SportsPlay Independent Spiral Slide User manual

18'
24'
Slide
Independent
Spiral
72"
800-727-8180
Sheet 1 of 1
Scale: 1:60
Fax: [phone]
.sportsplayinc.com
Distributor: SportsPlay Inc
DateDra n By:
SportsPlay
SportsPlaySportsPlay
SportsPlay E. Barron 00-00-11
ASTM: Compliant
CPSC: Compliant
Project: 6' Ind. Spiral Slide
5642 Natural Bridge Size: 6' X 12'
Use Zone: 18' X 24'
Age Group: 5-12

18'
24'
800-727-8180
Sheet 1 of 1
Scale: 1:60
Fax: [phone]
www.sportsplayi c.com
Distributor: SportsPlay I c
DateDraw By:
SportsPlay
SportsPlaySportsPlay
SportsPlay E. Barro 00-00-11
ASTM: Complia t
CPSC: Complia t
Project: 6' I d. Spiral Slide
5642 Natural Bridge Size: 6' X 12'
Use Zo e: 18' X 24'
Age Group: 5-12
"52
45"
8"

Page 5
Tool and Material Checklist
•To dig holes, the best method is a tractor with an auger.
Use a 12” auger bit. No matter what you use, there will
be a considerable amount of hand digging as well
•Shovels, long handled spades
•Post hole diggers
•Wheelbarrows
•Large construction bar (generally 5’ long).
•Spray paint, to mark ground holes
•Pry bar
•Claw hammers
•Large dead-blow rubber hammers
•Small (3lb) Sledgehammer, to use in blocking the posts
•7/32”, 3/6”, 1/8” Allen wrenches: These are very
important. Several different types are helpful (socket
style, small “L” arm, wrench styles etc.)
•Vise grips, large, regular and needle-nose
•3/4” and 1/2” and 9/16” sockets, both 1/2” and 3/8”
drives
•6’ and 8’ stepladders, strong ones
•Extension cords (also duplexes to run more than one
cord)
•1/2” drill and 3/8” drill
•1/2” and 1/2” drill bits and 1/2” spade bits
•Levels: magnetic torpedo, 4’ long etc. (as many as
possible)
•Shims and blocks from scrap lumber and a saw to cut
sizes on site
•Small, skinny, flat shims are helpful in raising posts etc.
2” by 4” and 2” by 6” and Plywood are also helpful
•Pencils and markers
•String line
•Bar clamp 4’
•Sometimes bracing material is helpful (2” x 4” x 6’
studs with sturdy lag bolt/nut combinations)
•Files, sandpaper, wood scraps
•Stones
•Cement
•Surfacing
•One brick per post

Page 6
Introduction
BEFORE STARTING INSTALLATION OF YOUR
PLAYGROUND, PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS
THOROUGHLY.
SITE REQUIREMENTS:
The Playground system is designed to suit a level site. Should
there be any falls or slopes on the site; care should be taken to
accommodate the entry and exit points and to maintain the
correct height. There should not be more than 3” of drop in
grade per every 10’.
The site must be inspected for adverse conditions:
All sites must be checked for existing utilities such as
electricity, gas, water or any other underground hazards. 1-
800-DIG-RITE is the number to call to have the services
located.
1. Roots, rocks, or other natural obstacles that may pose as
a trip hazard.
2. Poor drainage areas.
3. Broken glass or foreign objects around building site.
MAINTENANCE:
As an owner, it is most important that you are aware of your
responsibility to insure safe use of your new equipment. It is
necessary to install equipment correctly according to the
installation instructions provided and inspect the equipment at
regular intervals. During inspection, if any part is found
damaged or excessively worn, equipment should immediately
be put out of service while the part is replaced. Lack of
maintenance will result in premature wear, reduced life
expectancy, and possible failure that might result in injury.
All SportsPlay Equipment play events have been engineered to
meet all applicable safety guidelines, but if installed
improperly, these problems may occur:
•Entrapment gaps (between 3 1/2” and 9”}
•String Entanglements
•Protrusions
Make sure that any bolt end that protrudes more than 2 threads
past the face of the nut is trimmed and deburred smoothly.
Always double-check your work.
Installation must adhere to the manufacturers assembly manual
and all other applicable safety guidelines.
PLAY AREA:
The area immediately above and around the play structure must
be free of any obstructions such as:
•Trees
•Other Play Equipment
•Buildings
•Overhead Power lines
Make sure the play area has all the required safety
surfacing and the minimum fall zones as required by the
safety guidelines. These guidelines can be found at
www.cpsc.gov.
CHILDREN MUST BE SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES.
No playground is safe without adult supervision!

