Guide for playground inspection companies · checked 3 November 2026
How playground inspection companies run audits, surfacing tests and hazard repairs
A playground audit is a component-by-component record: every slide, swing bay and climber checked against the CPSC handbook and ASTM F1487, every finding ranked and photographed, every loose-fill area measured against the 9-inch minimum. This guide covers the numbers inspectors check, the state rules that make the audit mandatory, how impact tests are reported, and the software CPSIs use to keep audits, repairs and re-inspections together.
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Short answer
Playground inspection companies, usually led by Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI), need one record per playground component: age group, fall height, use zone, surfacing depth, findings with photos and a hazard priority, plus the repair and re-inspection that closes each finding. Owners such as parks departments, school districts, HOAs and child care centers often run weekly and quarterly staff checks with an annual CPSI audit on top. Many inspectors use a dedicated audit app (ParkZapp, Park Protector, Playground123) or a general checklist app such as SafetyCulture, with repairs tracked in a spreadsheet. Fieldproxy is one option that builds the audit, hazard priorities, surfacing tests, repair quotes and client reports into one system.
9 inches
Minimum compressed depth of loose-fill surfacing in the CPSC handbook (6 inches for shredded rubber)
source: U.S. CPSC, Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 325)
3.5 to 9 in
Openings between these sizes are a possible head entrapment hazard and must be probe-tested
source: U.S. CPSC, Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 325)
200 g / 1000 HIC
Pass limits for impact attenuation under ASTM F1292 from the specified drop height
source: City of Rancho Palos Verdes, Eastview Park playground impact test report (ASTM F1292-09)
3 years
How long a CPSI certification lasts before recertification
How a job runs
One playground inspection job, from first call to paid
The order the work really happens in, and what has to be written down at each step so nothing is argued about later.
- 1
Take the site in with its equipment and its paperwork
A parks department, school district, HOA, apartment owner or child care center asks for an audit of one or many sites. Record each playground area (San Diego counts a playground as equipment joined by contiguous soft surfacing, not separated by a sidewalk or barrier), the age groups it serves, install dates and manufacturers. Ask for the manufacturer's installation and maintenance instructions and any IPEMA certificates, because the CPSC handbook tells owners to follow the manufacturer's inspection schedule where one exists.
- 2
Check which rule the audit is answering to
In California, Health and Safety Code 115725 requires every public agency and other entity running a playground open to the public to have an initial inspection by a playground safety inspector certified by the National Playground Safety Institute. New Jersey adopts the CPSC handbook as its Playground Safety Subcode, with the design, installation, inspection and maintenance guidelines made mandatory. Texas child care centers answer to 26 TAC 746. Write the governing rule on the job, because it changes what the report must show.
- 3
Inventory every component and its age group
List each slide, swing bay, climber, rotating piece, spring rocker and composite structure, with manufacturer, model, intended age group and the highest designated play surface. CPSC splits users into toddlers (6 months to 2 years), preschool (2 to 5) and school-age (5 to 12). ASTM F1487 covers the 2 to 12 range and ASTM F2373 covers 6 through 23 months, so a toddler area is audited against a different standard.
- 4
Measure use zones and spacing
Measure the use zone around each piece: 6 feet in all directions for stationary equipment, 9 feet between pieces when adjacent platforms are more than 30 inches high, twice the pivot height to the front and rear of a belt swing, and 6 feet plus the chain length around a tire swing. Note anything inside a zone: a bench, a tree root, an exposed footing, a second piece's swing path.
- 5
Measure surfacing depth and, if contracted, impact test it
Take loose-fill depth readings at swing pits, slide exits and every use zone, and compare them with the CPSC Table 2 minimums for the material and fall height. For unitary surfacing, look for holes, flakes and buckling. If the contract includes impact testing, drop the headform from the owner's specified height at each test point and record g-max, HIC and surface temperature for each drop.
- 6
Check the equipment against the hazard list
Work through entrapment probes on openings between 3.5 and 9 inches, protrusions, open S-hooks and C-hooks (no gap over 0.04 inches), crush and shear points on moving parts, sharp edges, missing caps, loose anchoring, rust, rot, cracked plastic and user modifications such as ropes tied to the deck. Photograph each finding with the component tag in frame.
- 7
Survey the accessible route
Where the ADA applies, check the ground-level accessible route: 60 inches wide minimum in most play areas, running slope no steeper than 1:16, cross slope no steeper than 1:48, and a surface that meets ASTM F1951. Loose fill shifts and changes the slopes, so a route that passed at install can fail a year later.
- 8
Rank every finding and make the worst ones safe today
Give each finding a priority. CPSC does not number priorities, so each programme sets its own: San Diego's onsite staff take equipment out of use immediately for a safety hazard and Citywide maintenance repairs within 14 working days; Greater Hume Council in NSW makes safe within 1 day and schedules permanent repair within 3 months. Tape off or remove the component before leaving if the finding is life-threatening.
- 9
Write the report and quote the repairs
Deliver a report per playground: components, findings by priority, photos, measurements, test results and the standard each finding cites, signed and dated by the inspector. CPSC's record-keeping section says whoever does an inspection should sign and date the form, and the records should be kept with the manufacturer's instructions and any injury reports. Quote the repairs and parts separately so the owner can approve them line by line.
- 10
Repair, re-inspect, and put the site on its schedule
After repairs, re-inspect and close each finding with an after photo. Then set the recurring programme: San Diego runs weekly high-frequency staff inspections, quarterly low-frequency inspections and a yearly CPSI evaluation of each playground; RoSPA in the UK treats weekly as the minimum routine check, with an annual inspection by an independent specialist.
What to record
The fields every playground inspection job should capture
Per playground and per component
- Playground area ID, site address, owner, and the rule it answers to (e.g. Cal. HSC 115725, N.J.A.C. 5:23-11, 26 TAC 746)
- Component: type, manufacturer, model, serial or tag, install date, IPEMA certificate on file (yes/no)
- Intended age group: 6 to 23 months (ASTM F2373), 2 to 5, 5 to 12 (ASTM F1487)
- Highest designated play surface and fall height, in inches
- Use zone measured on each side, and any obstruction inside it
- Guardrail or protective barrier present where the platform height requires one
- Manufacturer's maintenance instructions attached
Surfacing and impact test
- Surfacing type: engineered wood fiber (ASTM F2075), wood chips, wood mulch (non-CCA), pea gravel, sand, shredded rubber, poured-in-place, tiles, turf
- Depth readings with location (swing pit, slide exit, center of zone) and the minimum for that material and fall height
- Displacement, compaction, standing water, frozen surface, foreign objects
- Impact test: standard and edition (ASTM F1292 or F3313), owner-specified drop height, test point, surface temperature
- Per drop: g-max and HIC; result averaged from drops 2 and 3; pass/fail against 200 g-max and 1000 HIC
- ADA route: width, running slope, cross slope, surface rated to ASTM F1951
Findings, repairs and sign-off
- Finding: component, hazard type (entrapment, protrusion, entanglement, crush/shear, tripping, surfacing, structural), measured value, standard cited
- Priority (e.g. 1 make safe today, 2 repair in 30 days, 3 schedule) and the date made safe, with a photo of the barricade
- Before and after photos with date and GPS
- Repair: part, manufacturer part number, minor (in-house stock such as S-hooks, chain links, shackles) or major (manufacturer parts or certified vendor)
- Re-inspection date and inspector
- Inspector name, CPSI number and expiry date, signature and date on the report
- Injury or incident reports logged against the component
Rules and standards
The rules that shape the work, with their sources
| Rule | What it means on the job |
|---|---|
| CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 325) | Federal guidelines, not a mandatory rule, covering equipment for children 6 months through 12 years in child care facilities, institutions, multi-family housing, parks, schools and similar sites. CPSC notes some states, local jurisdictions and insurers require compliance with the handbook or the ASTM standards. It cites over 200,000 emergency room treated playground injuries a year and, in its 2001 to 2008 study of 2,691 incidents, falls as 44% of injuries. source: U.S. CPSC, Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 325) |
| ASTM F1487 (equipment, ages 2 to 12) | F1487-25 is the consumer safety performance specification for public playground equipment for the 5th percentile 2-year-old through the 95th percentile 12-year-old. It excludes public use play equipment for children 6 to 24 months. source: ASTM F1487-25, Playground Equipment for Public Use |
| ASTM F2373 (equipment, 6 to 23 months) | F2373 covers public use play equipment for the 5th percentile 6-month-old through the 95th percentile 23-month-old, such as composite structures, climbers, to-fro swings, spring rocking equipment and slides in early care and education facilities, parks and playgrounds. A toddler area in a child care center is audited against it, not F1487. source: ASTM F2373, Public Use Play Equipment for Children 6 Months through 23 Months |
| ASTM F1292 (surfacing impact attenuation) | The specification for impact attenuation of surfacing within the use zone. The 2026 edition is titled as tested in a laboratory, can express results as a critical height or as performance at a specified drop height, and points to an appendix on head injury risk at 1000 HIC. source: ASTM F1292-26, Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials (as tested in a laboratory) |
