Written by Luke
Yes, a bouncy castle can go on artificial grass, as long as we can peg through it into the ground underneath. If you have artificial grass, let us know when you book, as it may affect your hire. Whether an inflatable can be safely set up on it depends on whether the sub-base will take the anchor pegs.
How We Secure Inflatables on Artificial Grass
Each inflatable has at least six anchorage points, and all of them must be used to secure it safely. Our inflatables are RPII tested, and the anchor points are part of that test.
There are a few ways to secure an inflatable. The first and most common is pegs or stakes. These are driven through the artificial grass and leave holes about 16mm wide.
Whether we can use pegs depends on what is underneath the artificial grass. Soil is the best option, while gravel may be possible depending on how deep it is and what is underneath it. Solid sub-bases, such as concrete, can't be pegged into, so another way of anchoring would be needed – and as the rest of this post explains, the other ways don't really work.
Can Sandbags Be Used to Secure a Bouncy Castle?
Sandbags are a possibility in theory, but in practice they are generally not suitable, and here's why.
Each anchorage point needs 163kg of holding force. A standard sandbag weighs around 25kg, so each anchorage point would need seven sandbags. With even the smallest inflatables having at least six anchorage points, that would mean 42 sandbags!
That's about 1,050kg of extra weight, which is more than many vans can carry, especially when they're already loaded with inflatables and other equipment.
Can We Tie a Bouncy Castle to a Fence or Heavy Object?
How about using rope to tie the inflatable to a fence or something heavy?
Unfortunately, there are a few problems with this too. Firstly, how do we know whether the fence or object can take the 163kg of holding force? This gets even harder if several anchorage points are tied to the same object, as it may need to hold a multiple of that force.
There are also problems with the rope itself. It can be a trip hazard, especially if it has to run any distance between the inflatable and the fixing point. Knots can slip, and the constant movement of an inflatable while it's being used can make the rope rub against concrete posts or other rough surfaces, which can wear or cut through it.
So we can't just tie an inflatable to a nearby fence, post or heavy object unless we know the fixing points are strong enough for the forces involved.
How Do I Know If My Artificial Grass Is OK?
If you know what's under your artificial grass, tell us when you book. If you're not sure, our measuring service checks the space, height and suitability before the day, so you find out early rather than when we turn up. Our ground and surface page covers grass, hard standing and everything else about where a castle can go.
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