Page 8
CONCRETE – Mix the concrete according to the directions.
DO NOT mix directly in the hole. Fill each hole to within 2
inches of the original surface. Crown for drainage, and cure 48
hours.
SECURE AREA – Fence off or lock area to insure that NO
ONE can play on the playground until it is completely finished.
You may consider contacting local law enforcement to inform
them of the new installation and ask them to check the area
frequently during the night.
BACKFILL AND CLEANUP – 48 hours after pouring
cement, backfill all of the holes with dirt to the original ground
level and make sure the area is free of any tools, hardware, or
sharp objects.
SURFACING– Use the chart on page 8 to decide how much
safety surfacing is required. Before spreading loose fill
surfacing, be sure to install a weed barrier outside the fall zone
dimension, then spread the safety surfacing.
LAST THING– Make one more tour around the playground
and physically make sure all hardware is tight.
OPEN FOR PLAY– After the safety surfacing is installed and the
hardware has been checked for tightness, your playground is ready for
play.
MAINTENANCE -Consult your instruction booklet for the
maintenance checklist. Schedule and complete periodic
maintenance checks of the entire playground. If any hardware
is worn, or any item missing or broken, close the playground
and contact your SportsPlay distributor for replacement parts.
Check resilient surfacing depths, move or add additional
surfacing if necessary. Make sure the playground area remains
free of obstacles, broken glass or other sharp objects.

Page 9
Safety Surfacing/Fall Heights
You must consider the type of safety surfacing you will use
before beginning the installation process. There are two
general types, organic/loose fill or synthetic unitary. Both
materials have advantages and disadvantages and it is likely
that your client’s budget will dictate the material of choice.
Always have all options available as product quality and long-
term performance may cause your client to reevaluate their
original budget.
When installing a unitary safety surfacing material such as
rubber mats or poured-in-place, you will need to pour a
concrete slab so that the rubber material can be secured. This
type of product cannot be placed on dirt.
If a loose fill surface such as wood chips is selected, you will
need to consider containment borders. There are many
products to choose from including hard plastic and natural
products such as wood. Creosoted railroad ties are NOT
recommended. Loose fill materials like wood chips are easily
displaced, so 12” deep is generally satisfactory. Also
remember that loose fill will compress with repeated use.
Weed mat: Some use a landscaping fabric material that allows
drainage but prevents weed growth. Weed mats are installed
after the structure is installed but before the resilient surfacing
is installed.
Borders: Building borders above ground, below grade, or on
grade depends upon the area in which you live. Assuming you
must use 12” of resilient surfacing, there are three basic types
of installation:
1. 12” below existing grade
2. 6” below and 6” above existing grade
3. 12” above existing grade
The tallest deck on the unit generally defines the maximum fall
height of a structure. If upper body equipment (horizontal
ladder) is attached, the fall height is then the distance from the
highest part of the equipment to the protective surfacing. Refer
to the Top Down View to determine the maximum fall height.
Since the structure will be installed at dirt grade, the height of
the resilient surfacing must be determined and factored into the
height of installation of decks. For example, if the resilient
surfacing will be 12” deep, a 3’ deck height will actually install
at 4’. When the structure is completed and the surfacing is
installed, the deck then will be 3’ above the level of the
resilient surfacing.

