ASTM F2461-23

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F2461 − 20a F2461 − 23
Standard Practice for
Manufacture, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of
Aquatic Play Equipment
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2461; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers information for manufacture, construction, operations and maintenance of aquatic play equipment and
provides safety performance standards for various types of public aquatic play components and aquatic play composite structures.
1.2 Inclusions:
1.2.1 Climbable and climb-resistant aquatic play components, composite aquatic play structures, user controls, water sprays,
fountains, and slides that occur on wet decks and wading, swimming or leisure pools. The play components specified herein occur
for use in aquatic play areas.
1.2.2 Play equipment, fall zones, use zones for wet decks, wading pools, swimming pools and leisure pools.
1.2.3 This standard is intended to apply to Aquatic Play Equipment that is located in and around re- circulated and potable water
recreational facilities. Such facilities include but are not limited to amusement parks, theme parks, water parks, family
entertainment centers, municipal swimming pools and municipal parks.
1.2.4 Waterslides 6 ft in height or smaller.
1.3 Exclusions:
1.3.1 Playground equipment that does not have an entry or an exit onto or into a wet deck, wading pool, swimming pool or aquatic
recreation pool.
1.3.2 Home playground or home pool equipment or play equipment as scoped in Consumer Safety Performance Specification
F1148-17-21 and ANSI/NSPI-5.
1.3.3 Waterslides as scoped in Practice F2376-17a.-22.
1.3.4 Flotation devices used on water slides or in swimming pools.
1.3.5 Swimming pools as specified by ANSI/NSPI-1 or ANSI/IAF-9.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F24.70 on Water
Related Amusement Rides and Devices.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2020June 15, 2023. Published November 2020August 2023. Originally approved in 2009. Last previous edition approved in 2020 as
F2461 – 20.F2461 – 20a. DOI: 10.1520/F2461-20A.10.1520/F2461-23.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2461 − 23
1.3.6 Products or facility elements specifically designed to provide access to and from pools for people with disabilities.
1.3.7 Water rides such as log flumes, raft rides, inner tube rides, waterslides or other attractions where the participant sits in a
vehicle or is physically propelled or moved by or with water.
1.3.8 Sports equipment, fitness equipment, and diving equipment.
1.4 Compliance:
1.4.1 Where water is indirectly or directly added or applied to Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17-21 play
equipment, the equipment shall comply with this standard. Where a requirement for compliance to a section of the Consumer
Safety Performance Specification F1487-17-21 standard is required by this standard, the section number is preceded with the
standard’s designation.
1.4.2 Soft contained play structures with aquatic play components shall comply with Safety Performance Specification
F1918-12-21 except as modified by this standard.
1.4.3 Aquatic play components and composite play structures represented, as complying with this safety performance standard
shall meet all applicable requirements specified herein. Anyone representing compliance with this standard shall keep such
essential records as are necessary to document any claim that the requirements within this standard have been met.
1.5 This standard includes the following sections:
Scope Section 1
Referenced Documents Section 2
Terminology Section 3
Manufacturing and Materials Section 4
Design Section 5
Performance Requirements Section 6
Operator Responsibilities Section 7
Manufacturer/Designer Section 8
Responsibilities
Installer Responsibilities Section 9
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard. (The conversion factor from
inch-pound to metric units is 1 in. = 25.4 mm, and 1 lb = 4.4482 N.)
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
F770 Practice for Ownership, Operation, Maintenance, and Inspection of Amusement Rides and Devices
F1148 Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Home Playground Equipment
F1193 Practice for Quality, Manufacture, and Construction of Amusement Rides and Devices
F1292 Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials Within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment
F1487 Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use
F1918 Safety Performance Specification for Soft Contained Play Equipment
F2291 Practice for Design of Amusement Rides and Devices
F2376 Practice for Classification, Design, Manufacture, Construction, and Operation of Water Slide Systems
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
F2461 − 23
F2974 Practice for Auditing Amusement Rides and Devices
2.2 ANSI Standards:
ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
ANSI A10.11 Personal and Debris Nets
ANSI/IAF-9 American National Standard for Aquatic Recreation Facilities
ANSI/NSPI-1 American National Standard for Public Swimming Pools
ANSI/NSPI-5 American National Standard for Residential Inground Swimming Pools
2.3 Other Standards:
NFPA 70 National Electric Code (NEC)
OSHA Subpart D 1910.28 Duty to have fall protection and falling object protection
3. Terminology
3.1 Reserved for future inclusions.
4. Manufacturing and Materials
4.1 Aquatic play components shall comply with Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17-21 Section 4 except as
modified by this standard.
4.2 Durability—Aquatic play components and composite play systems shall be manufactured and constructed only of materials
that have a demonstrated durability in the aquatic playground, swimming pool or similar setting.
4.2.1 Any new materials shall have documented performance and material properties or tested accordingly for durability by the
equipment manufacturer.
4.3 Compatibility—Materials used in the manufacture of aquatic play components shall not create an unsanitary or toxic condition
for users and the aquatic environment in which they are installed.
