Visitor attractions

Inflatable play equipment safety and insurance, explained

Inflatable play equipment safety is the set of design, inspection and operating rules that keep bouncy castles and similar inflatables tested, anchored and supervised. It matters for insurance because hirers, event organisers and insurers commonly ask for proof of inspection and safe set-up, and a unit run outside HSE’s guidance is hard to defend after an accident.

Part of: Visitor attraction insurance

In short

HSE’s guidance, Bouncy castles and other play inflatables: safety advice, applies to inflatables covered by BS EN 14960: 2013. HSE says most carry a numbered PIPA tag or an ADIPS declaration of compliance. New units need an initial test, and every unit an annual inspection by a competent person. No inflatable should be used in winds above 24mph (38 km/h), Force 5 on the Beaufort scale. Outdoors, every anchor point must be used, with at least six per unit, and at least one trained person must supervise constantly. Health and safety law applies to commercial supply, hire and use, not private domestic users.

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The law and the standard behind it

Last reviewed 7 October 2026 by the Apex commercial team.

Inflatables are fairground equipment in law. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 defines fairground equipment to include plant designed for the public to use “as a slide or for bouncing upon” (s.53(1)).
Makers and suppliers. Anyone who designs, manufactures, imports or supplies an article of fairground equipment must, so far as reasonably practicable, make it safe, test and examine it as needed, and give adequate information about safe use (s.6(1)).
Operators. Employers must not expose people outside their employment, such as children using the unit, to risks to their health or safety, so far as reasonably practicable (s.3(1)).
Who the law reaches. HSE says health and safety law applies to the supply, hire and use of inflatables for commercial purposes, not to private, domestic buyers and users.
The standard. HSE’s guidance applies to devices covered by BS EN 14960: 2013, Inflatable play equipment. Safety requirements and test methods. A new inflatable should have an initial test to confirm it complies.

HSE publishes separate guidance on sealed inflatables, such as inflatable trampolines and floating platforms, which hold pressurised air rather than relying on a running blower.

PIPA tags, ADIPS and annual inspection

HSE says most play inflatables display either a numbered PIPA tag or an ADIPS declaration of compliance (DoC) to show they comply with BS EN 14960, and that you can use the schemes’ websites to check that safety tests have been carried out.

PIPA. HSE names it the Professional Inflatable Play Association scheme. It covers inflatables within the scope of BS EN 14960. HSE’s guidance HSG175 says it is administered by the Made Up Textiles Association and recognised by HSE for inspecting and certifying inflatable amusement devices.
ADIPS. The Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme covers a wider range of inflatable play equipment as well as traditional fairground rides.
Competence. HSE considers inspectors registered under either scheme competent. If you use someone outside them, you may have to show how you judged their competence.
Annual inspection. The owner, or whoever makes the unit available, must make sure a competent person inspects it every year. HSE says the inspector should identify the inflatable and blower by serial number, look at previous reports and certificates, and inspect anything that may affect safe operation.

HSE warns that you may be risking people’s safety if an inflatable has neither a PIPA tag nor an ADIPS DoC.

Wind, anchoring and supervision: HSE’s figures

Topic	What HSE says
Wind	No use above 24mph (38 km/h), Force 5. Some units have a lower limit in the manual. Outdoors, measure with an anemometer at regular intervals and record readings; without one, don’t operate outside. Smartphone weather apps are not suitable.
Anchor points	At least 6 per unit, and all must be used outdoors.
Ground stakes	Metal, at least 380mm long and 16mm wide, with a rounded top and a welded O or D ring. No improvised ropes such as bungee cord.
Hard surfaces	Ballast of at least 163kg per anchor point, or ground anchor bolts with a 1600N load rating fitted by a competent person.
Pressure and blowers	Keep pressure within the manufacturer’s range, measured with a device such as a manometer. Check blowers daily.
Before use	Check the blower, connection tube, mats, fabric and seams, and that the unit looks symmetrical. Test the deflation rate by switching off the blowers.
Supervision	Constant supervision by at least one suitably trained person. Keep to the user and height limits, and keep bigger users apart from smaller ones.

HSE says that if the unit deflates so fast that it loses shape and stops users escaping safely, or cannot stop them falling, it should not be operated. On hard standing, impact-absorbing material should be provided unless the device is securely and permanently covered.

What it means in practice

These examples are illustrative, not real cases.

A hire company at a school fair. Gusts pick up in the afternoon. The operator’s anemometer readings, not the forecast, decide when to clear and deflate the unit, and the record shows the decision was made.
Dry hire to a pub. The unit is delivered and left. Agree in writing who sets it up, who supervises and who stops play in wind, because someone must do it on the day.
An importer of new units. It takes on s.6 duties, should arrange initial testing to BS EN 14960, and can be liable as importer under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, s.2(2)(c), if a defect causes damage.
An indoor inflatable park. HSE says indoor anchorage should follow the operator’s manual. Health and safety duties to users still apply in full.

