Playground Safety – Fall Zone

Author: Mary Robertson
March 3, 2015

The fall zone on your playground refers to how far surfacing materials extend in all directions beyond the play equipment.  For most static equipment, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that the fall zone be at least 6 feet out in all directions from the exterior of the equipment.

For swings, there are several different recommendations. These depend on the type and height of swing, as well as the age of the swing user. To get proper surfacing dimensions for swings, we recommend that you refer to the CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook.

Here at The Adventurous Child, we typically add 6-12 inches to the CPSC fall zone dimension guidelines. This extra area helps maintain the proper fall zone dimensions as wear and tear occurs on the surface. Also, if equipment is not installed exactly in the center of the surfacing, the extra area helps to ensure that you will still have the correct amount of surfacing in all directions.

Find more information on our playground design and installation here.

We strive to create fun and informative content that will help young children learn and grow. However, it's important to keep in mind that all activities should be performed under the supervision of an adult. The Adventurous Child website is intended to serve as a reference and guidance for educational activities, and it is ultimately the responsibility of the parent, guardian, and/or educator to determine the appropriateness of the activity for their child’s age and maturity level. Thank you for your understanding and support!