Certified Playground Safety Inspector
(CPSI) Practice Exam Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download
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1. According to CPSC guidelines, what is the minimum compressed depth of
engineered wood fiber (EWF) surfacing required for equipment with a critical
fall height of 7 feet?
A. 6 inches
B. 9 inches
C. 10 inches
D. 12 inches
B. 9 inches
At a 6-inch compressed depth, EWF provides a critical fall height of only 6 feet. To
protect falls from 7 feet, a minimum of 9 inches of compressed EWF is needed,
which yields a critical fall height of 10 feet.
2. Which two probes are used to assess completely bounded openings for head
entrapment hazards?
A. 5-inch head probe and 2-inch finger probe
B. 3.5-inch torso probe and 9-inch head probe
C. 9-inch head probe and 6.2-inch neck probe
D. 3-inch limb probe and 5-inch torso probe
B. 3.5-inch torso probe and 9-inch head probe
The torso probe measures 3.5 inches by 6.2 inches and simulates a child’s body,
while the 9-inch diameter head probe simulates the head. Openings that admit the
,torso probe but not the head probe pose a head entrapment hazard if the opening
bounds the head.
3. For a single-axis swing with a pivot height of 10 feet above the protective
surfacing, what is the minimum front and rear use zone distance from the
vertical projection of the pivot?
A. 10 feet
B. 20 feet
C. 15 feet
D. 6 feet
B. 20 feet
The use zone to the front and rear must extend a minimum of twice the vertical
distance from the pivot to the top of the protective surfacing. For a pivot 10 feet
above surfacing, 2 × 10 feet = 20 feet.
4. What is the minimum side clearance between the side of a swing seat and
the adjacent support frame per CPSC recommendations?
A. 12 inches
B. 30 inches
C. 24 inches
D. 6 inches
A. 12 inches
To minimize impact with the frame, the minimum clearance between the side of an
occupied swing seat and the swing support structure is 12 inches.
5. On a play structure intended for preschool-age children (2-5 years), at what
platform height above protective surfacing is a protective barrier required
instead of a guardrail?
A. Greater than 20 inches
B. Greater than 30 inches
C. Greater than 48 inches
D. Greater than 60 inches
,B. Greater than 30 inches
For preschool-age users, a guardrail is required on platforms higher than 20 inches
and a protective barrier is required when the platform is higher than 30 inches
above the surfacing.
6. For school-age children (5-12 years), at what height above the protective
surfacing must a platform have a protective barrier?
A. Greater than 30 inches
B. Greater than 40 inches
C. Greater than 48 inches
D. Greater than 60 inches
C. Greater than 48 inches
School-age platforms require a guardrail when higher than 30 inches and a
protective barrier when the platform exceeds 48 inches above the surfacing.
7. A crush or shear point is considered hazardous when a rod of what diameter
can be inserted and the opening can close to less than 1/2 inch?
A. 3/16 inch
B. 5/8 inch
C. 1/4 inch
D. 1 inch
B. 5/8 inch
*ASTM F1487 defines a crush and shear hazard as an accessible point where a 5/8-
inch (16 mm) diameter rod can be inserted, and the moving components can close
to less than 1/2 inch (13 mm). *
8. The standard projection gauge for clothing entanglement uses a projection
that extends more than what thickness beyond the surrounding surface?
A. 1/16 inch
B. 1/8 inch
C. 1/4 inch
D. 1/2 inch
, B. 1/8 inch
Any projection that extends more than 1/8 inch from the surface and can hook
drawstrings or clothing poses an entanglement hazard and must be fayed or
removed.
9. What ASTM standard specifies the test method for impact attenuation of
playground surfacing materials?
A. ASTM F1487
B. ASTM F1292
C. ASTM F2049
D. ASTM F2373
B. ASTM F1292
ASTM F1292 covers the critical fall height test for playground surfacing, while ASTM
F1487 is the equipment performance standard. Surfacing must be tested to F1292.
10.A slide exit use zone must extend at least how many feet from the end of the
slide for a slide with a height of 5 feet above the surfacing?
A. 4 feet
B. 5 feet
C. 6 feet
D. 8 feet
C. 5 feet
For slides higher than 4 feet, the exit use zone length equals the slide height
(distance from the slide bedway exit to the surfacing) up to a maximum of 8 feet. At
5 feet, the zone extends 5 feet from the end of the slide, with a minimum of 6 feet
always required? Wait, CPSC: minimum 6 feet; for slide height >4 ft, use zone length
= height of slide (max 8 ft) but never less than 6 ft. So for 5 ft height, zone must be
at least 6 ft minimum. Actually, CPSC says “For slides higher than 4 feet, the use
zone at the exit should be extended to a distance equal to the height of the slide, up
to 8 feet maximum.” but also “The exit area should extend a minimum of 6 feet
from the end of the slide.” So for height 5 ft, the minimum required is 6 ft, not 5 ft. I
must correct. I'll modify question to height 7 ft so answer 7 ft, or I'll pick a slide
height 6 ft, then answer 6 ft? No, for height 6 ft (if >4) use zone = height 6 ft, and
(CPSI) Practice Exam Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download
1. According to CPSC guidelines, what is the minimum compressed depth of
engineered wood fiber (EWF) surfacing required for equipment with a critical
fall height of 7 feet?
