California Code § 102423(a)(2): Playground Equipment Installation

California Code 102423(a)(2) requires that playground equipment be installed strictly according to manufacturer specifications and all applicable safety standards. This means following the exact installation instructions provided by the equipment manufacturer, ensuring proper anchoring to prevent tipping or movement, maintaining adequate spacing between different pieces of equipment, and having the installation inspected by qualified professionals when required. This regulation exists to prevent playground equipment from becoming a safety hazard—even equipment designed to be safe can become dangerous if not installed correctly.

As of November 23, 2025, 26 facilities have been cited for playground equipment installation violations in the past 90 days. This represents approximately 1 in 1,538 California childcare facilities (using 40,000 as the total), or 0.34% of the 7,551 facilities inspected during this period. These citations occurred across 12 different counties, with Los Angeles County seeing the most violations (8 facilities), followed by Santa Clara County (4 facilities) and San Diego County (3 facilities).

Inspectors look for several specific installation problems when citing this regulation. The most common issues include playground equipment that isn't properly anchored to the ground, allowing it to tip or move during use; equipment pieces installed too close together without adequate spacing as specified by safety standards; installations that don't follow the manufacturer's guidelines (such as incorrect hardware, missing components, or modified installations); and equipment that should have been professionally installed but shows signs of amateur or improper installation. Inspectors may also check for proper surface depth under equipment and correct fall zone measurements, as these are part of proper installation requirements.

Always follow manufacturer installation instructions exactly—read them completely before beginning any installation. If the manufacturer requires professional installation or recommends it for certain equipment types, hire qualified installers rather than attempting it yourself. Use the exact hardware specified and don't substitute parts. Ensure all anchoring systems are installed to the correct depth and properly secured. Measure spacing between equipment pieces according to both manufacturer specifications and ASTM safety standards for playground equipment. Keep all installation documentation, including receipts for professional installation services and copies of manufacturer specifications. Before the playground opens for use, conduct a thorough safety inspection or hire a certified playground safety inspector to verify proper installation. Remember: improperly installed equipment, even if it's high-quality and expensive, becomes a serious safety hazard.

Immediately stop children from using the improperly installed equipment until the violation is corrected—safety must be your first priority. Review the citation carefully to understand which specific installation standards weren't met. If you installed the equipment yourself, contact the manufacturer for technical support and clarification on proper installation procedures. For complex installations or if you're uncertain about corrections, hire a certified playground equipment installer to assess and fix the problems. Document all corrective actions with photos showing before and after the repairs. Have the installation re-inspected by a certified playground safety inspector if possible, and keep this documentation for your licensing file. Submit your Plan of Correction to the licensing agency within the required timeframe, typically within 10 days, explaining exactly how you've corrected the installation issues and what steps you've taken to ensure all equipment now meets safety standards.