Use Zones for Slides11.5  Use Zones for Spring Rocking Equipment 11.6  Use Zones and Non-Encroachment Zones for To-Fro Swings 11.7  Su...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Jun-2008
• ICS: 97.200.50 - Toys
• Technical Committee: F15 - Consumer Products

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F2373-07 - Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Public Use Play Equipment for Children 6 Months through 23 Months
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2008
• Replaced By: ASTM F2373-11 - Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Public Use Play Equipment for Children 6 Months through 23 Months
• Effective Date: 15-Aug-2011
• Referred By: ASTM F1487-21 - Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2008

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: F2373 – 08
Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for
Public Use Play Equipment for Children 6 Months through
1
23 Months
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2373; 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.
1. Scope
Title Section
Scope 1
1.1 This consumer safety performance specification pro-
Referenced Documents 2
videssafetyandperformancerequirementsforvarioustypesof
ASTM Standards 2.1
ANSI Standards 2.2
public use play equipment such as, but not limited to, compos-
Federal Standards 2.3
ite play structures, climbing structures, to-fro swings, spring
CPSC Documents 2.4
rocking equipment, and slides. It is intended to apply to play
UL Standard 2.5
European Standard 2.6
equipment that is used in places of public assembly, including
Terminology 3
early care and education facilities, parks, or playgrounds.
Materials and Manufacture 4
Publicuseplayareasforchildreninthisagerangeincludeboth General Requirements 4.1
Fasteners 4.2
indoor (classroom) settings and outdoor playgrounds. Where
Toxic or Hazardous Substances 4.3
appropriate, distinctions will be made between indoor and
Stuffing, Loose Fillers, and Padding Materials 4.4
outdoorsettingswherethereissupervision(forexample,aplay General Requirements 5
Compliance Documentation 5.1
area that is part of an early care and education facility), and
Small Parts 5.2
settings with unlimited access (for example, public play-
Asphyxiation Hazard 5.3
grounds and parks). Performance Requirements 6
Head and Neck Entrapment 6.1
1.2 Therangeofusersencompassedbythisconsumersafety
Sharp Points and Sharp Edges 6.2
performance specification is the 5th percentile 6 month old
Protrusions 6.3
through the 95th percentile 23 month old. Entanglement Hazards 6.4
Crush and Shear Points 6.5
1.3 The purpose of this specification is to reduce the
Ventilation 6.6
potential for life threatening and debilitating injuries.
Closures 6.7
1.4 Accessory toys attached to play equipment must meet Suspended Hazards 6.8
Requirements for Access and Egress 7
all relevant standards including this consumer safety perfor-
Access and Egress Components That Shall 7.1
mance specification.
Not Be Used
Adjacent Platforms 7.2
1.5 Home playground equipment, amusement park equip-
Step Ladders, Stairways, Flexible Access 7.3
ment, sports equipment, fitness equipment, soft contained play
Components, and Access Ramps
equipment, tricycles, toys, juvenile care products such as, but
Climbing Equipment Used for Access and Egress 7.4
Handrails and Other Means of Hand Support 7.5
not limited to, infant swings, play yards, expansion gates, and
Requirements for Platforms, Landings, and Other 8
expandable enclosures, furniture (including child-sized house
Designated Play Surfaces
play furnishings and sand/water tables intended primarily for
Platforms and Similar Surfaces 8.1
Adjacent Platforms 8.2
indoor use), bassinets and cradles, infant walkers, bouncer
Protective Barriers 8.3
seats, jumpers, infant stationary activity centers, and infant
Equipment Specifications 9
carriers are not included in the scope of this specification.
Equipment That Shall Not Be Used 9.1
Climbing Equipment 9.2
1.6 This consumer safety performance specification in-
Slides 9.3
cludes the following sections:
Spring Rocking Equipment Intended for Use Without 9.4
Adult Assistance
To-Fro Swings 9.5
Structural Integrity and Stability 10
1
General Requirements 10.1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on
Structural Integrity Tests for Rungs, Steps, and 10.2
ConsumerProductsandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeF15.44onPlay
Horizontal Supporting Members
Equipment for Children Under Two.
