Australian Standard AS4685 2004 Parts 1-6
All Australian released KOMPAN playground equipment complies with AS4685 2004 Parts 1-6. This is the Australian standard for playground safety.
This standard specifies general safety requirements for playgrounds and playground equipment and is reinforced by established test and approval procedures based on many years of experience.
AS4685 in specific
The safety zone is the minimum space, consisting of the space occupied by the equipment and the falling space which includes the free space occupied by a user undergoing a movement forced by the equipment.
Calculation of the falling space is in accordance with AS4685. As a general rule, the falling space is a minimum of 1500 mm from the perimeter of the raised surface, i.e. at the level of the free height of fall, and becomes greater when the free height of fall exceeds 500 mm.
The minimum space or fallzone around the equipment, which includes the falling space, is indicated for each product by means of a dotted blue line. The protective surfacing material must cover this area completely and should be of a nature coresponding to the actual height of fall.
Generally, falling spaces may overlap. However the falling space of any equipment shall not overlap with the falling space of forced movement equipment. Examples of forced movement falling spaces are around slides, fireman's poles, swings, seesaws and spring rides.
Where the free height of fall is less than 500 mm, the protective surfacing material should have certain impact attenuating qualities, however, testing of the critical fall height is not required. Use of asphalt, concrete etc. is not recommended unless specifically required by the type of play, such as ball games and roller-skating.
It is KOMPAN's understanding that play equipment at ground level such as tables, benches, manipulative devices and playhouses do not require a minimum falling space according to the standard. For these products we recommend a circulation area, which will be indicated by means of a dotted brown line.
