One we get asked every summer is whether it's safe to put a bouncy castle out in hot weather. It is, as long as you take a few sensible precautions. The equipment holds up well in the heat, but the people on it need a bit of looking after.
Every inflatable we hire out is PIPA tested annually, cleaned and checked between hires, and securely anchored when our crew sets it up, so the equipment side is sorted before anyone gets on.
How hot does the surface get?
Bouncy castles are made from PVC vinyl, and that material absorbs heat in direct sunlight. On a really hot day the bouncing surface can get uncomfortable to touch, and in extreme cases hot enough to cause a minor burn. So we don't just inflate the castle and leave. The crew talks every customer through how to run it safely through the day.
What we recommend on the day
If you've got an inflatable booked for a warm day, here's what we suggest to keep everyone comfortable and safe.
Check the surface before any child goes on
Place the back of your hand on the bouncing surface and slide it across. If it's too hot for the back of your hand, it's too hot for little feet and hands. Repeat the check through the day, particularly when the sun is at its strongest.
Keep the play sessions short
Children heat up quickly when they're bouncing. We suggest sessions of around 15 minutes, then a break in the shade with a drink of water before the next go.
Keep them drinking water
Have plenty of drinking water to hand and keep the drinks going regularly, even if the children say they aren't thirsty. If anyone feels dizzy, unusually tired or just unwell, stop play straight away and let them cool down in the shade.
Clothing and sun cream
Light, loose clothing is best in the heat. A pair of socks makes warm vinyl more comfortable underfoot and cuts down on friction, and a high-factor sunscreen is worth putting on before they go outside.
Put it in the shade if you can
If there's a naturally shaded spot in the garden or at the venue, that's usually the best place for it. A lot of our inflatables come with fitted sun and shower covers that take the direct sun off the bouncing area. A gazebo or some shaded seating nearby gives children somewhere to wait their turn and gives the supervising adults a break from the sun too.
Heat and pressure
Heat does affect the pressure inside an inflatable, but it's allowed for when we set the unit up. Every castle goes out with the right blower for it, and the crew briefs you on what to expect. If anything looks or feels off during the hire, ring us on 0114 345 0135 - we'd far rather answer a question than have someone worry about whether something's normal.
Can you pour water over a bouncy castle?
This one comes up a lot, and the answer is no. A standard bouncy castle isn't built for wet use. Add water and the surface goes extremely slippery, the risk of an accident rises, and you can damage the equipment. Only dedicated water inflatables are made to be run wet, so if keeping cool is the aim, the shade, water and short-session routine above is the safe way to do it on a standard castle.
Keep an adult supervising at all times
Whatever the weather, a responsible adult should be supervising the inflatable the whole time it's in use. That's as true on a mild spring day as on a hot July afternoon.
Hot weather shouldn't stop the fun - with a bit of sense a bouncy castle or slide runs safely all summer. If you've got a birthday party, school fun day or community event coming up, have a look through the bouncy castles we hire out and get in touch, and we'll help you pick the right one for the day.
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