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Bouncy Castles - An Introduction

Author: Stephen Turner, for www.bouncycastle-web.co.uk

What is a bouncy castle?

A Bouncy castle is a large inflatable made of strong PVC or nylon. Bouncy castles are usually used by children, at garden parties or in community halls, but adults have been known to bounce around on bouncy castles too! The aim of the game is to climb into the bouncy castle and bounce as if there were no tomorrow.

How does a bouncy castle work?

Air is pumped into the inflatable to just the right amount of air pressure to give the perfect amount of bounce, but still leave a soft surface for that moment when the bouncers come back down to earth.

The concept is similar to a trampoline. The inflated surface provides a recoiling force that pushes the jumper into the air. Gravity then works as an opposing force and brings the bouncer back down to again.

Bouncy castles, boats, houses, trains…

Of course not all inflatable are bouncy castles. You can get bouncy inflatables in all shapes and sizes. I have seen bouncy boats, houses, trains, slides, moonwalks, circus rings, trucks and other types of inflatable. So, if you are thinking of hiring a bouncy castle then ask the hire company if they have any unusual inflatables - something out of the ordinary.

Bouncy castles and safety

Bouncy castles are great fun for children and adults but there are safety issues. People involved in the bouncy castle hire business employ numerous safety measures to ensure that bouncers on their castles and other inflatables are not hurt while playing.

If you are hiring out a bouncy castle you should also watch out for certain precautions while making the bouncy castle hire. For example, bouncy castles are prone to wear - especially at the seams were the bed meets the walls of the castle. If the seams look worn then the bouncy castle may well be too old for use.