| IPEMA third-party certification | IPEMA certifies equipment to ASTM F1487-25 (with named sections excluded) and CSA Z614, and surfacing to ASTM F1292-26, F2075-26 for engineered wood fiber and F3012-22 for loose-fill rubber, and says ASTM F3351 was merged into F1292-26 as of September 2026. Only certification participants may use the seals, and IPEMA runs a certified product search an inspector can check. source: IPEMA, Certification programs (equipment and surfacing) |
| California Health and Safety Code 115725 | New public playgrounds and any replacement or modified equipment must conform to ASTM standards and CPSC guidelines, and every operator must have an NPSI-certified playground safety inspector do an initial inspection. 'Entity' includes churches, hotels, camps, hospitals, shopping centers, day care settings and restaurants. No state funding goes to a playground project that will not conform. source: California Health and Safety Code section 115725 |
| California's Title 22 playground regulations were repealed | The Safety Regulations for Playgrounds in Title 22, Chapter 22 (sections 65700 to 65755, including the Certified Playground Safety Inspector section) took effect 1 January 2000 and were repealed by a filing of 22 December 2010. Older contracts and checklists that cite them are out of date; the statute still stands. source: Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, section 65700, Certified Playground Safety Inspector [Repealed] |
| New Jersey Playground Safety Subcode | N.J.A.C. 5:23-11.1 adopts the 2010 edition of the CPSC handbook. Guidelines on design, installation, inspection and maintenance are mandatory; those on supervision and training are advisory only. A playground is any improved area set aside for play of six or more children, excluding athletic fields and courts. source: N.J.A.C. 5:23-11.1, Playground Safety Subcode adopted |
| Texas child care centers (26 TAC 746) | Section 746.4601 bars climbing equipment, swings and inflatables over asphalt or concrete unless covered with unitary surfacing, and requires protective barriers on platforms over 20 inches for pre-kindergarten children and 30 inches for school-age children. Section 746.4609 caps the highest designated play surface at 6 feet (under 5s) and 8 feet (5 and over) for centers licensed before 1 September 2010. source: 26 Tex. Admin. Code 746.4601, minimum safety requirements for active play equipment |
| ADA 2010 Standards for play areas | Ground-level accessible routes inside the play area are 60 inches wide minimum (44 inches in play areas under 1,000 square feet in some cases), with running slope no steeper than 1:16 and cross slope no steeper than 1:48, on a surface meeting ASTM F1951. The Access Board says these surfaces must be inspected and maintained regularly and frequently. source: U.S. Access Board, Guide to the ADA Standards, Chapter 10: Play Areas |
| CPSI certification and the 2026 recertification change | The CPSI course and exam are run with the National Recreation and Park Association. Certification lasts 3 years and expires on the first of the month the prior exam was passed. Anyone expiring on or after 1 July 2026 can recertify by passing the exam or by completing 2.0 CEUs in playground safety during the cycle. source: CPRS, CPSI exam and recertification |
| UK: BS EN 1176-7 inspection tiers | RoSPA says inspections should follow EN 1176 Part 7: a routine check by the operator's staff (weekly as a minimum, recorded), an operational check (quarterly, which a good routine check can replace), and an annual inspection by a specialist not connected with the operator. The Register of Play Inspectors International is the UK body that examines and certifies play inspectors. source: RoSPA Play Safety, Inspection and maintenance of playgrounds |
| UK: Register of Play Inspectors International | RPII describes itself as the official UK body for examining, accrediting and certificating inflatable, indoor and outdoor play inspectors. Its inspections cover annual safety inspections and reports, post-installation inspections, and operational and routine inspections. source: Register of Play Inspectors International, About us |
| Australian council response times | Greater Hume Council in NSW runs routine visual checks during mowing, proactive comprehensive inspections bi-annually, a 1 to 5 wear rating, and response times of 1 day to make safe, 30 days for a medium temporary fix and 3 months for medium or low permanent repairs. source: Greater Hume Council (NSW), Playground Inspection and Maintenance Policy |
| Victoria: 24-hour make-safe aim | Knox City Council aims to inspect and make safe emergency playground maintenance requests within 24 hours, then gives the reporter a schedule for fixing things, safety first. source: Knox City Council (Vic), Report playground damage |
| How the CPSI course runs | The in-person course runs two consecutive days from 8 am to 5 pm with a two-hour exam the following morning. The blended format is 12 hours of recorded modules, a 4-hour live virtual class and a computer-based exam at a PSI test center. source: CPRS, CPSI course formats |
Rules vary by state, council and contract. Checked 3 November 2026; confirm against the source for your area before relying on it.
