SCOPE:
Deals with general safety requirements for playground equipment, with additional specific safety requirements for specific pieces of equipment being additionally addressed in subsequent parts.
The standard was drafted with full recognition of the need for supervision of children of 0 to 3 years of age. For playground equipment accessible to this age group additional safety requirements are specified.
STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY:
When assessed by calculation or physical test all structural parts shall resist the worst case loading whether they be permanent or variable loads acting on the equipment.
HANDRAILS, GUARDRAILS AND BARRIERS:
Handrails:
Shall be at a height not less than 600mm and not more than 850mm above the standing surface.
Guardrails:
Only permitted for equipment ‘not easily accessible’ by younger children (less than 36 months) for standing surfaces of less than 2m above the playing surface. They shall be between 650mm and 850mm in height above the standing surface.
Barriers:
For equipment easily accessible to all ages (including those less than 36 months) barriers shall be provided when the standing surface is more than 600mm above the playing surface.
For equipment not easily accessible by younger children barriers shall be provided for standing surfaces greater than 2m above the playing surface. Barriers shall be at least 700mm in height.
They shall have no intermediate horizontal or near horizontal rails or bars that can be used as steps by children attempting to climb.

Minimum Space:
This is defined as the space required for the safe use of the equipment and will consist of the space occupied by the equipment, the Free Space (if any) and the Falling Space.
Free Space:
This is defined as the space in, on or around the equipment that can be occupied by a user undergoing a movement forced by the equipment (e.g.sliding,swinging,rocking).It is specified as a cylinder of diameter 1m for sitting and standing use and 500mm for hanging use.The heights of the cylinder are 1.8m for standing,1.5m for sitting and 300mm plus the body extension below
for hanging.

Falling Space:
This is defined as the space in, on or around the equipment that can be occupied by a user falling from an elevated part of the equipment.The extent of the Falling Space shall be 1.5m from a point directly below the elevated part of the equipment unless a greater Impact Area is required.
Impact Area:
Area required to have an Impact Absorbing Playground Surface, which has been fully tested to the requirements of EN1177.This is required for all free heights of fall above 600mm and is generally specified by the graph below but with specific requirements for specific types of equipment.
Note: For free heights of fall less than 600mm EN1177 recommends that the surface used should have some impact attenuating
properties, but in such situations no test of its critical height is required.
Height of Fall:

The maximum Free Height of Fall permitted is 3m.
Equipment Separation:
The Falling and Free Spaces shall not contain any obstacles. In most cases there may be overlapping of Falling Spaces.There shall be no overlapping of adjacent Free Spaces or an adjacent Free Space and Falling Space.
Main travelling routes at or through the playground shall not intersect the Free Space. (e.g. a pedestrian pathway)
ZONES: