Safety rules for bouncy castles effective July 1

A new national safety standard for bouncy castles and other inflatable amusement devices will take effect on July 1 in the wake of several fatal accidents.

Released in February by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China, the new rules address several key risk areas and lay out clear requirements for anchoring and ballasting to stabilize the structures and keep them grounded.

Inflatable amusements such as bouncy castles and slides are popular with children and can be seen in many playgrounds, public squares and residential communities. However, there has been little safety regulation of the inflatable products, resulting in frequent accidents, the administration said on its website. It added that quality and safety had become pressing issues.