Numbers
The measurements an inspector checks on every playground
Most of these come straight from the CPSC handbook, with the ADA route numbers from the Access Board guide and the impact limits from a real F1292 field report. The full ASTM standards hold more detail and are the reference in a dispute.
| Check | Number | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Loose-fill minimum depth | 9 inches compressed (6 inches for shredded or recycled rubber) | CPSC handbook, loose-fill surfacing |
| Initial fill for loose fill | Plan for at least 25% compression: 12 inches installed to keep 9 inches | CPSC handbook, loose-fill surfacing |
| Wood chips, 9 inches | Protects to a 10-foot fall height | CPSC Table 2 |
| Pea gravel, 9 inches | Protects to a 5-foot fall height | CPSC Table 2 |
| Loose fill over a hard surface | 3 to 6 inch drainage layer, geotextile, then loose fill, with impact mats under swings and slide exits | CPSC handbook, loose fill over hard surfaces |
| Use zone, stationary equipment | 6 feet in all directions; 9 feet between pieces if adjacent platforms exceed 30 inches | CPSC handbook, equipment use zones |
| Slide exit zone | At least 6 feet in front of the exit for slides 6 feet high or less | CPSC handbook, equipment use zones |
| Belt swing zone | Front and rear: twice the height of the pivot above the surface | CPSC handbook, equipment use zones |
| Tire swing | Zone of 6 feet plus chain length; 30 inches seat to upright; 12 inches seat to surface | CPSC handbook, equipment use zones |
| Head entrapment | Openings greater than 3.5 and less than 9 inches need probe testing | CPSC handbook, entrapment |
| S-hooks and C-hooks | Closed, no gap greater than 0.04 inches | CPSC handbook, hardware |
| Merry-go-round speed | Peripheral speed limited to 13 feet per second | CPSC handbook, equipment use zones |
| Impact attenuation | g-max 200 and HIC 1000 maximum, averaging drops 2 and 3 | ASTM F1292 (Eastview Park report) |
| ADA ground-level route | 60 inches wide; running slope 1:16; cross slope 1:48 | Access Board Chapter 10 |
source: U.S. CPSC, Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 325)source: City of Rancho Palos Verdes, Eastview Park playground impact test report (ASTM F1292-09)source: U.S. Access Board, Guide to the ADA Standards, Chapter 10: Play Areas
Where it breaks
Where spreadsheets and generic software fall over
The audit is a paper or PDF checklist per playground, so a finding on 'the big slide' cannot be matched a year later to the component, the repair or the part that was ordered.
Give every component its own record with a tag ID, and hang findings, photos, repairs and re-inspections off that component so the history follows the slide, not the visit.
Priority 1 findings get written up and then wait for the report to be typed. The tape comes down, the child goes back on the broken climber.
Make a top-priority finding trigger a make-safe step on site (photo of the barricade or removal) and an alert to the owner the same hour, with a timer until the permanent fix.
Surfacing depth is recorded as 'adequate' or 'low' instead of inches, so nobody can show the swing pit has dropped from 12 inches to 6 since spring.
Record depth readings in inches at fixed points per zone and show the minimum for that material and fall height beside each reading, so trends and failures are visible.
Impact test results sit in a separate PDF from the testing contractor, without the owner-specified drop height or temperature, and cannot be compared with last year's drops.
