When planning a commercial playground, several regulations and guidelines must be followed to ensure the space is safe for children. These regulations are designed to minimize the risk of injury. Also, they provide a safe and enjoyable environment for children.

Knowing which ones you must adhere to will guide the design of your commercial playground. However, you may not need to meet each of the below regulations or guidelines. This blog is meant to be a starting point for your research.

1. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Guidelines: The CPSC provides guidelines for the design, construction, and maintenance of public playgrounds, which must be followed to ensure that the playground meets minimum safety standards. These guidelines cover everything from equipment height requirements to fall zone specifications. It is important you work with a company that understands guidelines.
2. American Society for Testing and Materials International: ASTM is an international voluntary performance requirement standard. Most commercial playground equipment will need to meet these standards. 
3. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance: Certain public playgrounds must be accessible to children with disabilities.  These must be designed in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This includes providing accessible pathways, ramps, and other accessibility features.
4. Local building codes: Building codes and zoning regulations vary from state to state. It is essential to familiarize yourself with these regulations. Be sure to obtain the necessary permits before beginning construction.
5. Surface material requirements: The surface material used for the playground must be soft, durable, and slip-resistant. It must meet certain standards for impact resistance and fall height protection. Common materials used for playground surfaces include rubber mulch, rubber tiles, or poured-in-place rubber.
6. Maintenance requirements: Regular maintenance is crucial to ensure the safety of children using the playground. This may include checking equipment for any damage. You also should replace worn or damaged parts. Regular maintenance of the playground surface will maintain its fall protection.
7. Supervision requirements: It is recommended that children using commercial playgrounds be supervised. The playground should be designed with this in mind. This may include providing areas for adults to supervise the children. Installing fencing or other safety features to prevent children from leaving the playground is a good idea. Rules, recommended ages, and Playground Guidelines should be clearly posted. 
8. Insurance requirements: It is important to obtain liability insurance to protect against any potential injuries or accidents that may occur on the playground. This will help ensure the playground is covered in an accident and the liability is properly managed.

You need to know which regulations your commercial playground needs to follow for insurance and inspection purposes. Spending time researching which codes and regulations you need to meet and which ones you don’t will save a lot of frustration and headaches later on.

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