Texas Administrative Code

Texas Administrative Code

TITLE 26	HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
PART 1	HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
CHAPTER 748	MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR GENERAL RESIDENTIAL OPERATIONS
SUBCHAPTER P	PHYSICAL SITE
DIVISION 6	PLAY EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
RULE §748.3477	What are the specific safety requirements for swings?

(a) All swing seats must be constructed of durable, lightweight, rubber or plastic material.

(b) Edges of all swing seats must be smooth or rounded and have no protrusions.

(c) Swings must not be attached to a composite play structure (a playscape or structure containing equipment for a variety of activities).

(d) Only children under four years old may use a bucket swing, and only if an adult is present to lift and secure the child into the swing. The distance between the protective surfacing and the bottom of a bucket swing must be at least 24 inches to minimize the likelihood of unsupervised young children climbing into the swing.

(e) Tire swings must:

(1) Not be made from heavy truck tires, or tires with exposed steel-belted radials;

(2) Not be suspended from a composite play structure (a playscape or structure containing equipment for a variety of activities) or with other swings in the same swing bay;

(3) Have drainage holes drilled in the underside of the tire and maintained to facilitate water drainage; and

(4) Have a minimum clearance between the seating surface of a tire swing and the uprights of the supporting structure of 30 inches or more when the tire is in a position closest to the support structure.

Source Note: The provisions of this §748.3477 adopted to be effective January 1, 2007, 31 TexReg 7377; transferred effective March 9, 2018, as published in the Texas Register February 16, 2018, 43 TexReg 909