Playground Advisory

2 requirements over a larger area, there is no requirement to make this extension. The American with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act have been in place for more than 20 years and the play- ground rule has been in place for more than 10 years. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act was passed in 2005 and the playground portion will be largely based on the CSA Z614-07, Annex H, which in turn is heavily influenced in its performance requirements by the July 23, 2004 ADAAG. These are all legal requirements and in the United States this is a complaint driven system with investigation and enforce- ment by the US Justice Department, while in Ontario the in- spection and enforcement will be generally with the Ministry of Community and Social Services and some other agencies where applicable. Irrespective of the jurisdiction, there must be an accessible route in each playground that connects both elevated and ground level play components. Although there are limited exceptions to the width, an accessible route is typically a 3 dimensional space with a width of 60” (1524mm), vertical clearance of 80” (2032mm), a cross-slope that does not ex- ceed 2% and a running slope for elevated components that does not exceed 8%, while for ground level components does not exceed 6.25%. All 60” x 60” (1524mm x 1524mm) turning or resting areas must have a slope in all directions that does not exceed 2%. As an example all play structures with more than 8 elevated play components will have accessible play components, such as a slide, that will require travel from the elevated accessible route to a ground level accessible route. There will have to be an accessible route to this slide entrance and ultimately return- ing at ground level from the slide exit to the structure en- trance. This same play structure will also require a minimum of 3 non-redundant ground level play components that must be on an accessible route. Generally one of the ground level com- ponents will be a swing and an accessible route must be pro- vided for both the user of the swing and their potential care- giver. Depending upon the playspace surface system selected, such as poured-in-place or mats, it may be difficult to visualize the accessible route. Changes in vertical level also have requirements for the acces- sible route. For the ADA the change in vertical height must be less than ½” with the first ¼” allowed to be vertical and the second ¼” must have a slope of less than 2:1. For CSA Z614-07 Annex H the change of vertical height may be a maximum of 1” (25.4mm) with the lower vertical portion being ½” (12.7mm) and the second ½” (12.7mm) and must have a slope of less than 2:1. Additionally when the 60” (1524mm) straightedge is placed on the surface and across the accessible route there shall be no gap under the straightedge for the ADA greater than ½” (12.7mm), while for the AODA the measurement is 1” (25.4mm). This will be a particular problem at the junction with hard surfaces such as sidewalks, curbs and ramps. Since a mobility device could become trapped in an opening in the surface, nowhere along the accessible route shall there be a gap greater than ½” (12.7mm). This is a particular problem for many synthetic surfacing systems that might shrink at the edges or at seams.