CPSI EXAM – CERTIFIED PLAYGROUND SAFETY
INSPECTOR
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM (2026/2027 Edition)
National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Certification
ASTM F1487 • F1292 • F1951 • F2049 • F2223 • CPSC Pub. #325
100 Questions • Comprehensive Practice
Format: 100 multiple-choice questions (single best answer, A–D).
Structure: Eight sections spanning hazard ID, surfacing, environment, inspection, and
risk management.
Cognitive ~30% recall • ~50% application • ~20% analysis.
levels:
Grading: One point per question; correct answer and rationale provided after each
item.
Content basis: NRPA CPSI standards; ASTM F1487, F1292, F1951, F2049, F2223; CPSC
Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. #325); ADA accessibility
requirements.
Special 5 items on the four Priority 1 hazard causes; 3 CPSI Table of Dimensions
inclusions: items; 2 comprehensive case studies integrating surfacing testing and hazard
prioritization.
, Section 1: Hazard Identification – Standards, Guidelines, & Injury Patterns (20
questions)
Q1: Which document serves as the primary federal reference for public playground safety and is
frequently used by inspectors?
A. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Public Playground Safety Handbook
(Publication #325) [CORRECT]
B. ASTM F1951
C. The ADA Standards
D. ASTM F2049
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A is correct: the CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. #325) is the key federal
guideline. B, C, and D are related but not the primary federal handbook.
Q2: Which voluntary consensus standard provides performance requirements for public playground
equipment?
A. ASTM F1292
B. ASTM F1487 [CORRECT]
C. ASTM F1951
D. ASTM F2223
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A is correct: ASTM F1487 is the Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for
Playground Equipment for Public Use. F1292 covers surfacing impact attenuation; F1951 accessibility;
F2223 is the surfacing guide.
Q3: Which standard addresses impact attenuation of protective surfacing on playgrounds?
A. ASTM F1487
B. ASTM F1951
C. ASTM F1292 [CORRECT]
D. ASTM F2049
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A is correct: ASTM F1292 is the Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing
Materials. F1487 is equipment; F1951 accessibility; F2049 perimeter barriers.
Q4: Which standard addresses accessibility of playground surfacing (e.g., for wheelchairs)?
A. ASTM F1292
B. ASTM F1487
C. ASTM F2223
D. ASTM F1951 [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A is correct: ASTM F1951 assesses the accessibility of playground surfacing, such as the ability to
maneuver wheeled mobility devices. The others address different concerns.
CPSI Exam – Certified Playground Safety Inspector (2026/2027) Page 2
, Q5: A child falls from the highest platform of a slide onto compacted soil. Which factor most
determines injury severity?
A. The impact-attenuating properties of the surfacing versus the fall height (critical
height) [CORRECT]
B. The color of the equipment
C. The child's shoe size
D. The number of bolts in the equipment
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A is correct: injury severity from falls depends on surfacing impact attenuation relative to fall
height. B, C, and D are irrelevant to fall injury.
Q6: A string from a child's hooded sweatshirt becomes caught on a slide. This represents which
injury mechanism?
A. Head entrapment
B. Entanglement (clothing/string/rope) [CORRECT]
C. Impalement
D. Crush/shear
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A is correct: catching a hood/string is an entanglement hazard. Head entrapment, impalement,
and crush/shear are different mechanisms.
Q7: A child's head becomes caught in an opening between two horizontal bars. This is an example
of:
A. Entanglement
B. Impalement
C. Head entrapment [CORRECT]
D. Fall hazard
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A is correct: a head caught in an opening is head entrapment. Entanglement involves
strings/clothing; impalement involves projections; falls involve surfacing.
Q8: A vertical protrusion (bolt) that could impale a child is classified as which hazard?
A. Entanglement hazard
B. Crush/shear hazard
C. Head entrapment hazard
D. Impalement/protrusion hazard [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A is correct: exposed projections/bolts that can impale present an impalement/protrusion hazard.
The other classifications are different hazard types.
Q9: Which of the following is one of the four major causes of Priority 1 (life-threatening) playground
hazards?
A. Falls to hard surfacing [CORRECT]
B. Playground litter
C. Faded paint
D. Loose sand in a sandbox
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A is correct: falls to hard surfaces are one of the four major causes of Priority 1 hazards (with
entanglement, head entrapment, and impact by moving/tip-over apparatus). B, C, and D are not Priority 1
categories.