Store each drop (point, height, temperature, g-max, HIC) on the playground record, with the pass/fail rule applied, so the next test shows the change at the same point.
Weekly and quarterly staff checks are done on paper in the park office, so the annual CPSI audit cannot tell which defects were known and ignored.
Put the staff checks on the same system as the audit, on a phone that works offline, so the inspector and the owner's risk manager see every open item from every tier.
Inspector certifications lapse quietly. A report signed by an inspector whose CPSI expired last month is hard to defend in a claim.
Keep each inspector's CPSI number, expiry date and CEU log on file, block assignment of audits after expiry, and warn months ahead.
Checklist
The playground inspection operations checklist
Print it, or hand it to whoever runs the office side.
- Governing rule written on every site (state statute, licensing rule, insurer requirement or contract)
- Every playground area and component inventoried with age group, manufacturer and install date
- Manufacturer maintenance instructions and IPEMA certificates collected per component
- Use zones measured, not estimated, including swing front and rear zones
- Loose-fill depth readings in inches at swing pits, slide exits and each zone
- Minimum-depth marks on equipment posts where loose fill is used
- Probe kit (head, torso, protrusion gauges) checked before each audit
- Each finding photographed with its component tag and the standard it cites
- Priority set on every finding and top-priority items made safe before leaving
- ADA route width, slopes and surface checked where the route is required
- Impact test records with drop height, temperature, g-max and HIC per drop
- Report signed and dated by a CPSI whose certification is current
- Repairs closed with an after photo and a re-inspection
- Recurring programme set per site: routine staff checks, operational checks, annual audit
Software options
What software playground inspection companies actually use
Judge each one on whether it fits the way your jobs run, not on the feature list. Bring a real job to every demo.
ParkZapp
Parks departments, park districts and Head Start facility managers
Park inspection software with CPSC, CSA and ASTM checklists, plus building, sports field and other park inspections, asset management and work orders. Its App Store listing says it was built with CPSI-certified inspectors and that the iPad app is offered free to inspectors as an extension of the web software.
Park Protector (Playground Guardian)
Municipal, neighborhood and school playground operators
A playground inspection and asset management app from Playground Guardian, a company that also runs CPSI inspections and ASTM F1292 and F3313 surface impact testing. A good fit for an owner that wants the inspection service and the app from one firm.
Playground123
Playground owners and inspectors in Australia
A software-as-a-service tool from NT Resurfacing for real-time digital playground inspections and audits against the Australian Standards, with inspection data feeding an asset view.
SafetyCulture
Inspectors and facilities teams who want a general checklist app
A general inspection app with a public template library that includes playground inspection reports. Flexible and quick to start; component histories, impact-test data and repair quoting have to be built around it.
Jobber
Small playground installation and repair contractors
General home service software for quotes, scheduling, invoicing and job photos, priced in tiers by users. Good for the repair and install side; it has no component inventory, hazard priorities or surfacing test fields out of the box.
Fieldproxy
Inspection and repair firms serving parks, school districts, HOAs and child care groups
An AI-native field service platform set up around your own audit form, component records, hazard priorities and repair workflow, with an offline inspector app, a client portal and AI agents. More setup than an off-the-shelf audit app, done by Fieldproxy.
Questions to ask any vendor
- Can each playground component be its own record, so findings, repairs, parts and re-inspections stay attached to that slide or swing bay across years?
- Can I record surfacing depth readings in inches at fixed points and see each one against the CPSC minimum for that material and fall height?
- Where do impact test drops go (drop height, temperature, g-max, HIC per drop), and does the system apply the pass/fail rule?
- Can a top-priority finding force a make-safe photo on site and alert the owner before the report is written?
- Does the inspector app work offline in a park with no signal and keep photo timestamps when it syncs?
- Can the owner's own weekly and quarterly staff checks run in the same system as my annual audit, with each owner seeing only its own sites?
Bring one real playground inspection job. We show it running in Fieldproxy.
Get DemoHow Fieldproxy is set up for this
Playground inspection on Fieldproxy: built around how you already work
A Fieldproxy setup for a playground inspection firm treats each component as an asset with its own age group, fall height, use zone and history, and each audit as a form that cannot close until every component has its measurements, photos and a priority on every finding. Top-priority hazards trigger a make-safe step and an owner alert on site; repairs flow from the finding into a quote, a work order and a re-inspection. Fieldproxy builds it to your audit form and client contracts and does the setup.
