Frequently Asked Questions

Annual Safety Testing (& The PIPPA 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).

PIPPA is NOT the law - PUWER IS the law!

This states that youMUST HAVEan 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 if the test was carried out by a competent person and as such we use the brand A Bouncy Castle Man

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. PIPPA testing is therefore not the law, whereas the company’s adherence toPUWER is the law.

PIPPA is simply a brand of testing and despite popular belief, not compulsory. This confusion is lead mainly by PIPPA being one of the first bodies to offer testing of inflatable's and 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).

One of the main reasons we do not use PIPPA is that PIPPA is only in place to reflect the safety of bouncy castles & inflatable's designed solely for Bouncing & Sliding and not adequate for a company as large and diverse as ourselves. Gladiator Duels, Assault Courses, Bungee Runs, Knockout inflatable's, Pillow bashes, Bouncy Boxing, Human table football, Human Bowling and most of the other items on our website do not qualify for testing by PIPPA.

In absence of any further laws we opt to use the brand A Bouncy Castle Man, We do this because of the following reasons:

• The company has been around for over 15 years gaining an almost Unravelled level of competence.
• They issue safety inspections certificates independently that comply with PUWER.
• The company issue every inflatable with a unique serial number to enable tracking even after the sale.
• Each certificate comes with a log book and a service history section so you can track its history (like a car)
• They are members of The British Inflatable Hirers Association (BIHA)
• They are members of The Inflatable Play Enterprise (TIPE)
• They have completed The Registered Play Inspectors International training day.
• They are open 7 days a week for verification of certificates on 01302 351444

Safe Use of Inflatable's - Notes from the Health and Safety Executive - A must read for all hire companies.

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 please 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