Page 10
Safety Surfacing Chart
Table –Critical heights (in feet) of Tested Materials
These directions are written based upon a depth of 12” of
resilient surfacing.
Do not forget to calculate the compressed resilient surfacing
depth needed and adjust your “dirt grade height” accordingly.
Chart taken from The Handbook for Public Playground Safety
written by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) page 5 (www.cpsc.gov).
Material Uncompressed
Depths Compressed Depths
6” 9” 12” 9 “
Wood
Chips 4 10 11 10
Double
Shredded
Bark Mulch
6 10 11 7
Engineered
Wood
Fibers
6 7 >12 6
Fine Sand 5 5 9 5
Course
Sand 5 5 6 4
Fine Gravel 6 7 10 6
Medium
Gravel 5 5 6 5
Shredded
Tires 10- 12 N/A N/A N/A

Page 11
Punch List
Step 1: Layout
1. Lay decks on ground in the desired location based on
topview layout and measure from all corners to insure
there is adequate room. (Refer to Grid Drawing pg. 11)
2. Most installers usually like to orientate the playground
so that the entry point of the playground is facing either
the sidewalk or the direction from which the children
are coming.
Step 2: Holes
1. Mark the locations of all post holes by laying out all the
decks in the correct orientation. Make sure all the
decks are touching each other and flush on the edges.
Then use the center point of each deck corner and
marking them with paint or a wooden stake.
2. After the holes are marked, move the decks out of the
digging area and dig the first four holes per the footing
drawing on page 12.
3. Fill or dig the depth of 1 main hole to what is required;
this hole will be used to get the other three holes the
same depth in reference to each other. Make sure the
hole is flat and tamped solid, then place a small piece of
plywood or brick in the bottom. You must take this in
account when determining the hole depth.
4. Now, if possible, use a transit to maintain the same hole
depth on the remaining three holes, if you don’t have
access to a transit, then park a line on the first post
about two inches above the dirt level. Then measure up
from the bottom of the post to this mark and mark a line
on the other three posts at the same distance. Now use
a four-foot level across to each line, raising or lowering
as necessary to make the lines level. Repeat this for the
remaining two posts.
Step 3: Deck and Post Installation
1. Begin by installing the lowest deck and go up from this
one. Measure deck height plus the amount of safety
surfacing and make a mark on the post, this is the
height of the deck clamps, for example if the deck is to
be 36” high and you are planning on adding 12” of
safety surfacing then the height from the dirt would be
48”. All other decks heights will also be the labeled
height plus the amount of surfacing.
2. Install a deck clamp per instruction page 15. Tighten
all hardware.
3. Now make sure that you have two other helpers and the
required deck clamp hardware.
4. Stand the correct posts into the holes and lift the deck
on top of the clamps and install hardware. Be sure to
brace the posts to keep them from moving.
5. Continue building the main structure by adding the
overhead climber, kickplates and other decks and posts
per the illustration until all the decks, kickplates, and
posts are installed. Make sure the posts are level as you
tighten the hardware, this will make the component
installation much easier.
6. It may be necessary to brace the deck and posts with
lumber to make sure they stay in place and level. Also
make sure the deck was installed level.

Page 12
Step 4 –Component Installation
1. Begin installing the components by working from the
lowest deck around to the highest deck. Install the
components in either a clockwise or counter clockwise
rotation.
2.
Step 5: Concrete
1. Once all components and posts are tight and level, you
may concrete. A good rule of thumb is two 80 lb. bags
of concrete per hole. Do not “dry bag” the concrete,
always mix per instructions on concrete bag. Be sure to
leave concrete about 2” from the top of the ground to
allow backfill.
2. Be sure that all splattered concrete is washed off of the
posts and components while it is still wet.
3. Block off installation area for at least 48 hours.
Step 6: Final after 48 hours
1. Return in 2 days to backfill concrete, drill and install
drive (roll) pins per instructions, and install safety
surfacing.
2. Inspect all components to insure the hardware is tight
and all panels are level.
3. Make sure all tools and dropped hardware are removed
from play area.
4. Open the playground.