Field Performance Testing of Improved Engineered Wood Fiber Surfaces for Accessible Playground Areas

Field Performance Testing of Improved Engineered Wood Fiber Surfaces for Accessible Playground Areas
Author: Theodore Laufenberg
Publisher:
Total Pages: 16
Release: 2003
Genre: Binders (Materials)
ISBN:

Some engineered wood fiber (EWF) surfaces on playgrounds are soft and uneven, which creates difficulties for those who use mobility aids, such as wheelchairs and walkers. The outdoor field testing reported in this study is part of an effort to stabilize EWF to improve accessibility. The concept is to mix a binder with the upper surface of EWF to create a stiff (firm) and scuff-resistant (stable) composite overlayer. Latex, silicone, and polyurethane binders were evaluated on small plots during a 6-month outdoor trial in Wisconsin. Tests were performed at regular intervals to‍?provide a quantitative measure of accessibility. After 6 months of exposure, all the surfaces passed the existing specifications for impact attenuation of playground surfaces. Exposure changed impact performance of all systems except the unsurfaced (without an additive) EWF. The latex and‍?polyurethane stabilizers consistently met accessibility requirements. One polyurethane formulation produced a hard brittle shell that became even harder with exposure and age, which might increase the injury rate for falls on that surface. The silicone system failed to maintain integrity adequately‍?during the rain/dry cycles of the test. Moisture measurements indicate that the bonded surfaces retard drying of the underlying EWF, which may have long-term implications for the rate of decay for these systems.

Improving Engineered Wood Fiber Surfaces for Accessible Playgrounds

Improving Engineered Wood Fiber Surfaces for Accessible Playgrounds
Author: Theodore Laufenberg
Publisher:
Total Pages: 20
Release: 2003
Genre: Binders (Materials)
ISBN:

Some engineered wood fiber surfaces are uneven, tend to shift, and have low density. The goal of our research was to develop a playground surface material that cushions impact and is accessible to people with disabilities. In the initial screening phase, we evaluated a variety of in situ surface treatments and mixtures of wood particles combined with various binders. Engineered wood fiber (EWF) was prepared from three species, red maple, ponderosa pine, and one-seed juniper, which have a wide range of densities and bonding properties. In the scale-up phase, we evaluated commercially available EWF and several promising binding systems from the screening phase trials. Seventeen test configurations were formed in plywood boxes, using different levels of EWF compaction, fiber moisture content, surface layer thickness, and types of binders. Binder systems that show promise for surface stabilization and satisfactory impact behavior are polyurethane, latex, and silicone. These binders were chosen on the basis of processing ease, flexibility (elongation to failure), cost, and safety in application and use. In this report, we identify the strengths and weaknesses of the surface treatments, review the viability of the systems and the testing concepts we have developed, and identify further research needs.

Porous Pavements

Porous Pavements
Author: Bruce Ferguson
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 600
Release: 2005-02-18
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1420038435

Pavements are the most ubiquitous of all man-made structures, and they have an enormous impact on environmental quality. They are responsible for hydrocarbon pollutants, excess runoff, groundwater decline and the resulting local water shortages, temperature increases in the urban "heat island," and for the ability of trees to extend their roots in

Risk Management in Sport and Recreation

Risk Management in Sport and Recreation
Author: John Otto Spengler
Publisher: Human Kinetics
Total Pages: 188
Release: 2006
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780736056199

Risk Management in Sport and Recreation is a comprehensive resource for those charged with the responsibility of providing for the safety of participants and spectators in a sport or recreation setting. It covers a range of safety issues, including lightning, heat illness, aquatics, playground safety, drug testing, and medical emergency action plans. Readers receive clear and detailed explanations of issues to consider before making decisions on risk management. Risk Management in Sport and Recreation is designed to provide a foundation for approaching key issues in safety and risk management. It shows readers how to evaluate and analyze various safety issues and apply the underlying concepts to a variety of situations. The following are unique features of the text: -A safety guidelines finder lists Web sites of accessible standards, guidelines, and recommendations from leading organizations. -Chapter objectives and pullout boxes of key points and key statistics stress the importance of the topic under discussion. -Threshold issues in each chapter highlight important factors to consider when making decisions on risk management. -Real-world applications at the end of each chapter present scenarios involving the potential for harm, and readers must make a decision on how to address the issues. -Examples of public service announcements, posters, and other publicly viewed safety information are presented. -An appendix offers examples of emergency action plans, checklists, and recommendations from organizations such as the National Lightning Safety Institute and university aquatic centers. -A companion Web site provides links to the Web sites used in the book, as well as updates to guidelines and links that may occur after the book is in print. The safety guidelines finder gives students and practitioners a single location from which they can easily access important safety information. Organized under land-based or water-based activities, each activity lists guidelines, recommendations, and standards along with the source for that information. Each entry includes Web sites where readers can find the full documents. The text also features sample guidelines and safety checklists from agencies and associations that demonstrate how organizations might plan for risk and communicate safety information. Readers also consider the types of postings and equipment they will need in order to communicate their risk management plans, and they are given real-life situations in which a risk management plan is needed and are prompted to consider why and how to create a plan for such situations. The resource will help students and professionals plan for and manage risk. Current and future employees of sport facilities, school athletic programs, parks and recreation programs, youth and aquatic centers, or resorts and golf courses will find that Risk Management in Sport and Recreation provides the tools to assist in making the right decisions to manage risk effectively.