Pipa Testing

To book a Pipa test please call Chris Ball on 01305 772741 or use our Contact Us page to email Chris about getting your inflatables Pipa tested.

Welcome to our website page dedicated to Pipa testing for bouncy castles and inflatables in the Dorset,Devon, Somerset, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Hampshire and the rest of the UK!

If you're in the business of renting out bouncy castles or other inflatable play equipment, then you likely already know that safety is of the utmost importance. In order to ensure that your equipment is safe for use and compliant with relevant regulations, you may need to have it tested and certified as a condition of insurance.

One popular certification scheme in the UK is the PIPA (Pertexa Inflatable Play Accreditation) scheme. PIPA was established in 1999 as a way to promote safety and quality standards in the inflatable play industry. Since then, it has become one of the most widely recognized certification schemes in the UK.

So, what exactly is involved in PIPA testing, and how can you ensure that your equipment meets the necessary standards? Here's what you need to know:

Choose a PIPA-registered inspector

First and foremost, you'll need to find a PIPA-registered inspector to carry out the testing. PIPA maintains a database of registered inspectors on their website, so you can easily search for an inspector in your area. It's important to choose an inspector who is properly qualified and experienced in the field.

Book a test

Once you've found an inspector, you'll need to book a test for your equipment. The inspector will need to physically examine your equipment to ensure that it meets the necessary safety and quality standards. This will involve a thorough visual inspection as well as a series of tests to check for things like stability, weight limits, and other safety features.

Receive your PIPA certificate

If your equipment passes the test, you'll receive a PIPA certificate, which serves as proof that your equipment is safe for use and compliant with relevant regulations. You'll need to renew your certificate every year to ensure that your equipment remains up to standard.

By having your bouncy castles and inflatables tested and certified by a PIPA-registered inspector, you can demonstrate to your customers that you take safety seriously and that your equipment is of the highest quality. This can help to build trust and confidence in your business, and ultimately lead to greater success.

We hope you found this information helpful. If you have any further questions about PIPA testing or bouncy castle safety, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us

Public Liability Insured

RPII Registered Inspector

PIPA Tags & Certificates

RPII Inspections

BS EN14960:2006 Tests

PAT Testing

Inflatable play equipment is required by law to be inspected every year - a valid RPII or PIPA certificate is normally sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the law.

PIPA Testing:

The PIPA (Pertexa Inflatable Play Accreditation) scheme is a national system for ensuring that bouncy castles, inflatable slides and similar devices are safe for children to play on. There are strict standards that govern the design, manufacture and maintenance of inflatable play equipment which are laid out in BS EN14960:2006. The scheme is operated by the trade association MUTA with the support of the Health and Safety Executive and other industry bodies.

PIPA maintains the only national database of inflatable play equipment. The tag number is logged into the central database where the results of its initial test and subsequent annual tests are recorded. This database is publicly accessible and the inspection status of any tagged equipment can be checked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

As one of the PIPA scheme's network of inspectors I am qualified to inspect your inflatable play equipment to these standards and issue PIPA tags and certificates accordingly.

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To book your test call 01305 772741

I look forward to hearing form you,

The law for operators

When a company, organisation or individual makes available any equipment in return for payment they become subject to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This act places a duty of care on everyone involved in the transaction. This means that the operator, the operator's employees, the hirer, the hirer's employees and the owner or manager of the premises should do everything possible to ensure the safe use of the equipment.

In addition Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) require that all work equipment, and that includes inflatable play, must be tested by a competent person regularly (usually once a year).

PIPA helps operators conform with the law by defining a 'competent person' as one who has passed a specialised examination and is registered with the RPII.

Inspection by a competent person prior to first use and annually thereafter provides fundamental confidence in the equipment itself.

PIPA is one of only two inspection schemes recognised by the HSE (the other is ADIPS)

Operators using other testing schemes or methods may be required to demonstrate how such procedures equal or better the accepted best practice. Testers with no formal qualifications, however well experienced, would probably not be able to satisfy a court of their competence.

The National Association of Inflatable Hirers has published Information Sheet 49, a guide to safe use and operation of inflatable play equipment,

BS EN 14960

The European standard for inflatable play equipment was published by the BSI in 2007.

The published standard is subject to copyright so cannot be made available from this site. It can only be purchased through BSI

Scope

The PIPA scheme is designed to help you meet your obligations under Health and Safety legislation. The Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974 and subsequent regulations require all inflatable play equipment that is "designed to be used by members of the public for entertainment purposes either as a slide or for bouncing upon" to be tested at suitable intervals by a competent person.

Bouncy castles, and inflatable slides and obstacle courses are covered by the scheme, but bungee runs, and rodeo bulls are not.

Other types of device not covered by PIPA include:

Devices classified as toys

Devices designed for use in pools

Privately owned devices which users do not pay to use