CPSI Exam – Certified Playground Safety Inspector (2026/2027) Page 3
INSPECTOR
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM (2026/2027 Edition)
National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Certification
ASTM F1487 • F1292 • F1951 • F2049 • F2223 • CPSC Pub. #325
100 Questions • Comprehensive Practice
Format: 100 multiple-choice questions (single best answer, A–D).
Structure: Eight sections spanning hazard ID, surfacing, environment, inspection, and
risk management.
Cognitive ~30% recall • ~50% application • ~20% analysis.
levels:
Grading: One point per question; correct answer and rationale provided after each
item.
Content basis: NRPA CPSI standards; ASTM F1487, F1292, F1951, F2049, F2223; CPSC
Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. #325); ADA accessibility
requirements.
Special 5 items on the four Priority 1 hazard causes; 3 CPSI Table of Dimensions
inclusions: items; 2 comprehensive case studies integrating surfacing testing and hazard
prioritization.
, Section 1: Hazard Identification – Standards, Guidelines, & Injury Patterns (20
questions)
Q1: Which document serves as the primary federal reference for public playground safety and is
frequently used by inspectors?
A. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Public Playground Safety Handbook
(Publication #325) [CORRECT]
B. ASTM F1951
C. The ADA Standards
D. ASTM F2049
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A is correct: the CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. #325) is the key federal
guideline. B, C, and D are related but not the primary federal handbook.
Q2: Which voluntary consensus standard provides performance requirements for public playground
equipment?
A. ASTM F1292
B. ASTM F1487 [CORRECT]
C. ASTM F1951
D. ASTM F2223
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A is correct: ASTM F1487 is the Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for
Playground Equipment for Public Use. F1292 covers surfacing impact attenuation; F1951 accessibility;
F2223 is the surfacing guide.
Q3: Which standard addresses impact attenuation of protective surfacing on playgrounds?
A. ASTM F1487
B. ASTM F1951
C. ASTM F1292 [CORRECT]
D. ASTM F2049
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A is correct: ASTM F1292 is the Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing
Materials. F1487 is equipment; F1951 accessibility; F2049 perimeter barriers.
Q4: Which standard addresses accessibility of playground surfacing (e.g., for wheelchairs)?
A. ASTM F1292
B. ASTM F1487
C. ASTM F2223
D. ASTM F1951 [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A is correct: ASTM F1951 assesses the accessibility of playground surfacing, such as the ability to
maneuver wheeled mobility devices. The others address different concerns.
CPSI Exam – Certified Playground Safety Inspector (2026/2027) Page 2
, Q5: A child falls from the highest platform of a slide onto compacted soil. Which factor most
determines injury severity?
A. The impact-attenuating properties of the surfacing versus the fall height (critical
height) [CORRECT]
B. The color of the equipment
C. The child's shoe size
D. The number of bolts in the equipment
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A is correct: injury severity from falls depends on surfacing impact attenuation relative to fall
height. B, C, and D are irrelevant to fall injury.
Q6: A string from a child's hooded sweatshirt becomes caught on a slide. This represents which
injury mechanism?
A. Head entrapment
B. Entanglement (clothing/string/rope) [CORRECT]
C. Impalement
D. Crush/shear
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A is correct: catching a hood/string is an entanglement hazard. Head entrapment, impalement,
and crush/shear are different mechanisms.
Q7: A child's head becomes caught in an opening between two horizontal bars. This is an example
of:
A. Entanglement
B. Impalement
C. Head entrapment [CORRECT]
D. Fall hazard
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A is correct: a head caught in an opening is head entrapment. Entanglement involves
strings/clothing; impalement involves projections; falls involve surfacing.
Q8: A vertical protrusion (bolt) that could impale a child is classified as which hazard?
A. Entanglement hazard
B. Crush/shear hazard
C. Head entrapment hazard
D. Impalement/protrusion hazard [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A is correct: exposed projections/bolts that can impale present an impalement/protrusion hazard.
The other classifications are different hazard types.
Q9: Which of the following is one of the four major causes of Priority 1 (life-threatening) playground
hazards?
A. Falls to hard surfacing [CORRECT]
B. Playground litter
C. Faded paint
D. Loose sand in a sandbox
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A is correct: falls to hard surfaces are one of the four major causes of Priority 1 hazards (with
entanglement, head entrapment, and impact by moving/tip-over apparatus). B, C, and D are not Priority 1
categories.
CPSI Exam – Certified Playground Safety Inspector (2026/2027) Page 3
