California playground safety regulations state that operators of preschool playgrounds must adhere to the sections of the federal Handbook for Public Playground Safety that deal with design, installation, inspection and maintenance of playgrounds. All recommendations in the handbook, which is published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, are to be considered mandatory requirements. Also, wherever the handbook states that something is "not recommended," then that is considered prohibited under California safety regulations.
Playground operators are required to have an initial inspection of the site performed by a certified playground inspector before the facility opens. Then, based on the inspection's outcome, the operator has the responsibility of implementing any needed changes in the playground's design, installation, supervision and maintenance so that the facility's in compliance with any and all state and federal requirements.
The design or design of playgrounds has to comply with requirements in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's handbook and standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials, or ASTM. The handbook and ASTM standards set requirements for equipment heights, playground layout, accessibility and use zones for equipment. Playground operators also have to adhere to handbook and ASTM standards in regard to materials of manufacture and construction.
Under California state law, all playground equipment has to be assembled and installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. This has to be done under the direct supervision of someone who the manufacturer has authorized, or the equipment has be be inspected by a certified playground equipment inspector who has to verify in writing that the equipment's in compliance with all rules and regulations.