Structural Integrity and Stability Tests for 10.3
Current edition approved June 15, 2008. Published July 2008. Originally
Platforms and Ramps
approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as F2373–07. DOI:
Test for Dynamic Strength of Barriers and Handrails 10.4
10.1520/F2373-08.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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F2373 – 08
2. Referenced Documents
Title Section
Structural Integrity and Stability Tests for Slides 10.5
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Structural Integrity Test for Spring Rocking Equipment 10.6
D2240 Test Method for Rubber Property—Durometer
Structural Integrity and Stability Tests for Swings 10.7
Play Equipment Use Zones, Non-Encroachment Zones, 11
Hardness
and Placement
F406 Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Full-Size
General Use Zone Requi
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:F2373–07 Designation: F 2373 – 08
Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for
Public Use Play Equipment for Children 6 Months through
1
23 Months
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2373; 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.
1. Scope
1.1 This consumer safety performance specification provides safety and performance requirements for various types of public
use play equipment such as, but not limited to, composite play structures, climbing structures, to-fro swings, spring rocking
equipment, and slides. It is intended to apply to play equipment that is used in places of public assembly, including early care and
education facilities, parks, or playgrounds. Public use play areas for children in this age range include both indoor (classroom)
settings and outdoor playgrounds. Where appropriate, distinctions will be made between indoor and outdoor settings where there
is supervision (for example, a play area that is part of an early care and education facility), and settings with unlimited access (for
example, public playgrounds and parks).
1.2 Therangeofusersencompassedbythisconsumersafetyperformancespecificationisthe5thpercentile6montholdthrough
the 95th percentile 23 month old.
1.3 The purpose of this specification is to reduce the potential for life threatening and debilitating injuries.
1.4 Accessory toys attached to play equipment must meet all relevant standards including this consumer safety performance
specification.
1.5 Home playground equipment, amusement park equipment, sports equipment, fitness equipment, soft contained play
equipment, tricycles, toys, juvenile care products such as, but not limited to, infant swings, play yards, expansion gates, and
expandableenclosures,furniture(includingchild-sizedhouseplayfurnishingsandsand/watertablesintendedprimarilyforindoor
use), bassinets and cradles, infant walkers, bouncer seats, jumpers, infant stationary activity centers, and infant carriers are not
included in the scope of this specification.
1.6 This consumer safety performance specification includes the following sections:
Title Section
Scope 1
Referenced Documents 2
ASTM Standards 2.1
ANSI Standards 2.2
Federal Standards 2.3
CPSC Documents 2.4
UL Standard 2.5
European Standard 2.6
Terminology 3
Materials and Manufacture 4
General Requirements 4.1
Fasteners 4.2
Toxic or Hazardous Substances 4.3
Stuffing, Loose Fillers, and Padding Materials 4.4
General Requirements 5
Compliance Documentation 5.1
Small Parts 5.2
Asphyxiation Hazard 5.3
Performance Requirements 6
Head and Neck Entrapment 6.1
Sharp Points and Sharp Edges 6.2
Protrusions 6.3
Entanglement Hazards 6.4
Crush and Shear Points 6.5
Ventilation 6.6
Closures 6.7
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F15 on Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.44 on Play Equipment
for Children Under Two.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2007. Published September 2007. Originally approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as F2373–06.
Current edition approved June 15, 2008. Published July 2008. Originally approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as F2373–07.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F2373–08
Title Section
Suspended Hazards 6.8
Requirements for Access and Egress 7
Access and Egress Components That Shall 7.1
Not Be Used
Adjacent Platforms 7.2
Step Ladders, Stairways, Flexible Access 7.3
Components, and Access Ramps
Climbing Equipment Used for Access and Egress 7.4
Handrails and Other Means of Hand Support 7.5
Requirements for Platforms, Landings, and Other 8
Designated Play Surfaces
Platforms and Similar Surfaces 8.1
Adjacent Platforms 8.2
Protective Barriers 8.3
Equipment Specifications 9
Equipment That Shall Not Be Used 9.1
Climbing Equipment 9.2
Slides 9.3
Spring Rocking Equipment Intended for Use Without 9.4
Adult Assistance
To-Fro Swings 9.5
Structural Integrity and Stability 10
General Requirements 10.1
Structural Integrity Tests for Rungs, Steps, and 10.2
Horizontal Supporting Members
Structural Integrity and Stability Tests for 10.3
Platforms and Ramps
Test for Dynamic Strength of Barriers and Handrails 1
...