4.4 Materials:
4.4.1 Metals—Refer to Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17,-21, Sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2.
4.4.2 Plastics—Refer to Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17,-21, Section 4.1.1.
4.4.3 Wood—Refer to Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17,-21, Sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.3.
4.4.4 Concrete—Concrete footings and slabs shall comply with local jurisdiction or equal to the requirements of the International
Building Code.
4.4.5 Foam—Foam materials used in aquatic play components shall be skinned or of a closed cell type. Foam materials that are
subject to ultraviolet (UV) degradation shall be protected against ultraviolet light or include ultraviolet degradation inhibitors.
Foam products shall not leach any chemicals that could affect water chemistry.
4.4.6 Automotive or industrial tires are not permitted in the aquatic play environment.
4.5 Components:
4.5.1 Netting—Netting material for structural purpose, subject to UV degradation, shall be protected from U/V exposure or include
U/V degradation inhibitors.
4.5.2 Fasteners and Cables—Fasteners are required to comply with Practice F2291-17,-22a, Section 16 and also Consumer Safety
Performance Specification F1487-17-21 Section 4.2.1 to Section 4.2.4 inclusive.
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org.
Available from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210, http://www.osha.gov.
F2461 − 23
4.5.2.1 Fasteners in aquatic play components when located on walking, stepping, sitting and sliding surfaces of aquatic play
components and wet decks shall be flush, and without any sharp or abrasive finish.
4.5.2.2 All fasteners used to construct Aquatic Play Equipment shall be maintained and consistent as specified by the
manufacturer.
4.5.2.3 All fasteners, connecting, and covering devices shall be corrosion resistant or be provided with a corrosion-resistant
coating.
4.5.2.4 When installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications, fasteners, connecting, and covering devices shall not
loosen or be removable without the use of tools.
4.5.2.5 Hardware in moving joints shall also be secured against unintentional loosening.
4.5.2.6 Moving suspended elements shall be connected to the fixed support with bearings or bearing surfaces that serve to reduce
friction or wear.
4.5.2.7 Steel cable that is permanently affixed to a hanger assembly performs as a bearing surface. Cable ends shall be inaccessible
or capped to prevent injury from frayed wires. Cables and steel-cored ropes should be protected to prevent fraying, loosening,
unraveling, or excessive shifting of joints.
4.5.3 Electrical Components—Electrical components that require power to operate, should be installed with the materials, voltage
and grounding requirements as required by local governing authorities and NFPA 70.
4.5.4 Coatings shall comply with Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17,-21, Section 4.1.
4.5.5 Replacement Parts for Aquatic Play Equipment shall be:
4.5.5.1 Procured from the original manufacturer of the aquatic play equipment, using the appropriate manufacturer-supplied
identifying nomenclature; or
4.5.5.2 Procured or produced to meet or exceed the manufacturer’s minimum specification.
5. Design
5.1 Load Calculations:
5.1.1 Slide Beds—Refer to Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17,-21, Section 12.4.1.4.
5.1.2 Loading Test Criteria—Refer to Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17,-21, Section 12.2.
5.1.3 Components and Structures Subjected to Vertical Loads—Refer to Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17,-
21, Section 12.4 through Section 12.4.1.1 inclusive.
5.1.4 Structures Containing Two or More Longitudinal Components—Refer to Consumer Safety Performance Specification
F1487-17,-21, Section 12.4.1.2.
5.1.5 Individual Surfaces—Refer to Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17,-21, Section 12.4.1.3.
5.1.6 Components with Designated Occupancy—Refer to Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17,-21, Section
12.4.1.5.
5.1.7 Components Subjected to Lateral Loads—Refer to Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17,-21, Section 12.5
through Section 12.5.2 inclusive.
5.1.8 Alternative Testing for Structural Integrity—Refer to Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17,-21, Section
12.6.
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5.2 Structural Design:
5.2.1 Structural integrity tests shall be conducted by manufacturers as per Practice F2291-18,-22a, Section 8.6 through 8.16
inclusive.
5.2.1.1 In multi-level, composite play structures provide lateral sway brace loads of 24 lb per ft (350 N/m) parallel and 10 lb per
ft (145.9 N/m) perpendicular to the floor or platform level.
5.2.1.2 Wind Load—For structures with elevated platforms where the height of the platform is larger than the width or depth of
the elevated platform, the composite structure shall be designed to withstand 100 mph wind (3 s gust) for non-operational
conditions. The calculation shall take into account roofs, dump buckets, awnings, flags, banners, or any other element that may
affect the wind load calculations.
5.2.1.3 Structural calculations shall consider the combination of loads corresponding to foreseeable severe conditions.
5.2.2 Platforms, Walking or Climbing Surfaces—Structural engineering of composite play structure platforms with 20 % slope or
less shall be based upon a live load as per Practice F2291-18,-22a, Section 8.15 and occupancy of 3 ft per person.
5.2.3 Stairs, Guardrails, and Handrails:
5.2.3.1 Guardrails shall be designed to comply with Practice F2291-18-22a Section 14, with the exception that the maximum
opening size shall reject a torso probe as specified in Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17-21 Fig A1.2 (see
Appendix X2).
