The CSA Z614-20 Children’s Playground Equipment and Surfacing standard is often misunderstood as a checklist limited to purchasing “CSA-approved” playground equipment. In practice, the standard is far more nuanced, and that distinction recently became critical following a non-compliance incident at a school playground.
Under Section 7 (Materials) and Section 9 (Structural Integrity) of CSA Z614-20, playground equipment and components are not required to carry a “CSA Approved” stamp to be compliant. Instead, the standard allows flexibility provided materials, connectors, ropes, and components meet the prescribed clauses and successfully perform under the required structural and durability testing. In theory, commonly available materials, such as those found at hardware stores, can comply when they are properly designed, installed, and assessed.
Budget constraints faced by schools, childcare centres, and non-profits often lead to improvised solutions. In the field, inspectors routinely encounter temporary “band-aid” repairs using off-the-shelf components or the installation of residential backyard play structures to replace damaged equipment. While these responses are understandable, they frequently fall short of CSA requirements, most notably when structures are not anchored, lack documented installation instructions, or have never undergone structural integrity testing.
In a similar case at another school we inspected, a backyard play structure was installed without ground anchoring and without any hazard assessment. Despite good intentions, the equipment failed to meet CSA Z614-20 requirements and posed an increased risk to users.
To ensure compliance, asking yourself the following questions can help limit unforeseen risk:
Is the playground equipment manufactured and constructed with material that has demonstrated durability in a playground or similar outdoor setting?
Did the designer or manufacturer provide detailed instructions for the installation of each playstructure and its components?
Was there a structural integrity test conducted on the equipment?
If this is not “normal equipment”, has a Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment been completed?
Ultimately, it is important to recognize that CSA Z614-20 is not legislation. It is a nationally recognized safety standard intended to reduce risk, guide due diligence, and support informed decision-making in the design, installation, and maintenance of playgrounds. So it is with the best intentions that owners and operators align with the standard to reduce risk and ensure safe play areas.
Have questions about playground compliance or equipment selection? Contact us to start the conversation. We support playground owners through planning, implementation, HIRA, and annual inspections to help ensure CSA Z614-20 alignment and safer play environments.
