CPSI Audit, Inspection, and Maintenance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the term 'use zone' refer to in the context of playground inspection?
- The age-designated area for specific equipment
- The area beneath and around equipment where a child may fall (Correct answer)
- The fenced perimeter of the entire playground
- The zone reserved for supervising adults
Correct answer: The area beneath and around equipment where a child may fall
The use zone is the surface area beneath and around playground equipment that must have adequate protective surfacing to cushion falls.
Question 2: A CPSI is auditing a tire swing. Which entrapment check is unique to tire swings compared to belt swings?
- Checking for protrusions on the swing seat
- Verifying the drainage hole in the tire bottom (Correct answer)
- Testing the S-hook opening dimension
- Measuring chain link opening size
Correct answer: Verifying the drainage hole in the tire bottom
Tire swings must have a drainage hole at the bottom to prevent water accumulation, which can breed mosquitoes and create a drowning hazard for small children.
Question 3: When inspecting a guardrail on equipment designed for 5–12 year olds, what is the minimum height a guardrail must be above the platform?
- 28 inches
- 38 inches (Correct answer)
- 42 inches
- 48 inches
Correct answer: 38 inches
For equipment intended for 5–12 year olds, ASTM F1487 requires guardrails to be at least 38 inches above the platform surface.
Question 4: A school district asks a CPSI to differentiate between routine maintenance and capital replacement. Which scenario represents capital replacement?
- Repainting faded deck boards
- Replacing a broken swing seat
- Removing all equipment and installing a new structure (Correct answer)
- Tightening loose hardware monthly
Correct answer: Removing all equipment and installing a new structure
Capital replacement involves a major investment to remove aging or non-compliant equipment and install new equipment, versus routine maintenance which keeps existing equipment operational.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of a proactive maintenance strategy on a playground?
- Repairing a broken step after a child reports it
- Replacing hardware on a scheduled cycle before failure occurs (Correct answer)
- Closing equipment only when visible damage is reported
- Waiting for annual inspection to identify worn parts
Correct answer: Replacing hardware on a scheduled cycle before failure occurs
Proactive (preventive) maintenance involves scheduled replacement or servicing before parts fail, reducing injury risk and reactive repair costs.
Question 6: During an inspection, a CPSI finds wood chips compacted to 6 inches depth under a structure with an 8-foot critical fall height. What action is required?
- No action; 6 inches exceeds the minimum for that fall height
- Add material to restore adequate depth for an 8-foot fall height (Correct answer)
- Replace wood chips with engineered wood fiber immediately
- Reduce the platform height to match the existing surfacing depth
Correct answer: Add material to restore adequate depth for an 8-foot fall height
An 8-foot critical fall height requires more than 6 inches of wood chips; material must be added to meet the depth required by ASTM F1292 impact attenuation standards.
Question 7: An inspector notices a bolt on a deck has a nut that can be turned by hand. What type of hazard does this represent?
- Entrapment hazard
- Structural/mechanical hazard (Correct answer)
- Protrusion hazard
- Entanglement hazard
Correct answer: Structural/mechanical hazard
A loose fastener undermines structural integrity and is classified as a mechanical hazard requiring immediate tightening and follow-up inspection.
CPSI Audit, Inspection, and Maintenance 3
What does the term 'use zone' refer to in the context of playground inspection?