The rapid growth and variety of rides being developed within the water park industry has created a need for new standards to regulate the design and installation of water slides. While individual states within the United States had created rules and guidelines for water slides, these often varied greatly from each other.
A new standard developed by ASTM International Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices, F 2376, Practice for Classification, Design, Manufacture, Construction, and Operation of Water Slide Systems, recognizes basic industry requirements for the construction and installation of water slides. The new standard is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee F24.70 on Water Related Rides and Attractions.
“All water slide manufacturers and state regulatory agencies will be able to use this standard,” says Andreas Tanzer, ProSlide Technology, Inc. “By having a good foundation for the layout and design of the rides, the industry will be able to gain consistent safe products that will be designed and installed for the public.” Tanzer believes that F 2376 will be recognized worldwide as the most comprehensive standard for water slides.
Providing consistency in the installation of water slides is the most important aspect of the new standard, according to Tanzer. “Water slides can now be installed using the same consistent rules and inspection agencies now have the means to determine that a water slide has been safely installed,” says Tanzer.
Tanzer notes that Subcommittee F24.70 will continue to develop the standard. Upcoming activities for the subcommittee include preparing guidelines for children’s slides to be incorporated into the current F 2376 standard, as well as expanding the standard to allow more specific guidelines for certain types of rides.
In addition to revising the standard, Subcommittee F24.70 will be working with other subcommittees, such as F24.60 on Special Rides/Attractions, to include the parameters of design and installation of water slides off of the structures that fall within the jurisdiction of that subcommittee.
Subcommittee F24.70 encourages participation in future revisions of F 2376, as well as in the development of future water ride standards. “As our industry changes and new products are introduced, we will need to be able to create the appropriate standards that those products will need,” says Tanzer.
ASTM International standards are available for purchase from Customer Service (phone: 610/832-9585; service@astm.org) or at www.astm.org.
For further technical information on F2376, contact Andreas Tanzer, ProSlide Technology Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (phone: 613/526-5522, ex. 245; andreast@ProSlide.com). Committee F24 will meet Sept. 29-30, in Phoenix, Ariz. For membership or meeting details, contact Leonard Morrissey (phone: 610/832-9719; lmorriss@astm.org).
Release #7422
