Bounce houses and other inflatable bouncers are great entertainment for kids and adults in summer, however, one of the most important safety protocols to avoid accidents and injuries is making sure this giant inflatable structure is securely tied down. Some people may think that the best way to tie down a bounce house is with long metal stakes hammered into the ground, how hard can it be? The process is rather simple for many people at first glance, but you should know that the stakes are not always the best option when you need to set up an inflatable on cement or asphalt. Please keep reading to learn more about the safest way to tie down an inflatable structure.

1. What kind of stakes should you use?

Most of us know that a commercial bounce house should be tied down with long steel stakes, but there are other people out there who want to make it easier to use plastic stakes. This is not safe enough for outdoor use. You should choose 30 to 40 inches in length steel stakes and install them at every corner. Make sure the stakes are pounded down at a 45-degree angle into firm solid ground with the rope stretched taut. And the rope or tethers you use should be sufficiently strong enough to prevent your inflatable from falling over or blowing away. The short plastic stakes just don’t have the power.

The ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) says that there should never be more than one rope tie-down connected to a single anchor in the ground at any given time. The long stakes should be pounded down at least 70% of the way down, anchor then into the ground completely when possible, or you need to cover the stick out parts with sandbags or other things to prevent someone from tripping over it.

2. How to tie a bounce house down on cement or asphalt?

Although the grass and dirt are the best surface to put your bounce house, but sometimes you have to set it up on cement or asphalt, you can use steel stakes here, so you may want to use heavy sandbags. You may need to check the manual to figure out how much weight it needed for each tie down point. The standard weight for most inflatables is 75 pounds at each tie-down location. So you may need to use more than one sandbag at each anchor point if your sandbags are not heavy enough.

3. What else can be used in addition to stakes and sandbags?

Although the steel stakes and sandbags are two most common anchors for inflatables, but they are not the onlY option. You can also use water bags or water barrels as the anchoring weights. But the rough rocks or cement block are not recommended because these can easily wear down the material of your bounce house. If you can find large trees or other secure foundations in the area, these can be used for additional security. But cars or vehicles can never be tied with your tethers in case someone accidentally drive off and take the inflatable with them along with the children inside.

4. Cautions

Even if you have tied down your inflatable jumper with steel stakes or sandbags, doesn't mean it's unconditioned safe. First, before you add the stakes, you should make sure the flat ground is free of debris, place a tarp if possible. Second, no matter which type of stakes you choose, you should never set up an inflatable on windy days. Winds over 20 MPH have potential to tip over or blow away one of these structures. The operator or parents supervisor should always keep an eye on the changes of weather.

In conclusion, when buying a bouncy castle or water slide for your children, you should not only care about the inflatable unit and blowers, but also pay attention to the suitable anchoring accessories to make sure you secure the inflatable on the ground safely. These useful tools can be purchased from the manufacturer easily when your ordering an inflatable unit.