Inflatables and rides: a safety guide for organisers

Checked against official sources in November 2026. Rules change, so follow the links before you act.

Bouncy castles and rides are often the busiest part of a fun day, and the part that worries committees most. The HSE's advice focuses on a handful of things: paperwork, anchoring, wind, overcrowding and supervision. All of them can be managed with good questions before you book and a clear plan on the day.

The HSE says event organisers have prime responsibility for the health and safety of their workers, the public attending and contractors working for them. This guide sets out what to check, using HSE guidance, and the questions to ask suppliers before you book from our inflatables and funfair listings.

Who's responsible for what

Health and safety law generally applies to employers, the self-employed and employees. The HSE explains that volunteers running an event without an employer won't generally have duties under health and safety law, but they may have duties under civil law, for example if someone is hurt through carelessness. A club that employs anyone, such as a bar steward or groundsman, does have duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Either way, the sensible approach is the same. The HSE says employers must carry out a risk assessment for every fundraising event. For volunteer-only clubs it's good practice, and insurers and landowners often ask for one. Your hire company is responsible for its own equipment and staff, but you should check they're doing their job.

Inflatables: check the paperwork

Before you hire a bouncy castle or other play inflatable, the HSE advises you to:

• Check that it has a numbered PIPA tag or an ADIPS Declaration of Compliance.
• Ask for written documentation from a competent inspection body showing compliance with BS EN 14960.
• Ask for the operating instructions.
• If there's no tag or Declaration of Compliance, check with PIPA or ADIPS before going ahead.

Pegged down: anchoring, wind and siting

The HSE says every inflatable needs at least 6 anchor points, and all of them should be used. Check the operator manual for the exact number for your unit. Outdoor ground stakes should be at least 380 mm long and 16 mm wide. On hard surfaces where stakes can't be used, ballast of at least 163 kg per anchor point is needed.

Inflatables should not be used in winds above 24 mph (Beaufort Force 5), or below that if the manual sets a lower limit. Wind speed should be measured regularly with an anemometer, and the HSE says if you have no anemometer you should not operate the unit. Agree with the supplier who checks the wind, how often, and who has the authority to close it.

When siting, look for level ground away from overhead cables, trees, fences, barbecues and generators. Leave space around each unit for supervisors and queues, and keep a clear route for emergency access. Check where the blower and its cable will go, so nobody trips over it.

On the day: supervision

The HSE says users must be supervised at all times, the user limit must not be exceeded, and there should be mats at the entrance. In practice:

• Find out whether the supplier provides an attendant or expects you to. If it's you, get a briefing from them on set-up day.
• Keep similar sizes and ages together, and separate sessions for little ones.
• Shoes, glasses, sharp objects and food off before going on.
• Have someone ready to deflate and clear the unit quickly if the wind picks up or the blower stops.
• Rotate supervisors every hour or so. Watching a bouncy castle is tiring.

Fairground rides

If you book rides, the HSE's guidance for fair organisers says you must lay rides out so they operate safely and can be reached safely, keep emergency routes clear, prevent overcrowding and have enough trained, identifiable people on site for emergencies. Ride controllers are responsible for running their own rides safely, but organisers should make reasonable checks that controllers are meeting their duties. For more detail the HSE points to HSG175, Fairgrounds and amusement parks: Guidance on safe practice.

ADIPS, the Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme, is the industry inspection scheme for fairground rides and amusement devices. ADIPS Ltd runs it and manages the system for issuing Declarations of Operational Compliance (DOCs) to ride controllers, as the HSE explains. Asking to see each ride's current DOC is a sensible, reasonable check for an organiser to make.

Insurance and questions to ask suppliers

Make sure both you and your suppliers are insured. Rules vary by sport. For example, Surrey FA says all affiliated football clubs must have public liability insurance, and all teams must also have personal accident insurance. Hampshire FA's County Cover scheme gives £10m legal liability cover for clubs at Step 5 and below. Whatever your sport, check with your insurer that your club policy covers non-sporting fundraising events such as fun days.

Questions to ask every inflatable or ride supplier:

• Can you send a copy of your public liability insurance before we book?
• What is the PIPA tag number or ADIPS Declaration of Compliance for this unit, or the current DOC for this ride?
• Do you provide a trained attendant for the whole day?
• How much space, what ground surface and what power supply do you need?
• What wind limit does the manual give, and do you bring an anemometer?
• What happens if we have to close because of the weather? What are your cancellation terms?
• Can you provide your own risk assessment and method statement for set-up?

This guide summarises HSE guidance checked in November 2026. It isn't legal advice. For a large event, or if you're unsure, read the linked HSE pages in full and speak to your insurer.

Committee questions

Sources

• HSE: Bouncy castles and other play inflatables - safety advice
• HSE: Fair organisers
• HSE: HSG175 Fairgrounds and amusement parks
• HSE: The Amusement Devices Safety Council (ADSC)
• HSE: Event organisers
• HSE: Does health and safety legislation apply to volunteers?
• HSE: Protecting volunteers in charity shops and fundraising
• Surrey FA: Insurance
• Hampshire FA: Insurance