Module 1
Clients, sites and the rule each one answers to
A parks department, a school district, an HOA and a child care chain each have different rules, schedules and report formats, sometimes for the same kind of playground.
- Client record: type (parks agency, school district, HOA, multi-family owner, child care, church, hotel), contract, report template, billing terms
- Site and playground area record: address, GPS, area boundary (contiguous soft surfacing), age groups, install date, original owner-specified drop height
- Governing rule per site: e.g. Cal. HSC 115725 initial inspection, N.J.A.C. 5:23-11, 26 TAC 746, insurer requirement, contract only
- Documents attached per site: manufacturer installation and maintenance instructions, IPEMA certificates, prior audits, impact test reports
- Statuses per audit: Requested, Documents in, Scheduled, On site, Findings open, Report sent, Repairs quoted, Repairs approved, Re-inspected, Closed
Module 2
Component inventory
Findings, repairs and parts only make sense attached to the exact slide, swing bay or climber, and the history has to survive staff turnover on both sides.
- Component asset: tag ID, type (slide, single-axis swing, tire swing, climber, rotating, spring rocker, composite structure, upper body), manufacturer, model, serial, install date
- Standard applied: ASTM F2373 (6 to 23 months) or ASTM F1487 (2 to 12), set from the age group
- Fall height and highest designated play surface in inches, guardrail or barrier required (yes/no) and present
- Use zone measured per side and the required minimum from your own table (e.g. 6 feet stationary, 2x pivot height swing front and rear)
- QR tag on each component so the inspector scans it and lands on its history
Module 3
Inspection programmes and recurring schedules
Owners run routine and operational staff checks between annual CPSI audits, and each tier has its own form, frequency and who may do it.
- Programme per site: e.g. high-frequency weekly (owner staff), low-frequency quarterly (supervisor), annual CPSI audit, post-installation, post-repair re-inspection
- UK and AU variants: routine, operational and annual or comprehensive tiers per BS EN 1176-7 or AS 4685
- Recurring jobs generated on each tier's frequency, with a short form for staff checks and the full audit form for CPSIs
- Audit season planning: annual audits for a school district grouped before term starts
- Open findings from staff checks carried into the next CPSI audit automatically
Module 4
Audit form on the inspector's phone
An audit is hundreds of checks across dozens of components, done in a park, often with no signal.
- Sections per component: entrapment (3.5 to 9 inch openings probe-tested), protrusions, S-hook gaps (0.04 inch), crush and shear, sharp edges, hardware, rust, rot, cracks, user modifications
- Measurement fields with units, not free text: depth (in), use zone (ft), opening size (in), platform height (in)
- Photo required for every non-compliant answer, stamped with date and GPS
- Inspector's CPSI number and expiry pulled onto the audit automatically
- Works offline in the mobile app and syncs when back in signal
Module 5
Hazard findings, priorities and make-safe
A finding is only useful if it is ranked, made safe when it has to be, and tracked to a repair before anyone forgets it.
- Finding record: component, hazard type, measured value, standard and section cited, priority (e.g. 1 life-threatening, 2 serious, 3 minor), photo
- Priority 1 blocks audit close until a make-safe photo is attached (taped off, chained, removed) and the owner is alerted
- Response timers per client, e.g. make safe 1 day, temporary fix 30 days, permanent repair 3 months, or 14 working days after parts arrive
- Repair category: minor (in-house stock such as S-hooks, chain links, clevis, shackles) or major (manufacturer parts or certified installer)
- Approval step for the owner to accept, defer or decommission each finding, with the reason kept
Module 6
Surfacing depth and impact testing
Surfacing is where most audits fail, and impact test data is only useful if it can be compared point by point each year.
- Surfacing record per zone: material (EWF to ASTM F2075, wood chips, non-CCA mulch, pea gravel, sand, shredded rubber, poured-in-place, tiles, turf), installed depth, minimum for the fall height
- Depth readings at fixed points (swing pit, slide exit, center of zone) with the date and the gap to minimum
- Impact test sessions: standard and edition (ASTM F1292, F3313), test point map, drop height, surface temperature
- Per drop: g-max and HIC; result = average of drops 2 and 3; auto pass/fail against 200 and 1000
- Top-up task created when any reading falls below the minimum, with cubic yards of fill estimated from the zone area
Module 7
ADA accessibility survey
Accessible routes and surfaces drift as loose fill moves, and owners need to know which components are on the route.
