Funworld November 2007

Jump Around

Inflatables have some family entertainment centers bouncing high

W ith inflatables, family entertainment center owners and operators hope their profits bounce along with their guests. That’s exactly what’s happening at Fieldstone Family Entertainment Center, where a 15-foot slide, part of an interactive play area for kids, has helped capture an audience too young for go-karts, laser tag, and many video games.

Chad Hooper, general manager of the Hiawassee, Georgia-based facility, believes the attraction has contributed nicely to the FEC’s financial success. “It’s another piece of the pie,” he says. “I would hate to see it fail.”

Doing some rough math, he estimates this play area, including a “foam factory” and inflatable slide, makes $100,000 in 12 months. “If we would take it out today,” Hooper says, “I think we would have a lot of customer complaints and probably a loss in business.”

But what goes up must come down, and FEC management needs to be aware of the safety requirements, additional space, and maintenance issues that come along with these colorful, air-filled attractions.

Planning Ahead
Before Fieldstone even broke ground, an inflatable was in the blueprints. All FECs should try to have such forethought and have a designated spot in mind, experts agree.

“You can’t make a spontaneous decision,” stresses Phil Slaggert, president of Mobile Midway Safety Institute in Hobe Sound, Florida. “You can’t just start planning on where to put it after you buy it.”

Inflatables, whether a slide, obstacle course, or “moon bounce,” have a large footprint, he reminds operators. In addition to the inflatable itself, space for the anchors, inflation tube, and exits and entrances must be factored in. Inflatables also have to be far enough away from other attractions and games in the FEC, so kids don’t bounce into other guests. Harry Bitzberger follows a general rule when talking about space allotment with other FEC operators. “If you want something that’s really cool, it’s going to eat up a couple hundred square feet,” says the owner of Moonbounce Adventures, with three Pennsylvania locations.

Facilities also must have enough ceiling space, notes Brian Field, president of Cutting Edge Creations Inc., an inflatable manufacturer in Eagan, Minnesota. Heights of 20 to 24 feet should accommodate most inflatables; anything less will limit options.

To aid owners with their designs, Cutting Edge will unveil a layout program at this month’s IAAPA Attractions Expo 2007 in Orlando. This software will allow attendees to punch in their room dimensions, along with any center beams, doors, etc., and with 3-D graphics, they can tell which inflatables will fit where in a given FEC.

In addition to layout planning, operators must think early on about staffing issues that may develop. Laws vary from state to state, but some require one attendant per unit, Field explains. So even if four inflatables are all in one room, each one needs its own employee in the area. “You have to work that into your business plan,” Slaggert says.

Maintenance and Safety
When considering the particular type of inflatable to purchase, Slaggert highly recommends checking to see if the manufacturer and the specific device are listed on the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs’ web site for Inflatable Amusement Ride Type Certification (www.state.nj.us/dca/codes/ridesafetyunit/ ridesafetyunit.shtml). The agency has read the inflatables’ manuals and reviewed to see if they’re compliant with ASTM standards for amusement rides, he says. It also looks at the supplemental documentation, such as pre-opening inspection and the maintenance checklist.

“They’re doing a lot of the owners’ work for them,” Slaggert says. “It’s one of the best consult ants in the business. Do you know why? You don’t have to pay them.”

He also suggests operators check with their insurance companies before plunking down the credit card. Some won’t insure inflatables or will require a higher premium.

Fortunately, inflatables’ growing popularity has made it easier to get insurance now compared to a few years ago, Bitzberger says: “They’re very safe if they’re utilized appropriately.” That’s why his staff will instruct all the children and parents on how to act properly on the equipment; mom and dad also must stay at the facility. Some of the most common infractions: tackling (especially with the older boys) and going down the slide head first.

“What we like to say when we’re briefing them early on: ‘If you forget the rules, we’ll come up and remind you,’” Bitzberger says.

To avoid “an accident waiting to happen,” separate the kids, if possible, Field suggests. Put the units that attract the more rambunctious 10- to 12-year-olds in one room; younger children should go in another. For added safety measures, Field says, all inflatables should be anchored to either the floor, the wall, or the rafters. Also, make sure the equipment is free of wrinkles and tangles, and follow the manufacturers’ recommendations on the number of guests allowed in the unit at one time. He also recommends buying a safety siren. This will sound if the power supply to the air blower cuts out, which does happen occasionally from either a pulled-out cord or a blown circuit. Some insurance companies offer a discount if you have a siren, Field notes.

With inflatables, seam fatigue tops the list of most common maintenance issues. “They’re being consumed. They’re going to get wear,” Field says. “The customer has to be realistic. You’re going to have repairs on these units, and they should budget for that.”

Hooper agreed about the occasional annoyances with the material, but for the most part, he has no complaints about his inflatable. “It really is a necessity for this environment,” he says.