Written by Luke
Bouncy castles are a brilliant way to keep children entertained, but our first and only thought is safety.
The best way to enjoy a castle is at a BBQ in the back garden on a summer’s day, and most back gardens have grass. But what if you have a hard surface or artificial grass?
How We Secure Bouncy Castles
Indoors
Indoors, we use 25kg sandbags filled with either sand or small stones inside a PVC bag, which we attach to the castle using a carabiner clip. This helps reduce movement during an indoor hire.
On Grass
When the castle is outside on grass, we use bouncy castle pegs that are 400mm long and 18mm thick, rated to BS EN14960 standards. It is very rare that we have any issues putting pegs into the grass.
Astro Turf
Artificial grass will depend on what is underneath it. We still have to use bouncy castle pegs, and we have to peg through the artificial grass into the ground below. The peg will need to hold well and be difficult to remove.
Unfortunately, sometimes this does not work, and we cannot go ahead with the hire. In this case, you would lose your hire cost, so we highly recommend adding the measuring service at the time of booking so we can assess the ground before the booking.
Hard Ground Such as Tarmac, Concrete or Block Paving
When dealing with hard ground such as tarmac, concrete, or block paving, it is a no from us at Best Party Hire, as we cannot see how it can be made safe.
Why Hard Surfaces Are a Problem Outdoors
Under the UK and European standard BS EN 14960, every anchor point on a bouncy castle must be capable of withstanding a force of 1.6kN, equivalent to approximately 163kg or 360lbs of pull-out force. This applies to all required anchor points, and standard castles typically have at least six anchor points.
On grass, this can be achieved with standard bouncy castle pegs. On hard surfaces, there are two options.
The first is ground bolts, where bolts are drilled into the ground and clipped to the castle. However, without specialist testing equipment, it is impossible to tell if the required force has been achieved, especially with tarmac as it can be crumbly.
The second option is using sandbags, but to reach the correct weight you would need around six sandbags per anchor point, which is unrealistic.
Other “Fixes” You Might See (And Why They’re Risky)
Tying to Walls, Posts or Vehicles
This creates ropes around the inflatable, which become a serious trip hazard, especially on hard surfaces where falls are more dangerous.
What About Indoors on a Hard Surface?
Indoors is a completely different story.
In village halls and community centres:
- There’s no wind to contend with
- Inflatables are weighted and positioned differently
- Safety mats are used around the open sides
This is why bouncy castles are absolutely fine on hard floors indoors, as long as the space is suitable.
Wind Speed Rules (Very Important)
This rule applies everywhere, regardless of surface:
If wind speeds reach 24mph or above, no inflatable should be used outdoors.
It doesn’t matter if it’s pegged, weighted, or bolted down.
Anchor points are tested to specific limits during PIPA testing. Adding more weight or bigger pegs does not change those limits.
At Best Party Hire, we always check official forecasts right before your hire.
Outdoor Hire Rules at Best Party Hire
To keep things simple and safe, our outdoor rules are:
- Grass only – no concrete, tarmac, paving, decking, or artificial grass
- Flat and clear area – no slopes, stones, or sharp objects
- Weather dependent – no high winds or severe conditions
- Private land preferred – public fields usually require council permission
If the weather turns or grass is not available, we will always talk you through safe alternatives.
“But We Had One on Our Driveway Last Year…”
We hear this a lot.
Unfortunately, not every company follows the rules. Some will take shortcuts that put children at risk and invalidate insurance.
A properly run inflatable business will always say no if something is not safe, even if it means turning down work.
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