Exercise equipment to be designed and manufactured in accordance with AS 16630:2021 Permanently installed outdoor fitness equipment - Safety requirements and test methods
Exercise equipment over 3.0 m in height requires building approval
Installation to be carried out in accordance with manufacturers instructions for assembly, erection and siting of material in accordance with AS 16630:2021.
Concrete work (footings etc.) associated with the installation of exercise equipment and shade structure to engineer’s specification. Footing detail to AS 16630:2021
Fixtures inside the exercise area footprint to comply with AS 16630:2021.
A thread locker to be used (to prevent fixings from becoming loose through vibration and movement).
Coastal areas - All coastal locations (east of the Bruce Highway), must be constructed of coastal hardy materials and fixings such as:
316 stainless steel
Aluminium
HDPE (high-density polyethylene)/Poly panels
Timber (appropriate species, mounted on marine grade 316 stainless steel stirrups – with approval from Council (Parks and Gardens).
It is preferred that timber products are to be treated with alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ), a water based wood preservative. CCA is not to be used.
Hinterland areas - materials, finishes and fixings shall be specified as stated above, but 316 stainless steel elements are optional.
All equipment pieces must have markings as per AS 16330:2021:
Compliance ID plate should be installed on the equipment so it isn’t a hazard for users, and still in range for viewing for maintenance purposes.
Basic level mark must be installed where loose fill material is used. It shall be marked clearly and durably.
Ensure items of exercise equipment are placed to consider the safe movement of usage of all equipment.
Exercise equipment ground surface material must be designed, manufactured and installed in accordance with AS 16630:2021 Permanently installed outdoor fitness equipment - Safety requirements and test methods.
the area of movement for exercise equipment with a free height of fall of more than 1.0 m and/or equipment which causes forced movement of the user, shall be equipped with an impact damping ground surface.
the critical fall height of ground material shall be determined by performance testing in accordance with AS 4422:2016 Playground surfacing – Specifications, requirements and test method (See Appendix ZZ - variations for Australia).
Where impact dampening ground surface is required for compliance as per AS 16630:2021, it must meet the impact attenuation requirements of AS 4422:2016. Loose bark surfacing, and sand surfacing as per compliance depth. In accordance with AS 4422:2016 an additional 20% is to be installed in impact risk fall zones.
Council specifies a minimum 400 mm depth of loose fill surfacing material to allow for compaction and depletion.
Surfacing is to be:
free from sharp edged parts or hazardous projections e.g. splinters or sticks
free of toxic substances, e.g. chemically treated wood chips
a Grade quality as per Test Certificate.
Takura manufactured wood (or equivalent) safety surfacing is NOT to be used.
Note: Geofabric must NOT be installed between the natural ground level and surfacing.
Unitary surfacing may be specified under exercise equipment where a firm footing is required by the user, where displacement of loose fill surfacing is likely or when the equipment has moving parts.
Where impact dampening ground surface is required for compliance as per AS 16630:2021, it must meet the impact attenuation requirements of AS 4422:2016.
Rubber surfacing is to be installed on a cement treated base (CTB) or concrete slab - refer drawings.
Unitary surfacing must be installed with a concrete edge.
Extend the edges of the unitary (rubber) surface a minimum 100 mm below natural ground level and backfill. Secure as per manufacturers recommendations.
The design of the rubber under surfacing must consider the following, but not exclusively:
Sub-base
Materials
Slip resistance
Fire resistance
Impact absorbency
Critical fall height analysis (fall heights to be identified by the exercise equipment manufacturer)
Fall zones
Colour
Permanency of colour
Wearability/maintenance in use.
Surfacing manufacturer to liaise with exercise equipment manufacturer to obtain accurate information regarding items listed above that will affect design and installation of unitary surfacing and sub-base.
Other material choices (such as concrete) may be specified under exercise equipment, where impact attenuation compliance is not required as per AS 16630:2021. These surfacing choices may be specified when a firm footing is required by the user, where displacement of loose fill surfacing is likely, or when the equipment has moving parts. These material choices must be approved and in line with LIM Exercise equipment – Table 2: Ground surface materials for exercise equipment areas.
Do not select plants which have sharp thorns. Do not select poisonous plants.
Do not select plants that will inhibit clear sightlines to and from exercise equipment when mature. Refer to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Guidelines. Ensure low profile planting to maximise safety and increase sight lines (planting to be generally below 500 mm and trees to be lift pruned).
Ensure that tree roots do not compromise the surfacing or create trip hazards in the fall zone.
Install shade trees to the north and west to protect exercise equipment at the hottest part of the day.
Provision should be made in each exercise equipment area/node for areas of sun protection and shade.
Care should be taken with respect to site equipment so that it is correctly positioned with respect to sun exposure. Uncovered platforms and some under-surfacing materials can become uncomfortably hot if exposed to too much direct sunlight.
Provide site specific shade modelling (shade diagram). Refer LIM Shade sails for shade requirements.
Install an Activity Entry Sign adjacent to the exercise equipment area for compliance as per AS 16630:2021 – Permanently installed outdoor fitness equipment - safety requirements and test method. See LIM Signage suite.
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Sunshine Coast Open Space Landscape Infrastructure Manual (LIM) DISCLAIMER
Disclaimer
Information contained in this document may change without notice and you should use the current material available from Council’s website and not rely on material previously printed or stored by you.
All figures and diagrams are intended to be used as an aid to design and include Council’s preferred elements but they are not intended to be prescriptive and may need to be varied as dictated by site specific factors. While Council has exercised reasonable care in preparing this document, it does not warrant or represent that it is accurate or complete. The Council will not accept responsibility for any loss, damage, cost or expense that you may incur as a result of the use of or reliance upon any material contained in this document.
This document is produced to convey general information and is not intended to constitute advice whether professional or legal. Any reference to legislation in this document is not an interpretation of the law. It is to be used as a guide only. Consult relevant authority websites for current documents, revisions and amendments.
Where a particular product or supplier is profiled in this document, Council is NOT nominating this product or supplier as the selected choice. Product/supplier information has been provided to allow users to source products which contain the correct elements required for Council embellishments. Each product profiled states ‘or equivalent’ which means that different products may be supplied provided they satisfy the identified performance criteria, recommended standards, equal access guidance and product specifications.
Product design, manufacture and installation requires appropriately qualified people to provide site specific solutions to ensure the embellishment is appropriately adapted to local conditions and data.
This document does not override requirements stipulated in a development approval. Project specific variations may be appropriate as a result of site, environmental or other constraints. Any variations to these standards must be approved in writing by council prior to commencement of variation works. Components of this document may be used within a contract document but users should undertake their own investigations to confirm the information is suitable for this purpose.
Drawings contained in this document are NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.
Details in this document are deemed to be the minimum standard and the user may wish to apply a higher standard subject to approval by council.
Acknowledgements
Council wishes to thank all contributors and stakeholders involved in the development of this document.
Copyright
Sunshine Coast Regional Council (Council) supports and encourages the distribution of its material however, copyright protects this document. Council has no objection to this material being reproduced but only if council is recognised as the owner of the copyright and this material remains unaltered.
