CPSI EXAM LATEST EXAM 2025 | CERTIFIED
PLAYGROUND SAFETY INSPECTOR EXAM | ALL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | ALREADY
GRADED A+ | VERIFIED ANSWERS
Playground Safety Standards & Inspection Protocols | Key Domains: ASTM F1487 & CPSC Public
Playground Safety Handbook Standards, Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment, Surfacing
Materials & Fall Zones, Equipment Compliance & Use Zones, Accessibility (ADA), Maintenance &
Operations, Inspection Procedures & Documentation, and Legal Liability | Expert-Aligned Structure
| Exam-Ready Format
Introduction
This structured CPSI (Certified Playground Safety Inspector) Exam for 2025 provides 100
high-quality exam-style questions with correct answers and rationales. It emphasizes the
authoritative standards (ASTM F1487 and CPSC guidelines), systematic inspection methodology,
measurement of critical heights and use zones, identification of entrapment, protrusion, and
entanglement hazards, and the application of safety principles to prevent injuries.
Answer Format
All correct answers must appear in bold and cyan blue, accompanied by concise rationales
explaining the specific standard reference, hazard classification, measurement rule, and why
alternative options violate established safety protocols or inspection criteria.
1. According to the CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook, what is the maximum allowable
height for a play structure intended for children ages 2 to 5?
A. 6 feet
B. 6 feet
, C. 8 feet
D. 10 feet
Rationale: The CPSC Handbook (Section 4.2) and ASTM F1487-21 (Section 6.3.3) both state that the
maximum platform height for preschool-age equipment (2–5 years) is 6 feet (1.8 m) above the
protective surfacing.
2. A head entrapment hazard is defined as an opening that measures:
A. Less than 3.5 inches
B. Between 3.5 inches and 9 inches
C. Greater than 9 inches
D. Exactly 5 inches
Rationale: ASTM F1487-21, Section 6.2.1 defines a head entrapment hazard as a completely
bounded opening that is greater than 3.5 inches (89 mm) and less than 9 inches (229 mm), through
which a child’s head could pass but the body could not, posing a strangulation risk.
3. What is the minimum use zone required around a freestanding slide with a platform height of 5
feet?
A. 4 feet in front, 3 feet on sides
B. 6 feet in front, 3 feet on sides
C. 8 feet in front, 6 feet on sides
, D. 10 feet in all directions
Rationale: CPSC Handbook (Section 5.2.2) and ASTM F1487-21 (Section 6.4.3.1) require a minimum
use zone of 6 feet (1.8 m) in front of the slide exit and 3 feet (0.9 m) on the sides and rear for slides
with a platform height between 4 and 8 feet.
4. Which of the following surfacing materials is NOT considered an acceptable impact-attenuating
surface under ASTM F1292?
A. Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF)
B. Concrete
C. Unitary rubber tiles
D. Poured-in-place rubber
Rationale: Concrete does not attenuate impact and is prohibited under both CPSC and ASTM F1292
as a safety surface under play equipment. Acceptable surfaces include loose-fill (EWF, sand, pea
gravel) and unitary materials (rubber tiles, poured-in-place) that meet critical fall height
requirements.
5. A protrusion hazard is best described as:
A. An opening that could trap a child’s head
B. A rigid projection that could catch clothing or skin
C. A gap between two pieces of equipment
D. A sharp edge on a metal component
, Rationale: ASTM F1487-21, Section 6.5.2 defines protrusion hazards as rigid projections that could
catch clothing, skin, or jewelry, potentially leading to strangulation or laceration. Examples include
bolts extending more than 2 threads beyond a nut.
6. What is the minimum clearance required between the ground and the underside of a horizontal
climbing rung to prevent head entrapment?
A. 8 inches
B. 9 inches
C. 12 inches
D. 15 inches
Rationale: ASTM F1487-21, Section 6.3.5.1 requires that the space beneath horizontal or inclined
rungs must be either less than 3.5 inches or greater than 9 inches to prevent head entrapment.
Thus, the minimum clearance to avoid the hazard zone is 9 inches.
7. According to ADA Standards for Accessible Design, what is the maximum running slope for a
ground-level accessible route?
