We are sometimes asked at Elmbridge Inflatables, "can we put a bouncy castle on artificial grass?" At first glance, the answer appears to be "no," and this perception is typically held throughout the whole inflatable hiring industry. Bouncy castles can be set-up up on synthetic grass, but it would be impractical and expensive. In the paragraphs that follow, we'll explain why....
Bouncy castles are often anchored on the grass by means of heavy-duty metal pegs. If that is not an option, then the law and "Best Practice" require us to put 163 kg on each of the bounce house's anchor points (en14960). Keep in mind that a typical bouncy house for kids will have at least six places to anchor it down (and sometimes as many as eight). With sandbags, we could get 163 kilogrammes, but it would need seven for each anchor point and 42 for a little children's bounce house because each sandbag weighs around 25 kilogrammes. In comparison, it takes a staggering one tonne of sand to safely anchor a bounce house (or more if the bouncy castle has eight anchor points).
Therefore, it appears that the most we could legally load into our van is one inflatable and the quantity of sandbags required to set up one bounce house on artificial grass. This means that we would be unable to complete more than one hire booking every day, driving up the price. Not only would it take the power of Superman to carry 42 bags of sand into the van, then back out into the garden, and finally pack all the equipment at the other end, but it would also be impractical and expensive.
Staking the castle down on artificial grass is sometimes doable, but only if you have regular ground underlying the turf and not a concrete layer like some people do, and if you don't mind the holes the stakes will create in the turf or its liner underneath, or if you can fold the grass back. However, this is not a strategy that we advocate for.
We're fully aware of the fact that "less reputable" rental firms could use only four sandbags to prop up the entire inflatable and guarantee you everything will be OK. Customers frequently fail to account for the true quantity necessary, which leads to unforeseen consequences. Unfortunatelly, it usually takes an accident for individuals to fully appreciate the need of these regulations. Nothing good could come from leaving a child on an unattended, untethered bouncy castle that has been weighted down with a couple of sandbags. The inflatable might be easily blown away by a gust of wind.
Similarly, we can't use concrete since it's not a stable enough base for our equipment. The fact that a youngster will inevitably be hurt in an accident on concrete should serve as a warning to you. You are well aware of the fact that some people may engage in such behaviour for extended periods of time without drawing any kind of negative attention to themselves.
While we agree that artificial grass is visually pleasing, requires no maintenance, has no weeds, and can be used throughout the year for play, it is not a safe surface for a bouncy castle. You should definitely think about renting a hall if you have AstroTurf or artificial grass in your lawn. If that is not possible, perhaps you might use the garden of a friend or relative, or even a co-worker. This is because it's less likely that synthetic surfaces like AstroTurf and fake grass are safe enough for children to play on. Putting a bounce house on fake grass is a risk that isn't worth taking. First and foremost, we ensure the safety of your children above all other considerations.
<< Return to news