In recent days we have been involved in quite a heated debate regarding internal bouncy castle pressure and the type and style of blowers required.
I wish to clarify your legal duty of care when installing inflatables as there is quote a lot of misinformation circulating in regards to what is and isnt required and I hope this inflatable helps go someway to ensuring you achieve the legal requirements safety.
The Manometer bouncy castle external temperature is every hirers best friend and it's impossible to comply with the regulation without owning one.
All inflatables are only permitted to be hired out with a pressure reading of 4" water gauge or 1 kpa, which must be recorded on delivery of EVERY hire, both in domestic gardens and commercial events.
The inflatable should always read a minimum of 1kpa (4"WG) if it doesn't meet this on a certain blower, you need to increase the blower power or add another one into the mix until you achieve the correct pressure. Theres a huge number of reasons why it could be soft in different settings.
A 1.5HP blower from every manufacturer gives a different pressure reading from new on the same inflatable with a range as big as 20%
The HP is the power of the motor and gives no indication of how much air leaves the blower or at what speed or pressure it leaves so its completely irrelevant to anything other than an initial guess at which one to pick out and try first.
- Now age a blower 3-4 years and you've another 10-25% drop.
- Dirty fan blades mess with the airflow, another 10-30% drop.
- Add a 50m extension cable and the pressure reduces further.
- Use the HORN7 cable with a better AMP rating and the pressure goes up.
- Use 1.5mm 3 core instead of 2.5mm and it goes down.
- Use multiple splitters or feed disco or light units from the same cable and the pressure goes down.
- Use a 4Hp petrol blower and you're somewhere around a 2.5-3Hp electric blower capacity equivalent.
- Use a generator and your HP can drop out by up to 30% too.
- This alone can reduce an inflatable from being perfect on a 1.5HP to needing a 2HP.
Now throw multiple blower tubes into the mix and the whole theory of HP is wiped out. You can use whatever combination of blowers you see fit but they must always achieve the manufacturer's recommendations or a minimum of 1kpa at the unit. This must be measured at the inflatable with a Manomenter device in line with HSE's recommendations.
13th June 22 - HSE Guidance 13.06.2022 (Bouncy castle and event guidance update 2022)
The following guidance has been issued by the HSE and contains vital information that bouncy castle hirers and event organisers should be made aware of.
The main information changes are the requirements of the internal pressures and external wind speeds to be monitored at all times during an event and record the information required.
And the supervision explanations from EN14960 have been reinforced and now issued to local trading standards, HSE officers and local authorities.
The document can be read in full by clicking the following link; https://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/og-00130.pdf
Extracts;
The following extract has been taken from the enforcement section of the document;
HSE has stated that they now want the end-users to ensure the inflatable has all the required pressures you'd normally find on an annual test during everyday hires. They require this information to be checked on delivery and recorded along with any relevant wind speeds. They also insist in other documents that these devices are calibrated annually so please ensure you have one calibrated.
But is it needed and how do I use a manometer?
Whilst this all sounds over the top, we all have that one blower that just isn't as good as the rest but how good is it? What pressure does it give out? Is it enough pressure to keep an inflatable slides back wall stable and safe for example? Who knows???
The operation is really quite simple.
Simply insert the clear plastic tube of the manometer into the blower tube, seal the blower strap as normal.
Carry on setting up the inflatable as normal.
When the inflatable is fully inflated, record the manometer reading on your driver's logs, disclaimers or delivery sheets, along with the wind reading and remove the device.
It really is quite simple.
The manometer doesn't need to be left with the client but I recommend leaving the wind speed meter.
The whole process takes under 30 seconds and is something I'm afraid we must all get used to.
Readings;
If the Manometer reading is over 4" water gauge(1 kpa) then the inflatable can be used in line with EN14960.
If the Manometer reading fails to achieve 4" water gauge (1 kpa), then simply change the blower for another and retest, Add an additional blower or use a larger horsepower blower to achieve 4" water gauge (1 kpa).
If none of the above work to achieve the 4" water gauge (1 kpa) requirements, then the inflatable is not fit for use and must not be used.
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