In recent years, we’ve seen the popularity of commercial bouncy castles continue to surge. Countless families and kids have flocked to local parks and fairs for opportunities to bounce on play inflatables of all different shapes and sizes and also they hire them out for private parties and other events. That’s great news for operators of these kinds of businesses—and not just because they’re fun. The more these attractions gain in popularity, the more business owners are willing to invest in them. That said, setting up one of these structures on hard standing has numerous potential safety concerns, especially if it is rainy or has icy conditions. To help you understand why that is, we’ve outlined the problems of setting up an inflatable on hard-standing as compared to keeping our bouncy castles and other play inflatables on soft ground (e.g. grass) instead.
Cons of Bounce Houses on Hard Surface
While bouncy castles can be set up on a hard surface OUTDOORS we definitely do NOT recommend it. The main reason for this is because the law states that each anchor point must have a minimum of 163 KG of weight (e.g. sand-bags) attached to it (or the equivilent in Newtons – which is a scientific measurement used to calculate how much force is required to prevent a bouncy castle from moving or tipping over due to windy conditions or other inclement weather). Bearing in mind that a typical 12ft x 15ft bouncy castle has 6 anchor points – this equates to around a ton of sand. This would cause our van to be overweight while carrying this much sand – and could result in our prosecution. In addition, because the ground is hard, children’s knees and ankles are more likely to hit the ground (e.g. if they miss the crash mat) than if the bouncy castle were on grass or other soft surface where it can be suitably pegged down.
Why You Shouldn’t Set Up Bouncy Castles on Hard Standing
The main reason you should avoid setting up a bouncy castle on a hard surface is that it is more likely to cause injuries to children. Let’s look at the example of a concrete surface. If a child falls while jumping on a bouncy castle on concrete, and they miss the crash mat, he or she is much more likely to end up with a scrape or bruise than if the castle were on soft ground. Also, hard surfaces, including asphalt, also don’t drain water as well as grass. If the inflatable is set up on a hard surface, you’re more likely to have standing water and mud build up around the inflatable. Here in the UK, the maximum wind-speed allowed for inflatables to be used outdoors where they can be pegged down or secured with e.g. a ton of sand or strapped to a sturdy object such as a heavy duty fence or vehicle (remove the ignition keys!) is 24 mph.
Alternatives to hard standing
If you decide, with good reason, that hard standing isn’t a good option, there are a few alternatives to consider. First, you can set up the bouncy inflatable on grass, which is the greatly recommended option. This will provide a much softer surface for jumping, and could also be a good idea if you are expecting rain. If you want to stick with concrete or asphalt or other hard standing and have the correct equipment to ensure the inflatable does not move with the wind, especially any gusts, consider setting up a tarp to provide some softness beneath the castle. This can protect the inflatable from damage and mud buildup, and it can help keep the surface beneath it drier. We also recommend providing additional padding around the outside of the inflatable, so kids can’t trip over the edges.
Summary and conclusion
As a reputable hire company, we never recommend setting up an inflatable on a hard surface outdoors, there are just too many disadvantages and potential problems. The main one is that, unless you have a very large bouncy castle, the kids are more likely to trip and fall when jumping. Because the ground is hard, their knees and ankles are more likely to hit the ground than if the house were on soft dirt or grass. Because the surface is hard, water and mud can build up around the inflatable creating an unhealthy condition for play, and leaving a mess for you to clean up later. If your bouncy castle is set up on a hard surface, you’re more likely to have standing water and mud build up around it. As mentioned above the law states that each anchor point must have a minimum of 163 KG attached to it. Bearing in mind that a typical 12ft x 15ft bouncy castle has 6 anchor points – this would amount to about one ton of sand – a huge amount of weight – but the absolute minimum required by law. This would obviously cause our van to be grossly overweight, and we pride ourselves on being a very safe and professional hire company – so carrying over a ton of sandbags would not be a viable option. Here in the UK, the maximum wind-speed allowed for inflatables to be used outdoors where they can be pegged down or secured with e.g. a ton of sand or fastened to a sturdy object such as a heavy duty fence or vehicle (remove the ignition keys!) is 24 mph.
<< Return to news