Most people view fences as a barrier to keep unwanted individuals out, but that?EUR??,,????'???s not the whole story. Fences do perform this function but their usefulness doesn?EUR??,,????'???t stop there. Fences are quite versatile and serve to provide numerous functions. A review of these functions is critical to a safe play environment.

Fences, when orchestrated with barriers such as earth mounds, shrubbery, flowerbeds and seat walls can act to define play areas and provide separation of play by age group as well as developmental abilities. This helps to eliminate inappropriate interaction and play between different age groups, thus reducing the chance of injury.

Another important advantage derived from the proper use of fencing is its screening ability. Screening stops or restricts sun, thereby providing necessary shade. It also protects from glare off water, windshields, windows and other shiny surfaces, and wind or wind-blown dust and debris. Fences, when used as screens, can restrict views, which can enhance the comfort level of a site, and aides in the overall enjoyment of the recreational facility. Fences can also restrict vehicular and pedestrian traffic thus providing a protective barrier when someone is at play. A fence can also, however, restrict supervisory surveillance.

A playground can be an attractive nuisance and a fence helps to define the perimeter of the area where regulations can be set forth and instructional signage can be posted to help prevent misuse and abuse.

The chart illustrates many of the other functions of playground fencing.

The ASTM committee?EUR??,,????'???s task group on playground fencing research uncovered a prototype standard for stopping vehicular intrusion undertaken by the students of codes and standards at the University of Florida during the fall of 1995. Many of the concepts were brought into the current ASTM standard. Other authors, researches and associations such as the Park and Recreation Resource Management section of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and the Recreation Safety Institute have prepared owner guides to playground planning and the latter Consumer Guide to playground safety.

There are varied options for barriers or fencing for playgrounds. Landscaping is the least desirable unless maintenance is exceptionally performed and the plant material exceptionally selected. Earth berms with landscaping provide a better barrier if well designed. Landscape ties, curbs and low walls present other problems. Wrought iron fencing is better, particularly when on the top of a brick curb or wall. Pilasters and other decorative features can be added. Chain link fence is the easiest, least costly and most used treatment. Sharp protrusions of spikes or barbs must not exist at the top or bottom of the fence.

The specification set forth in the ASTM Standards, the American Fence Association articles and workshops and the manual of the Chain Link Fence Institute should be reviewed when specifying playground fencing. The following are guidelines that all playground fencing should comply with.

• The fencing should be stable, durable, maintainable and attractive.
• The fence should not be climbable.
• The fencing shall be installed in footings that will withstand impacts.
• The fencing, if chain link, should have a top rail with the diamond of the weave not protruding above the rail and fabric end selvage or knuckled over with ends filed down so penetration or entanglement cannot occur.
• The fencing, if chain link, should have the fabric on the play side.
• The fencing should have any ties welded closed.
• The fencing should have gates that fit snug to the fence uprights
• The fencing should have a maintenance strip along the bottom of asphalt, concrete or other material and have the bottom no more than one inch to prevent foot entrapment.
• The fencing top rail could have padded sections.
• The fencing can have a colorful vinyl coating, but of a durable, nontoxic and pick proof coating.
• The fencing should have no protruding columns or spear point caps nor have a flat surface that is wider than 2" square.
• The fencing should be permanent, but if equipment, surface and circulation paths are removable, it could be removable as well.
• The local zoning and building codes should also be reviewed in installing play environments.

There are, however, certain elements of some existing codes that should be avoided. These are also common to pools and other attractive facilities and features.

A. Gate latch should be self-locking. In the event of an accident where a child requires assistance when adults are outside of the barrier a delay may occur caused by who has/or where is the key? Also a babysitter or grandparent left in charge of the children may not be familiar with the latch operation. This creates a greater problem. Gate blocking when in use and when entertaining, (when many distractions are present) is also very unsafe. Gates are to be self-closing, self-latching and lockable when some playground types are not in use. This should be imperative.

B. Gate latch on inside of gate 3" below top of the gate. There is presently no latch designed for this application. Such a latch would require a fixed protrusion on the gatepost to receive the latch. The force of the self-closing gate could propel a small child into this protruding fixture causing an eye or head injury. When the barrier is greater than 48" high some adults may encounter trouble in operating the latch in this position. To comply with this requirement some have improperly installed a hardware store type garden gate latch, which is not designed for this purpose. This is a very undependable installation and should be removed.

C. Gate and barrier not to have opening of greater than 1/2" within 18" in any direction of the gate latch. The preloaded self-closing gate will be highly susceptible to the effect of a gust of wind and could propel a small child passing through the gate far into the pool by the combined force. This creates more of a hazard. This should be removed.

D. Chain link mesh size not greater than 1?EUR??,,????'?? square. Consumer Product Safety Commission studies suggest that any size greater could offer a foothold for small children to climb the barrier. This should be imperative.

E. Chain link mesh size reduced to 1.75" or less by installation of vertical or diagonal slats fastened at top and bottom. This is in conflict with some requirements that there be 50% visibility for supervision of the area from outside of the barrier. This should be deleted.

In a nutshell, because playground fencing is so versatile, and thereby subject to well intended and sometimes inappropriate use, the F-14 Committee on Fences of ASTM has accepted the challenge and has evolved a fencing standard. This three-year effort has produced F-2049-00 a Standard Guide for Fences/Barriers for Public, Commercial and Multi-Family Residential Use Outdoor Play Areas.

The playground-fencing standard, long time in review, was approved in 2000. The standard contains elements defining such things as height, perimeters, safe and appropriate spacing between vertical pickets, latch replacement, vehicle intrusion impact strength and many other aspects of fencing. It is applicable to all public, fast food and daycare playgrounds. It is also applicable to school grounds, apartment complex playgrounds and many other publicly accessed locations. Single-family home units have been excluded unless the playground is in some type of common area. Another intended exclusion is for those playgrounds that are located at least 50 feet or more from a road, path, activity area or other hazardous condition.

Our children are precious and every effort should be made to create a safe play environment. Fencing is a necessary component to such a playground.

Safety of Children

• Restricts children to appropriate equipment
• Contains toys, balls and other supplies
• Prevents children interfering with others
• Deters visitors and intruders

Security of Play Environment

• Controls off hour visitors or intruders
  
• Prevents misuse and abuse of equipment

Separates Play

• Eliminates conflict between ages and type of play
• Restricts children to age appropriate skill level
• Avoids collisions of children

Screening of Area

• Reduces sun glare from other objects
• Eliminates headlights
• Deters wind or dust

Stops Intrusions

• Prevents autos or trucks impacts
• Control pedestrians, bikes and carriages
• Directs pedestrian traffic

Enhances Use Protection

• Avoid different age level children from conflict with others
• Restricts nonsupervisory parental or guidance persons
• Protects adjacent pedestrians from inadvertent conflict