Recommendations for No-Encroachment Zone

No specific dimensions can be recommended for the no encroachment zone around individual pieces of playground equipment. These dimensions will vary according to the types of adjacent pieces of equipment and their orientation with respect to one another.

For example, the recommended fall zone at the side of both a slide and a swing is 6 feet. Since fall zones should not overlap (with the exception of certain adjacent spring rockers), a slide could be placed with its side no closer than 12 feet to the side of a swing. Therefore, there may be no need to add an additional no-encroachment zone. Conversely, it would not be desirable to have a slide exit facing the front or rear of single axis swing.

No-encroachment zones extending beyond the fall zones are recommended for moving equipment or equipment from which the child is in motion as he or she exits. This allows more space for children to regain their balance upon exiting the equipment and also provides added protection against other children running into a moving part.

For a single axis swing, it is recommended that there be a barrier beyond the fall zone in front of the swing if it is located in a playground facing other pieces of equipment.

Information Source: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/327.html/. Visit the CPSC site at this link for more information.

This article is a excerpt from the “Handbook for Public Playground Safety”, Pub. No. 325 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207.

Toxicity

Rubber mulch is considered non-toxic. MSDS Sheets for key components available upon request. Based on Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) conducted on scrap tire chips (method 1311 of USEPA), the following trace metal elements were determined to be significantly lower than regulatory threshold limits: Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Lb), Selenium (Sc), and Silver (Ag). Source: Criteria of Selecting Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) and Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP) Tests to Characterize Special Wastes, Dr. Chih-Shin Shieh, Florida Institute of Technology, June 30, 2001 .Oral ingestion is deemed to be low in overall hazard because ingestion of tire crumb on the ground is not likely, and the gastrointestinal tract is unlikely to be efficient in extracting toxic chemicals from tire crumb. Tire crumb does not contain chemicals with high vapor pressures; thus, exposure via inhalation is deemed inconsequential and the resulting hazard negligible. Dermal exposure is deemed to be unlikely and therefore to present low overall hazard. A carrier solvent more efficient than water would be needed to extract toxic chemicals from tire crumb in quantity, and a suitable non-polar vehicle would be required to penetrate protective skin layers for significant absorption. This was deemed implausible in a playground situation. Cancer hazard as measured by relevant in vitro predictive assays, was deemed negative. Ingestion of small amounts of tire crumb by small children will not result in an unacceptable hazard of contracting cancer. Source: Toxicological Evaluation for the Hazard Assessment of Tire Crumb for Use in Public Playgrounds, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 2003.In 1994 the Maryland Environmental Services (MES) sent 3/4 inch pieces of tire chips to a testing laboratory to be tested with hydrochloric acid (stomach acid). “Visual examination of insoluble residue appeared to indicate only fibrous reinforcing strands were dissolved by the hydrochloric acid. The tire rubber did not appear to be affected in any way; i.e. chalking, cracking, spauling, fracturing, etc.” (PSI report No. 486-40013-001). Therefore, if a piece of rubber is swallowed, it should not cause any acute or chronic problems. Short-term issues, such as an upset stomach will be a function of the amount of rubber swallowed. As to the fate of the rubber chips swallowed, they are eventually evacuated from the body, just like any other non-digestible material. Source: Rubber Manufacturers Association, www.rma.org/scrap_tires/scrap_tire_markets/playgrounduse.cfm.

D. Leaching: A number of studies have been done to determine the potential for leaching from recycled scrap tires and recycled tire products. Increased levels of zinc and iron were found in soil tilled with raw crumb rubber particles (1/4” and less) when tested annually for 4 years. The amounts detected were below levels of concern and posed no hazards to water quality. Additionally no toxicity to turf grass was observed in these studies. Source: Top Dressing with Crumb Rubber on Athletic Fields, Dr. J.N. Rogers, III and J.T. Vanini, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University , 1994.Zinc that had leached from scrap tires was determined not to pose any potential harm to the environment. Source: Identification of Tire Leachate Toxicants and A Risk Assessment of Water Quality Effects Using Tire Reefs in Canals, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 578-581, Environmental Canada, 1994.Some volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds were identified in scrap tire leachates using the TCLP test. Reported levels are far below regulatory limits:

Source: A Report on the Use of Shredded Scrap Tires in On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems, Department of Environmental Conservation, State of Vermont, Brattleboro, VT, Envirologic, Inc. 1990.Chemicals leaching from relative fresh tire crumb may present a moderate toxic threat to aquatic species if the runoff is not diluted. However, this toxic activity is quickly degraded by natural processes, presumably by conversion of the chemicals responsible to nontoxic products. Conditions likely to produce runoff, such as rain and snowmelt, are also likely to dilute the runoff in receiving sewers, bodies of water, and groundwater by considerable volumes. Given that undiluted runoff is not likely and that 3 months is an outside estimate of the duration of toxicity, it is doubtful that tire crumb would present a significant risk of contamination in receiving surface waters or groundwater.

Source: Toxicological Evaluation for the Hazard Assessment of Tire Crumb for Use in Public Playgrounds, Journal of the Air & Waste ManagementAssociation, 2003.

E. Flammability: Scrap tire material is considered non-flammable based on test results from 1995 in accordance with the Federal Hazardous Substance Act (16 CFR 1500.44). A material is considered flammable if it ignites and burns with a self sustaining flame greater than 0.1 inches per second along its major axis.

F. Colorfastness: Colorfastness of product has been tested under extreme circumstances and is considered by manufacturer to be fade resistant.

G. Safety Ratings: Rubber Bark complies with ASTM F1292-99 as was tested by Northwest Laboratories of Seattle, Incorporated – May 26, 2004

With proper installation and maintenance, Rubber mulch will reduce fall injuries in playgrounds. However, PRM Enterprises, LLC and any of its affiliates or subsidiaries make no warranty of the safety and colorfastness of this product.

Equestrian Footing Visit: www.equi-tread.com.
Wholesaler’s Visit: www.genrubber.com.
Ballistic Rubber Visit: www.ballisticrubber.net.

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