How Should a Bouncy Castle Be Anchored?

Written by Luke

Almost every serious inflatable incident comes back to anchorage or wind. A castle that isn't held down properly can lift, roll or blow over with children on it, and no amount of good stitching or correct air pressure makes up for that.

The short answer is this: use every anchor point the unit has, which will be at least six. On grass, use proper metal stakes. On hard ground, use ballast or tested ground bolts. And never use the inflatable in winds above 24mph.

How many anchor points does a bouncy castle need?

HSE's guidance says every inflatable needs at least six anchor points. The exact number for your unit is set by the manufacturer and should be in its operating manual. BS EN 14960-1:2019 includes a method for working out how many a unit needs based on its size, so bigger units will usually have more than six.

Outdoors, every anchor point must be used, every time. If one is missing, torn or has come away from the unit, the castle isn't ready to go out.

Pegging on grass

HSE sets out what a ground stake should be:

• metal
• at least 380mm long and 16mm wide
• a rounded top
• a welded "O" or "D" ring on the end

Drive each stake fully into the ground so it holds firm. If the ground is too soft or too hard for a stake to hold, the unit isn't anchored. Use ballast instead, or don't set up there.

Anchoring on hard standing

On tarmac, concrete or paving, where stakes can't go in, there are two options:

• Ballast: at least 163kg on each anchor point. That's the equivalent of the 1600N load each anchor point needs to resist. Sealed water containers, sandbags or concrete blocks can all work, as long as each lot of ballast genuinely weighs 163kg and is held together.
• Ground anchor bolts: rated to 1600N, fitted by a competent person, and checked regularly.

PIPA's information sheet on hard standing adds some useful detail:

• Keep the tether angle between 30 and 45 degrees to the ground.
• Keep anchor points as low as possible, so wind can't get underneath the unit.
• Use screw-gate carabiners or shackles rated to 1600N.
• Check bolts after each use, and retest them if the surface around them cracks.

Anchoring on hard standing was the main change when BS EN 14960-1:2019 replaced the 2013 version. Check your manufacturer's manual for what your unit needs.

What doesn't count as anchorage

These come up again and again, and none of them are acceptable:

• tent pegs, or stakes shorter or thinner than the sizes above
• sandbags of unknown weight
• cars, vans or trailers
• fence posts, benches, bins or other street furniture
• open hooks
• tow ropes, general-purpose rope or bungee cords
• straps that have been knotted or hand-tied

The problem with most of these is that nobody knows how much load they'll take. Ropes and straps should be in good condition, with no fraying or cuts.

Indoors

Indoor set-ups don't have a fixed rule in HSE's guidance. The manufacturer's manual sets out what's needed to keep the unit in shape and stop it tipping over, so follow that.

Wind: the 24mph limit

No inflatable should be used in winds above 24mph, which is Force 5 on the Beaufort scale. Some manufacturers set a lower limit, and if yours does, that's the one to follow.

Measure the wind with an anemometer at regular intervals through the day, and write the readings down. A weather app tells you nothing about the wind in your field. If you haven't got an anemometer, HSE says don't operate outdoors. If the wind picks up, get everyone off and deflate the unit.

What we check at an annual inspection

At every annual inspection, we check:

• that the number of anchor points matches what the manufacturer specifies
• that each anchor point is present, intact and securely stitched to the unit
• the webbing, rings and fittings for wear, fraying, UV damage and repairs
• that the anchor points are positioned so the unit can be held down properly

Imported units are where we most often find problems, usually too few anchor points or ones that aren't strong enough. If you've bought a unit from abroad, an initial inspection before it goes out is the time to find that out.

Anything we find goes in your report, with what it is, why it matters and what will put it right.

Between inspections

The annual inspection checks the anchor points themselves. Using them properly at every set-up is down to the operator. Our safety checks page covers the daily checks, alongside air pressure and supervision.