Frequently Asked Questions

These cover bouncy castles and general hire. For the mechanical rides we keep separate FAQ pages: rodeo bulls and multi-rides and surf simulator hire.

Is there a delivery charge?

All quoted prices include delivery.

How much room do you need?

Please see dimensions quoted and allow 3ft all the way round.

What electric power source do you require?

For indoor venues we need a normal 13a household socket. For outdoor use, we can supply portable power solutions.

Is your equipment up to HSE standards?

All our equipment is fully insured and carries current safety certificates. Every hire includes £5 million public liability insurance as standard.

Do you offer discounts for more than one piece of equipment?

Yes, discounts are available when you hire more than one item.

What happens if there is no electric available?

No problem, we would supply one of our generators, but there may be a small charge.

How long is a hire period?

Normally around 4 hours, but we will cater to suit your needs.

What happens if it is raining or windy?

Weather conditions do apply, please see item text or call us for more information.

Do you do overnight hire?

We do overnight on most of the equipment, but there is an additional cost.

Could you supply supervised hire?

Yes, we can send operators to stay with the equipment, priced in the quote if required.

Would you be able to cater for a big event?

Big events are our speciality.

Annual Safety Testing (& The PIPA Myth Explained)

The ONLY legal requirement for the safety inspecting of bouncy castles and inflatables is to comply with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).

PIPA is NOT the law - PUWER IS the law!

This states that you MUST HAVE an annual inspection carried out by a competent person. The HSE themselves do not and will not officially recommend any specific body. All they specify is that the test was carried out by a competent person, and every inflatable we own gets an independent inspection each year.

As part of this testing, the tester must be able to demonstrate that the inflatable is manufactured in accordance with the latest BS/EN14960 regulations, which ensures inflatables are safe in design and manufacture, are flame retardant and fit for purpose, as well as ensuring the inflatables are in a good state of repair. PIPA testing is therefore not the law, whereas the company’s adherence to PUWER is the law.

PIPA is simply a brand of testing and, despite popular belief, not compulsory. This confusion is led mainly by PIPA being one of the first bodies to offer testing of inflatables, and it has become a household name in the same way we use the word “Hoover” when in fact we are referring to the “Vacuum Cleaner”, or the word “Tannoy” when we are referring to a public address system (PA).

PIPA is only in place to reflect the safety of bouncy castles and inflatables designed for bouncing and sliding, and that is not the whole of a range as large and diverse as ours. Gladiator Duels, Assault Courses, Bungee Runs, Knockout inflatables, Pillow bashes, Bouncy Boxing, Human table football, Human Bowling and most of the other items on our website do not qualify for a PIPA tag. So we use both routes: inflatables that fall within the PIPA scheme are PIPA tested and carry a numbered tag, with the tag number shown on each product page so you can check it on the PIPA website. Everything else gets the same annual inspection by a competent inspector and comes with a certificate instead, because the scheme doesn’t cover them.

Safe use of inflatables - advice from the Health and Safety Executive, a must read for anyone hiring inflatables.

QUESTION: With the removal of the CRB police check what is required by law for Inflatable Hirers and children’s entertainers?

ANSWER: Inflatable Hirers and children’s entertainers no longer require a CRB or DBS. Please read the following as supplied by DBS customer services:

To be eligible for a DBS check (which has now replaced the CRB check) a position must be:

• Listed in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 – this entitles the position to a Standard level check, and if
• Prescribed in The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) Regulations entitles the position to an Enhanced level check.

Eligibility can also exist if the role involves regularly caring for, training, supervising or being solely in charge of persons under 18 and or vulnerable adults (within the meaning of section 59 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006).

From the information you have given the roles of an Inflatable Hirer and children’s entertainer is not listed in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and is not Prescribed in The Police Act 1997. The roles of an Inflatable Hirer and/or children’s entertainer do not appear to involve regularly caring for, training, supervising or being solely in charge of persons under 18 and or vulnerable adults. Therefore eligibility does not appear to exist.

For your information as the parents or carers are present, then they are responsible for the children, not yourself removing eligibility, where it states does the role involve regularly caring for, training, supervising or being solely in charge of persons under 18 and or vulnerable adults.

Please note the submission of DBS checks for ineligible positions would be considered unlawful under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Under Part V of the Police Act 1997, an application for a DBS check must be accompanied by a statement by the registered person that the certificate is required for the purpose of asking an exempted question.

If an individual knowingly asks for a DBS check for a post which is not included in the Exceptions Order 1975 to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (ROA), they would be in breach of Part V, section 123 of the Police Act, in that they are committing an offence by knowingly making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining or enabling another person to obtain a certificate under this part.

For more information on eligibility guidance, please follow the attached link www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-check-eligible-positions-guidance

For your information, you can request a Basic Disclosure from Disclosure Scotland which will provide details of any “Unspent” convictions. http://disclosurescotland.co.uk/

Customer Services

The Disclosure and Barring Service

PO Box 165, Liverpool, L69 3JD

Tel: 0870 90 90 811

www.gov.uk/dbs

Other:

Equity guidance on the matter: https://www.equity.org.uk/branches/thames-variety-branch/documents/disclosure-and-barring-service-what-is-it/disclosure-and-barring-service-what-is-it-march-2013-logo.pdf

DBS referrals Helpline Telephone: 01325 953795