- Route segments: width (in), running slope, cross slope, surface type and ASTM F1951 status
- Components flagged ground-level or elevated, and whether each is on the accessible route
- Changes in level and openings measured against the 1/2 inch limits
- Findings from the survey go into the same priority list as safety findings
Module 8
Repair quotes, parts and re-inspection
The audit is often the start of the revenue: replacement parts, surfacing top-ups and component replacements, each tied to a finding.
- Quote built from findings: one line per finding with part, manufacturer part number, labour and photo
- Owner approves lines individually; approved lines become a work order
- Parts list by manufacturer with lead time; repair clock starts when parts arrive where the contract says so
- Re-inspection job created when the repair is complete; finding closes only with an after photo
- Invoices sync to QuickBooks or Xero
Module 9
Reports and client portal
The owner's risk manager needs a signed report, an open-items list and proof of repairs, often for an insurer or a claim.
- Audit report PDF from your template: components, findings by priority, photos, measurements, impact results, standards cited, inspector signature and date, disclosure statement
- Customer portal per client: every site, open findings with timers, repair quotes to approve, past reports and test results
- Injury and incident log per component, as CPSC's record-keeping section suggests keeping
- Programme dashboard: audits due, overdue findings by priority, sites below surfacing minimum
Module 10
Inspector credentials
A report is only as defensible as the inspector's current certification.
- Inspector record: CPSI number, certification date, expiry (first of the month, 3 years on), CEUs logged toward 2.0
- UK: RPII registration level; AU: qualifications held
- Audit assignment blocked when the inspector's certification has expired
- Kit record per inspector: probe set, tape, slope level, depth gauge, impact test rig calibration date
The AI agents, set up for playground inspection companies
| Agent | When | What it does | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vision agent | The inspector photographs a component's manufacturer label, IPEMA sticker or a defect | Reads the manufacturer, model and certification from the label; on a defect photo, suggests the hazard type (open S-hook, missing cap, exposed footing, displaced fill) | Fills the component's make, model and certification fields, and pre-fills the finding's hazard type for the inspector to confirm |
| Voice agent | The inspector talks while holding a probe or tape: 'swing bay two, belt swing, rear zone 14 feet, pivot at 8 feet' | Turns the note into measurements on the right component and checks them against the required minimum | Use zone, depth and opening fields filled, and a finding drafted where a value fails |
| Watcher agent | A priority 1 finding has no make-safe photo after the time you set (e.g. 2 hours), a depth reading falls below minimum, or an inspector's CPSI expires within 90 days | Checks the finding's priority, the client's response timer and the inspector's certificate dates | An alert to the office and the client contact naming the playground, component and hours open, and a credential warning to the inspector's manager |
| Document intelligence agent | A client sends a prior audit PDF, a manufacturer install document or an RFP listing its parks | Pulls sites, components, install dates and open findings out of the document and matches existing site records | Draft sites and component inventory ready for the first audit, with last year's open findings attached |
| Autopilot | A repair quote has sat unapproved for the number of days you set (e.g. 7) | Drafts a chase naming the priority 1 and 2 findings still open and their photos | A follow-up email for a person to approve before it sends |
| Scheduler agent | The first working day of each month | Lists audits due in the next 60 days, findings past their response timer by client, and sites with surfacing below minimum | A monthly programme report emailed to the operations manager and each client's risk contact |
Straight answers
Playground inspection: FAQ
What software do playground inspection companies use?
Many use a dedicated playground audit app such as ParkZapp, Park Protector from Playground Guardian, or Playground123 in Australia, or a general checklist app such as SafetyCulture, with repairs and quotes in a spreadsheet or a general job app like Jobber. What matters is one record per component with measurements, photos and a priority on every finding, plus the repair and re-inspection that closes it. Fieldproxy is one platform that builds the audit, surfacing tests, repairs and client reports into one system.
How deep does playground mulch or wood chips need to be?
