Protecting Canadian children with certified playground surface impact testing. Own a TRIAX Touch Wireless system, get certified, or book professional GMAX & HIC testing — ASTM F1292 and CSA Z614 compliant.
The industry's gold standard for portable GMAX and HIC measurement — trusted by municipalities, schools, and safety professionals across North America and Europe.
TRIAX Touch Wireless — Portable Impact Tester
The TRIAX Touch Wireless is the most widely-used portable impact attenuation tester in the world. Purpose-built for playground inspectors, municipalities, turf managers, and safety consultants who need reliable, court-admissible GMAX and HIC data on demand.
For any organization conducting regular playground inspections, ownership pays for itself rapidly — while giving you on-demand compliance capability.
| Capability | Own TRIAX System | Hire Testing Service |
|---|---|---|
| Test on your own schedule | ✓ Any time, any day | Scheduled availability |
| Cost per test over 5 years | ✓ Near zero marginal cost | Ongoing per-test fees |
| React to surface changes fast | ✓ Retest within hours | Wait for service visit |
| Multiple site management | ✓ Take to any location | Separate booking per site |
| Build in-house expertise | ✓ TRIAX certification included | Dependent on third party |
| Revenue generation potential | ✓ Offer testing to clients | Not applicable |
Every playground operator, inspector, and facility manager needs to understand impact attenuation testing — here's what you need to know.
GMAX (peak deceleration in units of gravitational acceleration, "g") measures how much shock a playground surface transmits to a falling child's head. A GMAX below 200g is the maximum permitted under ASTM F1292 and CSA Z614. The lower the score, the safer the surface.
The Head Injury Criterion (HIC) measures the probability of head injury from a fall. Canadian and American standards require an HIC score below 1000. Both GMAX and HIC must pass for a surface to be compliant — passing one metric alone is not enough.
A calibrated missile is dropped from heights matching playground equipment's Critical Fall Height (CFH). The TRIAX sensor measures deceleration data on impact. Multiple drop tests across the use zone establish the surface's full safety profile per ASTM F1292 protocols.
Canada's Children's Playspaces and Equipment standard (CSA Z614) mandates impact attenuation testing for all public playgrounds. Compliance is required for insurance, municipal liability protection, and school board approvals across all provinces and territories.
Engineered wood fibre (EWF), rubber tiles, poured-in-place (PIP) rubber, synthetic turf infill systems, sand, pea gravel, and rubber mulch all require GMAX testing. Each material degrades differently — regular testing frequency depends on the surface type and usage level.
CSA Z614 recommends annual GMAX testing as a minimum, with more frequent testing following major repairs, material top-ups, heavy rainfall events, or freeze-thaw cycles. Surfaces that fail must be immediately taken out of service until remediation is confirmed by retest.
The primary specification for measuring and evaluating impact attenuation of surfacing materials within the use zone of playground equipment. Referenced by CSA Z614 and adopted across North America.
Canada's national playground safety standard governs equipment, surfacing, installation, maintenance, and inspection. Mandates GMAX and HIC testing using ASTM F1292 methodology for all public playgrounds.
Tests the Gmax of synthetic sports surfaces and specialty playground surfacing. Uses a hemispherical impactor and is applied in synthetic turf testing contexts alongside ASTM F1292 protocols.
The European equivalent standard for playground surface impact testing. TRIAX systems are EN 1177 compliant, making them valid for international facilities, international schools, and exporters of playground equipment.
For organizations that need professional third-party impact testing with fully documented, signed reports — our certified technicians come to your site.
We review your equipment inventory, use zones, critical fall heights, and surface types prior to arrival.
Our TRIAX-certified technician performs ASTM F1292-compliant drop tests across every required use zone.
Immediate on-site interpretation. We flag any non-compliant zones and advise on remediation options.
Signed, stamped testing report delivered digitally — ready for insurers, municipalities, and school boards.
Annual GMAX certification for school boards, private schools, and licensed daycare facilities. Meets provincial licensing and insurance requirements.
Multi-site testing programs for cities, towns, and regional parks departments. Fleet pricing and annual maintenance agreements available.
GMAX testing for synthetic turf systems per ASTM F355 and F1292. Critical for adjacent playground zones and multi-use athletic facilities.
Whether you're ready to buy a TRIAX system or need professional testing services, we'll respond within one business day.
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Certified technicians, ASTM F1292-compliant process, signed reports. Serving all Canadian provinces.
"We purchased two TRIAX units for our municipal parks department. The training and support from the team at gmaxtesting.ca was excellent — our inspectors were fully certified within a week."
"The professional testing report they provided was accepted immediately by our insurance carrier and the school board. CSA Z614 compliant, clearly documented, and delivered the same week."
"As a certified playground inspector building my business, having my own TRIAX system has been transformational. I can offer clients same-week testing reports. ROI was under 8 months."
GMAX (peak G-force) is the scientific measure of how hard a playground surface hits back when a child falls on it. A GMAX below 200g means the surface absorbs enough energy to reduce the risk of life-threatening head injury. Above 200g, the surface fails ASTM F1292 and CSA Z614, and must be removed from service or remediated immediately. It is the single most important measurable safety indicator on a playground.
CSA Z614 mandates impact attenuation testing as part of the Canadian playground safety standard. While enforcement varies by province and municipality, school boards, municipalities, and parks departments that do not conduct GMAX testing face significant liability exposure. Most Canadian insurance carriers now require compliant testing reports as a condition of coverage. It is best practice — and increasingly a legal obligation — for any public playground operator.
CSA Z614 recommends a minimum of annual testing. However, high-traffic playgrounds, those with loose-fill surfaces like engineered wood fibre or sand (which compact over time), or surfaces exposed to significant freeze-thaw cycles should be tested more frequently — ideally each spring and after any major remediation or top-up. New surfaces should be tested after installation and again after the first year of settling.
GMAX measures peak deceleration force (must be below 200g). HIC — the Head Injury Criterion — is a calculated value that factors in both the peak G-force and the duration of impact (must be below 1,000). A surface can theoretically pass GMAX but fail HIC, or vice versa. Both metrics are calculated simultaneously during a TRIAX drop test and both must pass for the surface to be fully compliant under ASTM F1292 and CSA Z614.
The TRIAX Touch Wireless system includes the impact tester unit, the calibrated drop missile assembly, a carrying and transport case, calibration documentation, the wireless app/software for iOS and Android, and full warranty coverage. Our Canadian supply includes setup training, access to TRIAX certification resources, and ongoing technical support. Contact us for current pricing and availability of single units or multi-unit packages.
Testing of frozen or snow-covered surfaces does not reflect the in-use condition of the playground and therefore cannot produce valid compliance data. GMAX testing should be conducted when the surface is at its in-use temperature and condition — typically spring through fall in most Canadian climates. For year-round indoor facilities or enclosed play areas, testing can be conducted any time. We recommend spring testing as a priority for outdoor playgrounds following Canadian winters.
A failing surface must be closed to use immediately. CSA Z614 requires that non-compliant surfaces be remediated — through additional loose-fill material, surface repair, or replacement — and then retested before returning to service. Our technicians provide remediation guidance on-site following any failure, and we offer priority retest scheduling. For organizations with their own TRIAX system, self-testing post-remediation allows rapid return to service without waiting for a service visit.
Join municipalities, school boards, and playground professionals across Canada who trust gmaxtesting.ca