5.2.3.2 Stairs and handrails shall be designed to comply with Practice F2291-18-22a Section 14.
5.2.4 Netting Reserved for future.
5.2.5 For the purposes of calculations, the water load on an aquatic play component surfaces other than water slides shall be
designed to the amount of live load on an aquatic play component or other surfaces of the composite play structure. Where used,
Design/Engineers shall consider impact and dynamic loads such as water bucket dumps, and shall be included in the live loading
design of structures, platforms and roofs.
5.2.6 Overhead play elements. Overhead climbing elements shall be designed to withstand a 200-lb (890 N) per lineal foot live
load. Their mounting and connectors shall be designed to accommodate the total live loading of the free spanned element.
5.3 Access and Egress—Aquatic play components shall comply with Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17-21
Section 6 and 7 except as provided herein.
5.3.1 Composite play structures utilizing multiple aquatic play components are permitted in wet decks, wading pools and as a
means of access to a pool when it conforms to the requirements of Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17-21
Sections 9.7 and 9.8 and the requirements of this standard.
5.3.2 Unenclosed level, stair or ramp entries are permitted.
5.3.3 Unless otherwise specified herein, aquatic play components are permitted to be accessed to and from wet decks and from
the perimeter of or from within wading pools, swimming pools or leisure pools.
5.3.4 All means of entry and egress shall be slip resistant.
5.3.5 Access to and from composite play structures and soft contained play systems is permitted from pool decks, wet decks and
from inside the pool.
5.4 Climb Resistance—The following are climb-resistant under this standard:
5.4.1 Aquatic play components that lack a designated play surface or handgrips, or both, within 84 in. of the ground or deck.
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5.4.2 Equipment flush with the play surface. Protrusions from play surfaces shall not exceed VA thickness and shall have rounded,
radiused, or angular edges to prevent hand and foot holds.
5.4.3 Horizontal or angled members 60 in. (1625 mm) or more above the ground or deck surface.
5.4.4 Slanted members with more than 30° slope from horizontal.
5.4.5 Rounded or sloped shield over horizontal pipe flanges or structural connections that limit foot and hand holds.
5.4.6 Controls and operating mechanisms that are purposely designed to discourage or inhibit climbing.
5.5 Component Layout and Use Zones:
5.5.1 The dimensions and configuration of the Aquatic play component use zone shall be dependent upon the type of play
equipment, as specified in Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17-21 Section 9.1 through 9.9 and except as
modified herein.
5.5.2 The use zones of aquatic play components and composite structures that provide access to and from a pool shall comply with
the requirements of Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17.-21.
5.5.3 Use Zones—The designer/manufacturer shall determine a use zone for each play component. Use zones are not to be
determined by the area of incidental water splash, such as that of dumping buckets, but determined by the area intended to be
occupied by persons.
5.5.3.1 Use zones shall provide a 72-in. clearance between objects unless they are functionally linked.
5.5.3.2 Use zones are permitted to overlap with aquatic play use zones.
5.5.3.3 Use zones are not permitted to overlap water slide landing zones.
5.5.3.4 Climb resistant aquatic play components, composite structures, and their entries are not required to provide impact
attenuation materials within their use zones.
5.5.3.5 Structures having aquatic play components shall have use zones per Consumer Safety Performance Specification
F1487-17.-21.
(1) Full enclosure of the user areas shall include areas above guards or guardrails and over the top of user platforms.
(2) Enclosures above barriers shall not permit the passage of Torso Probe and Head Probe above guards or guardrails. Per
Consumer Safety Performance Specification F1487-17,-21, Fig. A1.2 and Fig. A1.3 (see Appendix X2).
(3) Netting used to fully enclose a device shall comply with the requirements of Safety Performance Specification F1918-12,
Section 6.8.
5.5.4 The placement of aquatic play components and composite play structures and their minimum use zone areas that provide
access into or from a pool or wet deck shall be coordinated with other pool facility elements as provided herein.
5.5.4.1 Except for those aquatic play components that provide a direct path into a pool and the run of water slides, aquatic play
component use zone shall not overlap the required clear floor areas on pool decks of facilities or equipment designed to provide
access into the pool. The use zone and composite or soft contained play structures shall not encroach within 48 in. (1220 mm) of
the poolside of the facility or equipment.
5.5.4.2 The use zone of other equipment shall not overlap water slide run-outs, tethered floatable or log roll use zones or upper
body equipment spanning from pool decks over pool water bodies. The use zone overlapping water bodies shall not overlap water
slide, plunge pool use zones, diving area use zones of diving boards, stationary or floating platforms.
5.5.4.3 Floating aquatic play equipment in water bodies that do not provide climbing support for standing or kneeling may have
a use zone extending to within 48 in. (1220 mm) to the pool edge, underwater benches, underwater structures protruding above
the pool floor surface, pool entry/exit structure or accessibility facility or structures. Floating play structures and their supports are
re
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