How JM Inflatable Hire Follows the PIPA Safety Scheme
Every inflatable we hire is part of the PIPA inspection scheme. Here is what that means, what we do before every hire and how you can check our tags yourself.
When you hire an inflatable, you are trusting the supplier with your guests' safety. That's why JM Inflatable Hire follows the PIPA scheme – the UK inspection scheme for inflatable play equipment – and why we're happy to show you the paperwork for anything you book.
What is PIPA?
PIPA (the Pertinent Inflatable Patrons Association) runs the UK's inspection and tagging scheme for inflatable play equipment. Each inflatable in the scheme is inspected by a PIPA-registered inspector against the European safety standard for inflatable play equipment, BS EN 14960. When it passes, it is given a numbered PIPA tag and the test is logged on PIPA's national database.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises anyone hiring a bouncy castle or play inflatable to check that it has either a numbered PIPA tag or an ADIPS Declaration of Compliance, and written evidence that it complies with BS EN 14960.
How we follow the scheme
- Annual inspection. Our inflatables are inspected every year by a PIPA-registered inspector, and each one carries its own numbered tag.
- Checked before every hire. Between hires every inflatable is cleaned, dried and checked for rips, seam damage and worn anchor points, and the blower is checked too. Electrical equipment is PAT tested.
- Anchored properly. We use every anchor point on the inflatable. On grass we use steel stakes; on tarmac, concrete or indoors we use heavy ballast instead, following HSE guidance.
- Weather limits. We don't operate inflatables in winds above 24mph (Force 5) – or the lower limit in the manufacturer's manual where there is one – and our crew check the wind on site.
- Safe-use briefing. Before we leave, we brief the person supervising on the rules for that inflatable: user numbers, ages and heights, no shoes or sharp objects, and what to do if the weather changes. Or add our operators and we'll supervise for you.
- Paperwork for your venue. Once you've booked, we send our insurance certificate, risk assessment, method statement and PIPA details for your venue, school or council.
How to check a PIPA tag yourself
- Ask us for the PIPA tag number of the inflatable you're booking – or find the tag, usually attached near the entrance or blower tube.
- Enter the number on the PIPA website, pipa.org.uk.
- Check the photo and description match the inflatable, and that the test date is within the last 12 months.
If anything doesn't match, don't use the inflatable – and with us, just call and we'll sort it out straight away.
Questions?
Ask for the PIPA tag numbers for any inflatable on your quote, or read our safety FAQs. You can also browse the full range on our inflatable hire page.