How insurance responds

Inspection and set-up evidence show you met the standard. Insurance answers the liability or loss, subject to the policy terms.

Who	Cover usually engaged	Where gaps appear
Operators and hire firms supplying staffed units	Public liability	Conditions on wind, anchoring or supervision; units without current inspection; events not declared
Hire firms offering dry hire	Public liability, including liability arising from hired-out equipment	Some wordings treat dry hire differently; check it is covered
Event organisers, schools and venues hiring a unit	Their own public liability	Assuming the hire firm’s policy protects the hirer
Manufacturers, importers and own-brand sellers	Product liability	Exports; design advice; recall costs
Owners of units and blowers	Equipment or all risks cover	Theft from vehicles; damage while in use; wear and tear
Employers	Employers’ liability, compulsory for most employers in Great Britain	Casual weekend staff not declared

Insurers commonly ask for inspection records and how you control wind and supervision. Keep the wind and pressure readings HSE says should be recorded, and a note of your pre-use checks: they are also your evidence if a claim arrives.

Common misunderstandings

“A PIPA tag means I’m insured.” A tag shows inspection; it is not insurance.
“The tag lasts as long as the unit.” HSE expects an annual inspection.
“The forecast says it’s calm.” HSE says measure on site with an anemometer.
“Domestic rules apply because it’s a birthday party.” If you supply or run it as a business, health and safety law applies.

What to check

A current PIPA tag or ADIPS DoC and annual inspection report for every unit.
Stakes, ballast and an anemometer travelling with every booking.
Written terms saying who supervises, especially on dry hire.
That your policy conditions match how you actually operate.

Hiring out or running inflatables?

If this affects your business, these are the points a broker will ask about:

How many inflatables you own, their types and values.
Whether each has a current PIPA tag or ADIPS DoC.
Whether you supply staffed units, dry hire or both.
How you measure wind and anchor units on hard surfaces.
The events and venues you supply, and any indoor use.
Accidents and claims in the past five years.

Speak to a broker

Inflatable hire cover, placed by a named broker

Send us your current schedule, or tell us about the property if you are arranging cover for the first time. Or leave your number and a named broker will call you back, usually the same working day.

Start your quote →or call 0117 325 0027

How Apex places this cover

Apex Insurance Brokers is an independent insurance broker based in Bristol, established in 2009 and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are not tied to one insurer: we work with over 30 markets, including Lloyd’s syndicates through wholesale brokers, and every client has a named broker who handles the placement, mid-term changes, certificates for clients and the renewal.

A short fact-find. We ask what you actually do, for whom, under what contract terms, and what has gone wrong before.
A written presentation to insurers. Under the Insurance Act 2015 you must make a fair presentation of the risk. We help you meet that duty, and a well-presented risk gets better terms.
Quotes you can compare. Limits, excesses, retroactive dates, exclusions and premium side by side, with a plain-English recommendation.
No gap in cover. If you are moving from another insurer or broker, we line up the new policy to start the moment the old one ends.

Related guides

Sources

Frequently asked

What wind speed is too high for a bouncy castle?

HSE says no inflatable should be used in winds above 24mph (38 km/h), which is Force 5 on the Beaufort scale, and some units have a lower limit in their manual. Outdoors, measure wind on site with an anemometer at regular intervals and record the readings. HSE says smartphone weather apps are not suitable.

What is a PIPA tag?

A numbered tag showing an inflatable has been inspected under the PIPA scheme, which HSE names the Professional Inflatable Play Association scheme. HSE says most play inflatables carry either a PIPA tag or an ADIPS declaration of compliance, and that you can check online that safety tests have been carried out.

Do bouncy castles need an annual inspection?

Yes. HSE says the owner, or the person making the inflatable available, must make sure a competent person carries out an annual inspection, identifying the unit and blower by serial number and reviewing previous reports. A new inflatable should also have an initial test to confirm it complies with BS EN 14960.

How many anchor points does a bouncy castle need?

HSE says every inflatable must have at least six anchor points and all must be used outdoors, with metal stakes at least 380mm long and 16mm wide. On tarmac or other hard surfaces, use ballast of at least 163kg per anchor point or rated ground anchor bolts.

What insurance does a bouncy castle hire business need?

Most need public liability covering both staffed and dry hire, equipment cover for units and blowers, and employers’ liability if they employ anyone. Businesses that make, import or sell units under their own name also need product liability. Insurers commonly ask about inspection records and wind controls.

Ready to compare cover?

Apex arranges liability and equipment cover for inflatable hire firms, operators and suppliers. Tell us what you own and how you hire it out, and we’ll look for cover that fits. Or call 0117 325 0027.

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Apex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales, company number 07014570. This page is general information, not advice on your individual circumstances. Cover is always subject to the insurer’s acceptance and the policy terms, and this page does not guarantee that cover will be available or on what terms.