A. 1:10
B. 1:20
C. 1:12
D. 1:8
PLAYGROUND SAFETY INSPECTOR EXAM | ALL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | ALREADY
GRADED A+ | VERIFIED ANSWERS
Playground Safety Standards & Inspection Protocols | Key Domains: ASTM F1487 & CPSC Public
Playground Safety Handbook Standards, Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment, Surfacing
Materials & Fall Zones, Equipment Compliance & Use Zones, Accessibility (ADA), Maintenance &
Operations, Inspection Procedures & Documentation, and Legal Liability | Expert-Aligned Structure
| Exam-Ready Format
Introduction
This structured CPSI (Certified Playground Safety Inspector) Exam for 2025 provides 100
high-quality exam-style questions with correct answers and rationales. It emphasizes the
authoritative standards (ASTM F1487 and CPSC guidelines), systematic inspection methodology,
measurement of critical heights and use zones, identification of entrapment, protrusion, and
entanglement hazards, and the application of safety principles to prevent injuries.
Answer Format
All correct answers must appear in bold and cyan blue, accompanied by concise rationales
explaining the specific standard reference, hazard classification, measurement rule, and why
alternative options violate established safety protocols or inspection criteria.
1. According to the CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook, what is the maximum allowable
height for a play structure intended for children ages 2 to 5?
A. 6 feet
B. 6 feet
, C. 8 feet
D. 10 feet
Rationale: The CPSC Handbook (Section 4.2) and ASTM F1487-21 (Section 6.3.3) both state that the
maximum platform height for preschool-age equipment (2–5 years) is 6 feet (1.8 m) above the
protective surfacing.
2. A head entrapment hazard is defined as an opening that measures:
A. Less than 3.5 inches
B. Between 3.5 inches and 9 inches
C. Greater than 9 inches
D. Exactly 5 inches
Rationale: ASTM F1487-21, Section 6.2.1 defines a head entrapment hazard as a completely
bounded opening that is greater than 3.5 inches (89 mm) and less than 9 inches (229 mm), through
which a child’s head could pass but the body could not, posing a strangulation risk.
3. What is the minimum use zone required around a freestanding slide with a platform height of 5
feet?
A. 4 feet in front, 3 feet on sides
B. 6 feet in front, 3 feet on sides
C. 8 feet in front, 6 feet on sides
, D. 10 feet in all directions
Rationale: CPSC Handbook (Section 5.2.2) and ASTM F1487-21 (Section 6.4.3.1) require a minimum
use zone of 6 feet (1.8 m) in front of the slide exit and 3 feet (0.9 m) on the sides and rear for slides
with a platform height between 4 and 8 feet.
4. Which of the following surfacing materials is NOT considered an acceptable impact-attenuating
surface under ASTM F1292?
A. Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF)
B. Concrete
C. Unitary rubber tiles
D. Poured-in-place rubber
Rationale: Concrete does not attenuate impact and is prohibited under both CPSC and ASTM F1292
as a safety surface under play equipment. Acceptable surfaces include loose-fill (EWF, sand, pea
gravel) and unitary materials (rubber tiles, poured-in-place) that meet critical fall height
requirements.
5. A protrusion hazard is best described as:
A. An opening that could trap a child’s head
B. A rigid projection that could catch clothing or skin
C. A gap between two pieces of equipment
D. A sharp edge on a metal component
, Rationale: ASTM F1487-21, Section 6.5.2 defines protrusion hazards as rigid projections that could
catch clothing, skin, or jewelry, potentially leading to strangulation or laceration. Examples include
bolts extending more than 2 threads beyond a nut.
6. What is the minimum clearance required between the ground and the underside of a horizontal
climbing rung to prevent head entrapment?
A. 8 inches
B. 9 inches
C. 12 inches
D. 15 inches
Rationale: ASTM F1487-21, Section 6.3.5.1 requires that the space beneath horizontal or inclined
rungs must be either less than 3.5 inches or greater than 9 inches to prevent head entrapment.
Thus, the minimum clearance to avoid the hazard zone is 9 inches.
7. According to ADA Standards for Accessible Design, what is the maximum running slope for a
ground-level accessible route?
A. 1:10
B. 1:20
C. 1:12
D. 1:8
