Consult companies specialized in the supply and installation of wood fibres or synthetic surfaces intended for playground equipment. Unfortunately, few homes have sufficient space to meet this standard. If that is your case, ensure that the protective surface area is large enough to accommodate a child who falls from the piece of equipment. The protective surface should be clear of obstacles such as trees, fences or benches. When the equipment moves, an area near the protective surface should be designated a non-encroachment zone .
Equipment is called moving when it makes a motion of a certain amplitude.
Swings are moving equipment. The non-encroachment zone will enable children to move about without being hit by the moving equipment or the people using it. If your property is not large enough to provide that much space, ensure that there is a minimum amount of space that will enable the child to move around the equipment safely. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate how to measure protective surfaces and non-encroachment zones for swings and slides, the equipment most commonly found in home playspaces. It should be noted that the non-encroachment zone around moving equipment can be a lawn area, because it is not intended to cushion the impact of a fall to the ground .