Fall-Height Documentation
Equipment Fall-Height Documentation & Surface-System Review
We document applicable equipment fall heights and review available surface-system records — we do not calculate critical fall height or perform impact testing.
Equipment Fall-Height Documentation & Surface-System Review
There are two separate concepts that are often confused. Equipment fall height is based on the equipment — the distance from the highest designated play surface to the protective surfacing beneath it. Critical height (often called “critical fall height”) is a performance rating of the surfacing system determined through ASTM F1292 laboratory testing.
CPSC’s 2025 handbook says the surfacing’s critical-height rating should be at least as great as the fall height of the highest applicable piece of equipment, and that installed surfacing should be tested to ASTM F3313 to confirm field performance.
- Document applicable equipment fall heights
- Identify the surfacing system where possible
- Review available manufacturer critical-height / impact-rating records
- Flag missing documentation that should be collected
- Flag conditions that may warrant qualified impact testing
- Record everything in the Playground Surface Passport
How SynTurf Care Approaches This
A documented, surface-aware process — not a one-size-fits-all cleaning routine.
01
Equipment review
Document applicable equipment and the fall heights associated with the highest designated play surfaces.
02
Surface-system review
Identify the surfacing system where possible and review available manufacturer critical-height / impact-rating records.
03
Gap flagging
Flag missing documentation or conditions that may warrant qualified impact testing.
04
Record and coordinate
File the review in the Surface Passport and coordinate qualified testing when required.
What This Service Is Designed to Deliver
Every playground service is built around credible, defensible outcomes — maintenance and documentation first, with qualified inspection and impact-testing coordination kept as separate scopes.
- We document equipment fall heights — we do not calculate critical fall height.
- We do not perform ASTM F1292 or F3313 testing in-house.
- We do not certify that a surface meets any fall-height rating.
- ASTM F3313-26 explicitly does not establish the critical height of an installed system.
Equipment Fall-Height Documentation & Surface-System Review — Questions
Credible answers about this playground surface service, the maintenance/documentation scope, and what stays a separate qualified scope.
No. Equipment fall height is based on the equipment — the distance from the highest designated play surface to the protective surfacing. Critical height is a performance rating of the surfacing system determined through ASTM F1292 laboratory testing. They are separate concepts.
Related Playground Surface Services
The complete playground surface care program — six core programs plus documentation, regional and response support.
Ready to Put Equipment Fall-Height Documentation & Surface-System Review to Work?
Request a site assessment for your daycare, school, HOA or public facility. We will establish the surface system, condition and records baseline.