CPSI ADA Accessibility Guidelines 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: For a playground with less than 1,000 square feet of area, what is the ADA minimum for accessible ground-level components?
- At least 1 (Correct answer)
- At least 2
- 25% of total
- 50% of total
Correct answer: At least 1
Smaller play areas under 1,000 square feet need only 1 accessible ground-level play component on an accessible route.
Question 2: What is the minimum turning space diameter required for wheelchair maneuvering on accessible routes within play areas?
- 36 inches
- 48 inches
- 60 inches (Correct answer)
- 72 inches
Correct answer: 60 inches
Turning spaces must provide at least a 60-inch clear diameter circle (or equivalent T-shaped space) for wheelchair maneuvering.
Question 3: When an accessible route passes through a loose-fill surface zone (such as wood chips), what must be provided?
- The loose fill must be completely removed from the entire area
- A firm and stable pathway complying with ASTM F1951 (Correct answer)
- A bridge spanning the entire loose-fill zone
- Loose fill depth reduced to 1 inch
Correct answer: A firm and stable pathway complying with ASTM F1951
Where the accessible route crosses through soft surface areas, a firm, stable pathway meeting ASTM F1951 must be installed to maintain accessibility.
Question 4: ADA requires that at least one of each ______ of ground-level play component be on an accessible route.
- Color
- Size category
- Type of play activity (Correct answer)
- Age-group designation
Correct answer: Type of play activity
At least one of each type of ground-level play component must be on an accessible route to ensure a variety of accessible play experiences.
Question 5: A small playground has only a spring rider and a set of swings. Under ADA, which components must be on an accessible route?
- Only the spring rider
- Only the accessible swing seat
- At least one of each type — the spring rider and at least one swing seat (Correct answer)
- Neither, as small playgrounds are exempt
Correct answer: At least one of each type — the spring rider and at least one swing seat
Since both a spring rider and swings represent different types of ground-level components, at least one of each type must be on an accessible route.
Question 6: What does ASTM F1951 specifically measure when evaluating a playground surface for accessibility?
- Impact attenuation (fall protection rating)
- The work (energy) required to propel a wheelchair across the surface (Correct answer)
- Flammability rating of surface materials
- Chemical composition of rubber or synthetic surfaces
Correct answer: The work (energy) required to propel a wheelchair across the surface
ASTM F1951 measures the energy required to propel a standard test wheelchair across a surface, quantifying its accessibility for wheelchair users.
Question 7: A playground owner proposes using loose sand as the accessible route surface throughout the play area. This would:
- Be acceptable if the sand is raked smooth before opening
- Violate ADA because loose sand is not firm and stable (Correct answer)
- Be acceptable only during dry weather conditions
- Be acceptable if the sand layer is at least 6 inches deep
Correct answer: Violate ADA because loose sand is not firm and stable
Loose sand is neither firm nor stable and fails ASTM F1951 requirements, making it unacceptable as an accessible route surface under ADA.
CPSI ADA Accessibility Guidelines 5
For a playground with less than 1,000 square feet of area, what is the ADA minimum for accessible ground-level components?