The CPSC handbook says never use less than 9 inches of loose fill, except shredded or recycled rubber where 6 inches is recommended. Its Table 2 shows 9 inches of wood chips protecting to a 10-foot fall height and 9 inches of pea gravel to 5 feet. Loose fill compresses at least 25%, so a site that needs 9 inches should be filled to 12.
How often should a playground be inspected?
There is no single national interval in the US; CPSC says to follow the manufacturer's schedule and inspect more often where use is heavy. San Diego's parks department runs weekly staff inspections, quarterly supervisor inspections and a yearly CPSI evaluation. In the UK, RoSPA treats weekly routine checks as the minimum, with an annual inspection by an independent specialist.
Does a playground need to be inspected by a CPSI?
It depends on where it is. California Health and Safety Code 115725 requires an initial inspection by a playground safety inspector certified by the National Playground Safety Institute for every playground open to the public. Elsewhere it is often an insurer, licensing or contract requirement rather than a statute.
What do g-max and HIC mean in a playground surface test?
They measure how hard a headform hits the surface when dropped from a set height. Under ASTM F1292 a surface fails if g-max exceeds 200 or HIC exceeds 1000, using the average of the second and third drops. In a real Rancho Palos Verdes report, one point averaged 994 HIC from 8 feet 4 inches: a pass, but barely.
What size openings are an entrapment hazard?
The CPSC handbook says openings where the distance between interior opposing surfaces is greater than 3.5 inches and less than 9 inches can trap a child's head and should be tested with the probes in its Appendix B. Openings low enough for a child's feet to touch the ground can still be a strangulation risk.
How big is a swing's use zone?
For a belt swing, CPSC asks for a zone in front and behind of twice the vertical distance from the pivot point to the surface, and 6 feet to the sides. A tire swing needs 6 feet plus the length of the chains in every direction, and its zone should never overlap another piece's.
What ADA rules apply to playground surfaces?
The 2010 ADA Standards require ground-level accessible routes in play areas to be 60 inches wide in most cases, with running slope no steeper than 1:16 and cross slope no steeper than 1:48, on a surface that meets ASTM F1951. The Access Board says these surfaces need regular and frequent inspection because loose fill shifts.
How long does CPSI certification last?
Three years, expiring on the first of the month you passed your previous exam. For certifications expiring on or after 1 July 2026 you can recertify by passing the exam again or by completing 2.0 CEUs in playground safety during the cycle. The in-person course runs two days with a two-hour exam the next day.
How fast should playground hazards be fixed?
Each owner sets its own priorities, since CPSC does not number them. San Diego takes equipment out of use immediately for a safety hazard and repairs within 14 working days of the work request or the parts arriving. Greater Hume Council in NSW makes safe within 1 day and allows 3 months for permanent repairs on low and medium risks.
How does Fieldproxy fit a playground inspection company?
Fieldproxy sets up the component inventory, audit form, hazard priorities, surfacing and impact test records, repair quotes and re-inspections your clients expect, with an offline inspector app and a portal where owners see their sites and approve repairs. AI agents read labels, take dictated measurements, flag unsafe findings that sit open and build monthly programme reports. Pricing is per company by job volume with unlimited users.
Related guides
All sources on this page (23)
- source: U.S. CPSC, Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 325)
- source: City of Rancho Palos Verdes, Eastview Park playground impact test report (ASTM F1292-09)
- source: CPRS, CPSI exam and recertification
- source: ASTM F1487-25, Playground Equipment for Public Use
- source: ASTM F2373, Public Use Play Equipment for Children 6 Months through 23 Months
- source: ASTM F1292-26, Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials (as tested in a laboratory)
- source: IPEMA, Certification programs (equipment and surfacing)
- source: California Health and Safety Code section 115725
- source: Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, section 65700, Certified Playground Safety Inspector [Repealed]
- source: N.J.A.C. 5:23-11.1, Playground Safety Subcode adopted
- source: 26 Tex. Admin. Code 746.4601, minimum safety requirements for active play equipment
- source: U.S. Access Board, Guide to the ADA Standards, Chapter 10: Play Areas
- source: RoSPA Play Safety, Inspection and maintenance of playgrounds
- source: Register of Play Inspectors International, About us
- source: Greater Hume Council (NSW), Playground Inspection and Maintenance Policy
- source: Knox City Council (Vic), Report playground damage
- source: CPRS, CPSI course formats
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