Choosing the correct supplier for your bouncy castle, inflatable slide or inflatable assault course at your school event is vital. You can't assume a supplier will be following all of the necessary health and safety procedures just because they have provided to other local events, or they have great reviews.
The following short guide will help you to identify what you need to look for, and what you need to ask when hiring inflatables for your summer fayre or school fun day.
How can you tell if an inflatable is fit for purpose?
Only commercially made bouncy castles can be hired out for their insurance to be valid. Any inflatable used for commercial purposes in the UK is made to the British Standard BS EN14960. The standard includes requirements on the material that the inflatable is made from, how many anchor points it should have, and where these should be. Make sure that any inflatable you hire mentions in its documentation that it has been made to this BS Standard.
A bouncy castle needs to have a fan that is constantly running, pumping air into it continuously as the air escapes naturally through the stitching. If the inflatable suffers a tear, rip or failure of the stitching then it will collapse quickly as the air has found another exit.
How should a bouncy castle be installed?
Castles come with an electrically powered fan. This is normally connected to a power supply using an extension lead, so you will need to be aware of any possible trip hazards. The hire company should provide all necessary cables, which are suitable for outdoor use. When the inflatable is being set up have a visual check on the cabling to ensure that there are no bare wires, broken plugs or electrical tape.
If there is not a power socket available, a generator can be used. This needs to be fenced off and any spare fuel cans need to be kept away from the generator in a secure location. A fire extinguisher should be placed close by.
The inflatable needs be positioned away from hazards such as walls and trees. It also needs to be positioned on a fairly level gradient to keep the unit stable.
Safety mats must be placed around all entrance and exit points.
What condition should the castle be in?
When the castle is being erected take a look for signs of worn stitching or tears. Any bulges could be a sign of damaged internal stitching.
Most castles need a 1.5hp blower, which is stated on the safety certificate. Check that the correct sized fan is being used.
If the castle is not bouncy enough there is either an issue with not enough air entering the inflatable (inadequate power supply, faulty fan or blocked vent on the fan) or from air leaking from the castle (a tear, open vent or blower not fitted correctly)
How should a bouncy castle be anchored?
Any inflatable must have at least six anchor points, and every anchor point fitted by the castle manufacturer must be used, even the ones not at ground level (the higher ones help keep a castle's shape intact and avoid putting additional strain the ground-level ones).
The required size of ground stakes for grass use is a 16mm diameter metal peg at least 380mm long with a rounded top.
Any ropes used to assist anchorage must be in good condition and strong enough for the task.
On hard standing when ground stakes cannot be used, an equally effective way to anchor the inflatable down must be found (such as sand bags, weights or ground fixings). If weights or other ballast are being used, then there must be a suitable method of attaching any guy ropes.
The anchor point should be at ground level to stop wind from getting under the inflatable. However, the suitability of using alternative anchoring (other than ground stakes) may be difficult to determine as it is difficult to measure the force they can withstand. At the very least each anchor point must be at least 163Kg force on it, but is likely to need more to achieve the 1600KN force necessary to keep the inflatable in position.
For indoor use, the inflatable will still need to be anchored. Wind won't affect the castle but sand bags need to be used to stop it from moving around the floor, kept to its proper shape and stopped from overturning.
How are bouncy castles affected by wind speeds?
The maximum wind speed that an inflatable can be used outdoors safely is 24 miles per hour (38kph). An inflatable may have a maximum operational wind speed less than this, so you need to check.
Weather apps can be used to help predict conditions but may only show average wind speeds, so 'gust' and maximum speeds need to be accounted for. Factors such as trees, buildings, hills and wind-alley conditions on site can influence the readings. As anemometer can be used at frequent intervals to take readings to ensure that wind conditions are okay for the continued operation of the inflatable.
What guidance do I need to supervise a bouncy castle?
All inflatables should be supplied with operational information. This is very important if you have 'dry hired' the inflatable (the operator has set it up and then left it for you to supervise). This sheet will contain information about the number of children allowed on the bouncy castle at a time. This will also be shown on a patch stitched on to the inflatable by the manufacturer. Information should also contain advice about the type of behaviour not allowed on the inflatable.
Do not let children climb on castle walls or somersault. Shoes should be removed and glasses may need to be removed. Any sharp objects such as badges, and any toys should not be used on the inflatable.
It should be supervised at all times by a competent person over 18 years old.
During the event, someone should continue to check the castle to make sure none of the anchor points have come loose, that the inflation tube between the castle and blower is secure and that no any rips or tears have occurred.
What certificates and documents do I need to see?
You should ask your supplier for the following documentation and certifications:
- Public liability insurance
- Test certificate for each inflatable
- PAT certificate
- Risk assessment
Your supplier may also be able to provide the following documents for their staff
- RPii safe operators and attendants pass certificates
- DBS/ CRB certificates
- First Aid certificates
Inflatables need to be tested every 12 months to check their integrity. This should be done by a qualified (or competent) person, ideally tested by someone who has issued it with a PIPA or ADIPS certificate. Certificates issued this way can be checked online on the PIPA or ADIPS websites, meaning there is less chance of fraudulence. They will also have a PIPA tag or some type of identification on them.
You should also read the risk assessment of the inflatable as this will help inform you of the factors that need addressing. Any electric fan should have had a PAT test (electrical test).
If you have many inflatables at a fair it is advisable to have a first aider present.
How do I know if the supplier or operator is competent?
There are courses available through the RPii (Register of Play Inspectors International) with an exam at the end which operators can take to show their competence. These are not compulsory within the industry, but useful for showing an operator has the relevant skills and knowledge. The course covers all of the necessary aspects of setting up bouncy castles and inflatables safely, and supervising users.
How can I raise more money at the school fayre?
I hope that you have found this guide useful. If you would like some information on how you can use a bouncy castle to raise funds at your next event we have information on how you can raise over £1000 profit!
Or why not take a look at our range of items for your next event?
We have over 40 different Bouncy Castles, Inflatable Slides and themes to choose from, so definitely something to suit all budgets and events.
If you would like any advice on which items would work best at your next event, send us a message and we will get back to you within 24 hours with some options.
<< Return to news