It is important that the IAS sand is fit-for-purpose and that it meets the minimum safety requirements and is maintained to these standards for the life of the playground equipment. These standards are effective in the measurement of the IAS performance but do not provide guidance on the selection of what makes a good IAS sand. There are standards around the world for the measurement of the performance of the IAS. IAS sand is used within children’s playgrounds to reduce the likelihood and consequences of death and serious injuries resulting from falls at height from playground equipment. published a paper on the dynamic behaviour of high performance sand surfaces used in the sports industry. In 2004 Eager and Chapman published a discussion paper on playground IAS. The sand mined at these locations consistently had a tight particle size distribution. The most reliable source for good quality IAS sands on these rivers was on specific bends. These sands were shown to degrade the least and had little to no fines, and their particle shape was rounded to well-rounded. The best IAS sands were sourced from quarries located on rivers that had eroded volcanic outcrops. This accelerated ageing test method is applicable only to sands and not rubber or wood fibre IAS products. IAS degradation properties of fifteen IAS sands were tested including sand particle shape, sand particle distribution, percentage fines and sand particle degradation. This paper proposes an additional IAS test to eliminate sands that degrade above an established threshold rate after installation due to normal usage. These fines and smaller particles tend to bind the sand and lower its impact attenuating performance. When children use the playground, sand degradation can occur when sand produces fines and smaller particles with low sphericity and angular which fill the voids between the sand particles. There is a deficiency with existing IAS test methods in that they do not take account of sand degradation over time.
There are three primary IAS materials used, namely: granulated rubber products, wood fibre products, and sand. To lower the likelihood and severity of injury, impact attenuating surfaces (IAS) are installed within the impact area (fall zone). Falls within children’s playgrounds result in long bone and serious injuries.
0 kommentar(er)
