Public Playground Safety Handbook

Height (H) of platform above exit Horizontal distance (D) of exit from beginning of slide chute Platform Figure 20. Slide Slope 35 Handbook for Public Playground Safety 5.3. . Chute exit region All slides should have an exit region to help children maintain their balance and facilitate a smooth transition from sitting to standing when exiting. The chute exit region should: • Be between 0 and -4° as measured from a plane parallel to the ground. • Have edges that are rounded or curved to prevent lacerations or other injuries that could result from impact with a sharp or straight edge. • For toddlers the chute exit region should: – Be between 7 and 10 inches long if any portion of the chute exceeds a 24° slope. – Be no more than 6 inches above the protective surfacing. – Have a transition from the sliding portion to the exit region with a radius of curvature of at least 18 inches. • For preschool- and school-age the chute exit region should: – Be at least 11 inches long. – Be no more than 11 inches above the protective surfacing if the slide is no greater than 4 feet high. – Be at least 7 inches but not more than 15 inches above the protective surfacing if the slide is over 4 feet high. • For toddlers: – The average incline of a slide chute should be no more than 24° (that is, the height to horizontal length ratio shown in Figure 20 does not exceed 0.445). – No section of the slide chute should have a slope greater than 30°. – The slide chute should be between 8 and 12 inches wide. • For preschool- and school-age children: – The average incline of a slide chute should be no more than 30° (that is, the height to horizontal length ratio shown in Figure 20 does not exceed 0.577). – No section of the slide chute should have a slope greater than 50°. 5.3.6.3.5 Tube slides • Tube slides should meet all the applicable recommendations for other slides (e.g., side height, slope, use zone at exit, etc.). • Means, such as barriers or textured surfaces, should be provided to prevent sliding or climbing on the top (outside) of the tube. • The minimum internal diameter of the tube should be no less than 23 inches. • Supervisors should be aware of children using tube slides since the children are not always visible.

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