The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has created guidelines for both public playground and home playground equipment.
Public Playground Equipment
CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (publication #325) presents safety information for public playground equipment in the form of guidelines. The guidelines were first published in 1981 with revisions in 1991, 1994, 1997, 2008, and 2010.
CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook
CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (Español)
Home Playground Equipment
CPSC Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook (publication #324) is intended as guidance for homes and residential child care facilities. The guidelines were published in 2005.
CPSC Handbook for Outdoor Home Playground Safety
CPSC guidelines are recognized as "standard of care" that should be followed by professionals in the field.