A. 6 inches
B. 9 inches
C. 10 inches
D. 12 inches
B. 9 inches
At a 6-inch compressed depth, EWF provides a critical fall height of only 6 feet. To
protect falls from 7 feet, a minimum of 9 inches of compressed EWF is needed,
which yields a critical fall height of 10 feet.
2. Which two probes are used to assess completely bounded openings for head
entrapment hazards?
A. 5-inch head probe and 2-inch finger probe
B. 3.5-inch torso probe and 9-inch head probe
C. 9-inch head probe and 6.2-inch neck probe
D. 3-inch limb probe and 5-inch torso probe
B. 3.5-inch torso probe and 9-inch head probe
The torso probe measures 3.5 inches by 6.2 inches and simulates a child’s body,
while the 9-inch diameter head probe simulates the head. Openings that admit the
,torso probe but not the head probe pose a head entrapment hazard if the opening
bounds the head.
3. For a single-axis swing with a pivot height of 10 feet above the protective
surfacing, what is the minimum front and rear use zone distance from the
vertical projection of the pivot?
A. 10 feet
B. 20 feet
C. 15 feet
D. 6 feet
B. 20 feet
The use zone to the front and rear must extend a minimum of twice the vertical
distance from the pivot to the top of the protective surfacing. For a pivot 10 feet
above surfacing, 2 × 10 feet = 20 feet.
4. What is the minimum side clearance between the side of a swing seat and
the adjacent support frame per CPSC recommendations?
A. 12 inches
B. 30 inches
C. 24 inches
D. 6 inches
A. 12 inches
To minimize impact with the frame, the minimum clearance between the side of an
occupied swing seat and the swing support structure is 12 inches.
5. On a play structure intended for preschool-age children (2-5 years), at what
platform height above protective surfacing is a protective barrier required
instead of a guardrail?
A. Greater than 20 inches
B. Greater than 30 inches
C. Greater than 48 inches
D. Greater than 60 inches
,B. Greater than 30 inches
For preschool-age users, a guardrail is required on platforms higher than 20 inches
and a protective barrier is required when the platform is higher than 30 inches
above the surfacing.
6. For school-age children (5-12 years), at what height above the protective
surfacing must a platform have a protective barrier?
A. Greater than 30 inches
B. Greater than 40 inches
C. Greater than 48 inches
D. Greater than 60 inches
C. Greater than 48 inches
School-age platforms require a guardrail when higher than 30 inches and a
protective barrier when the platform exceeds 48 inches above the surfacing.
7. A crush or shear point is considered hazardous when a rod of what diameter
can be inserted and the opening can close to less than 1/2 inch?
A. 3/16 inch
B. 5/8 inch
C. 1/4 inch
D. 1 inch
B. 5/8 inch
*ASTM F1487 defines a crush and shear hazard as an accessible point where a 5/8-
inch (16 mm) diameter rod can be inserted, and the moving components can close
to less than 1/2 inch (13 mm). *
8. The standard projection gauge for clothing entanglement uses a projection
that extends more than what thickness beyond the surrounding surface?
A. 1/16 inch
B. 1/8 inch
C. 1/4 inch
D. 1/2 inch
, B. 1/8 inch
Any projection that extends more than 1/8 inch from the surface and can hook
drawstrings or clothing poses an entanglement hazard and must be fayed or
removed.
9. What ASTM standard specifies the test method for impact attenuation of
playground surfacing materials?
A. ASTM F1487
B. ASTM F1292
C. ASTM F2049
D. ASTM F2373
B. ASTM F1292
ASTM F1292 covers the critical fall height test for playground surfacing, while ASTM
F1487 is the equipment performance standard. Surfacing must be tested to F1292.
10.A slide exit use zone must extend at least how many feet from the end of the
slide for a slide with a height of 5 feet above the surfacing?
A. 4 feet
B. 5 feet
C. 6 feet
D. 8 feet
C. 5 feet
For slides higher than 4 feet, the exit use zone length equals the slide height
(distance from the slide bedway exit to the surfacing) up to a maximum of 8 feet. At
5 feet, the zone extends 5 feet from the end of the slide, with a minimum of 6 feet
always required? Wait, CPSC: minimum 6 feet; for slide height >4 ft, use zone length
= height of slide (max 8 ft) but never less than 6 ft. So for 5 ft height, zone must be
at least 6 ft minimum. Actually, CPSC says “For slides higher than 4 feet, the use
zone at the exit should be extended to a distance equal to the height of the slide, up
to 8 feet maximum.” but also “The exit area should extend a minimum of 6 feet
from the end of the slide.” So for height 5 ft, the minimum required is 6 ft, not 5 ft. I
must correct. I'll modify question to height 7 ft so answer 7 ft, or I'll pick a slide
height 6 ft, then answer 6 ft? No, for height 6 ft (if >4) use zone = height 6 ft, and
