Bouncy castles are a great choice for keeping children entertained and worn out, and are obviously very popular during the summer.
But if you don’t have a large enough grass area and you don’t want the extra expense of a village hall, you may be looking to have the inflatable on a hard surface.
So, can inflatables go outside on a hard surface?
Well, there’s no simple answer, so we’ll discuss the main safety issues that allow us to make a decision when we’re being asked.
It’s worth mentioning that we don’t currently offer bouncy castles on outside hard surfaces for safety reasons, but we’re happy to help if you’d like to hire inflatables for outside on a grassy area or indoors.
Village Halls
If the castle is going indoors, for example in a village hall, then yes, it’s fine for a bouncy castles to go on a hard surface.
The rules around inflatables going indoors are pretty simple, as you don’t have to battle with the weather and other elements. But you do need to make sure there is enough weight and fixings so the castle dose not move under normal use. To work out how much space you need for a bouncy castle please read our blog.
Wind speed rules
Wind speed rules are the same for a castle, slide, or obstacle course. If the wind speed is 24mph or above then no inflatable should be out, even if it’s pegged in on grass or secured with thunderbolts. This is dangerous, and high wind speeds can cause the inflatable to blow away.
Your operator should be checking the weather via the Met Office right before your hire event and letting you know if it’s not safe. (We do this at Best Party Hire.)
Adding more weight or using bigger pegs does not affect this rule, as the measurements are calculated and set to the amount of force the anchor points can take.
The anchor points are tested as part of the PIPA test, which are tested with specialist equipment, to make sure they can withstand certain strength. (A PIPA test is like an MOT test for bouncy castles and all inflatables. This type of equipment should be tested every year to ensure it is safe to use. A PIPA test is also required to confirm insurance.)
So, presuming the wind speed has been taken into account and the inflatable is going on a hard surface, what are the options for securing the inflatable?
Options for securing the inflatable
Sand bags / similar weights
Holding down a bouncy castle with weights seems simple enough. You can find plenty of pictures online of a sand bag clipped to each corner. Looking at this, it may look safe - yet that's far from the truth and this is a major issue in our industry which we’re keen to educate hirers on.
The European standard sets out that each anchor point needs at least 165 kg weight. With even a small ball pool having 6 anchor points and a standard sand bag weighing 25 kg, you would need 40 sand bags as a minimum! That's a lot of sandbags.
This makes it impractical to use sand bags to meet the minimum requirement, and transporting them is challenging.
Other items
You could use the weight of a vehicle, or tie the anchor point to a strong wall or post if it's in range. The main issue with this is ropes being tied all around the inflatable, creating a load of trip hazards for children, and on a hard surface.
Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts are one of the best and safest ways to secure the inflatable to a hard surface, but they can only be used with a very hard surface like concrete, as using thunderbolts on tarmac will not hold the required weight. This is also the case for surfaces such as resin, slabs and block driveways. Thunderbolts are for concrete only.
To install the thunderbolts, you must drill 6 holes into the concrete and the bolts are screwed into the surface with the castle anchor points tied into this set up.
However, without using proper testing equipment for the pull strength, there is no guarantee that this would be safe enough, and if regulations were not followed then insurance would not be valid. It also would leave you with at least 6 drill holes in your driveway. Because of these drawbacks this is not a service we offer at the moment.
Safety Mats
Mats must be positioned around the bouncy castle and any inflatable, whether you’re in a hall, on grass, or on concrete. They are there to stop children from getting hurt if they were to fall off the bouncy castle.
“But We Had One on Our Driveway Last Year?”
This is something we hear a lot.
Sadly, there are companies out there who are willing to ignore the rules and compromise the safety of your children and their friends and family, to make money. Please be careful.
Not only are the children risk of being hurt, but any insurance would be invalid. Any reputable company will do it properly and safely.
How Do I tell If My Area is Safe For A Bouncy Castle outside?
Bouncy castles and inflatables can go on any area as long as it is grass and on a flat area.
As all bouncy castles are different shapes and sizes, you need to make sure that you measure the area, making sure the measurements include safe space around the castle. A lot of people forget this but we can talk you through how to work out how much space you need for your bouncy castle.
You’ll also need to think about things including whether the area is completely grass, what the access is like to your garden, and of course what the weather is doing.
If the weather is too bad with high winds, then your hire might not be able to go ahead outside. We do offer indoor alternatives so speak to us if you’re concerned.
Whose Land Is It Anyway?
Will the bouncy castle be in your own private garden, fenced off? Or will it be in a shared garden, or on some playing fields?
If your answer is the second one, then you will need to obtain permission from the council as it is their land. Obviously if it’s your own private garden things are more simple.
You’ll also need to be aware of cables going over any roads. Proper permission from the highways agency would be required, which would add a lot of hassle for a child’s party.
You can see why we only offer outdoors inflatables on grass, pegged down for safety. We’re a hugely safety conscious business and our excellent reputation in Warwickshire is because we offer a high quality service with great local knowledge to make your life easier when you’re arranging to hire inflatables.
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