Wind Limits and Safety Rules Every Bounce House Operator Follows
Wind is the number one reason bounce houses make the news. The ASTM standard, the 15 and 20 mph shutdown rules, how to anchor right, and the other safety habits that keep a rental business out of trouble.
Most bounce house disasters you've seen on the news have one thing in common: wind. An inflatable is basically a big sail full of air. A gust can lift an unanchored one off the ground with kids inside. If you run a rental business, wind rules aren't optional. They're the job.
What the standard says
In the U.S., the main safety standard for inflatables is ASTM F2374. Some key points:
- Anchoring should be designed for winds of at least 25 mph.
- The maximum operating wind speed has to be at least 5 mph lower than the anchoring design speed.
- If the manufacturer doesn't give a maximum wind speed, use 15 mph sustained as the limit.
The shutdown rules most operators use
- Staked into the ground: shut down at around 20 mph gusts or sustained wind, or the manufacturer's limit if it's lower.
- Weighted with sandbags or water barrels: shut down at around 15 mph.
- Always follow the manufacturer's number if it's stricter.
And it's not only the wind you feel. A study of wind-related bounce house incidents published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society found that about half happened at wind speeds below the 25 mph design threshold, and some happened during sudden gusts on otherwise calm days. Thunderstorm outflows can come out of nowhere.
Watch the wind like it's your job
- Check the forecast the night before and the morning of. Look at gusts, not just the average.
- Bring a handheld wind meter (anemometer) and check it during the event.
- Watch the sky. Approaching storms, building clouds and sudden temperature drops mean wind is coming.
- Shut down at the first sign of lightning, and don't reopen until the storm has passed.
- Get everyone off first, then deflate. Never deflate with kids inside.
Anchoring right
- Use every anchor point, every time. Skipping one weakens the whole setup.
- Stakes long and strong enough for the soil, driven straight down.
- Sandbags or water weights on hard surfaces, sized to the manufacturer's spec.
- Check the anchors during the event. Rain softens soil.
- Never anchor to a car, fence or tree unless the manufacturer allows it.
Other rules good operators follow
- A trained attendant watching the unit the whole time.
- Group kids by size. Don't mix toddlers with teenagers.
- Stick to the capacity on the label.
- No shoes, no sharp objects, no food or gum inside.
- Keep the blower and cord away from kids and water.
- Clear the area of fences, power lines and overhead branches.
- Know the local rules. Some states inspect or register inflatables like amusement rides.
Write it into your contract
Put the wind and weather rules in your rental agreement, so customers know you'll shut down if it gets windy, and that it's not a refund argument. See how to start a bounce house rental business for the rest of the setup.
Sources (3)
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: Wind-Related Bounce House Incidents · NOAA Repository: Wind-Related Bounce House Incidents (PDF) · Jump Orange: Inflatable Anchoring Requirements
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