Welcome to the Inflatable Testing and Training Service (ITATS)
Nationwide service with Clients in:
Hertfordshire - East Sussex - Surrey - Hampshire - West Sussex - Oxfordshire - Lincolnshire - Cambridgeshire - Isle of Man - London - Buckinghamshire - Bedfordshire - Middlesex - Cumbria - Staffordshire - Dorset - North Wales - Devon - Avon - Norfolk - Suffolk - Cornwall - Newcastle Upon Tyne - Scotland - Belfast - Jersey - Yorkshire
Grand Affairs Group has been involved in the inflatable industry for over 40 years and now includes the Inflatable Testing And Training Service (ITATS) as one of its divisions. With a comprehensive knowledge of the inflatable play industry ITATS has become one of the leading Inflatable Testing And Training Companies in the UK.
ITATS is headed up by Peter Grand who is a registered PIPA Inspector and Trainer. ITATS offers a professional and friendly service that is second to none and offers up to date advice regarding all aspects of the inflatable play industry.
All inflatable hire businesses are required to ensure that their equipment and staff comply with all current legislation and operate in a safe manner.
ITATS provides annual testing to BS EN 14960 (all parts) as applicable. ITATS is able to provide PIPA Inspection Reports (essential) or our own ITATS Inspection Reports for units that fall outside of the PIPA scheme (some games, pool inflatables etc).
ITATS also provides industry related training courses including all PIPA training courses.
Our Clients include:
Bouncy Castle Operators ,Local Authorities, Fairgrounds, Event Companies, Leisure Facilities, Swimming Pools, Theme Parks, Manufacturers.
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ITATS also provides training days for Controllers/Operators and Attendants of inflatable play equipment to BS EN 14960 and each successful candidate receives a certificate of attendance.
ITATS delivers the new PIPA Operators Course at several venues Nationwide. If you are interested in this new course register via email today and you will be notified of dates/venues as they are confirmed.
For any enquiries or questions do not hesitate to contact us!
Telephone: 07940 183600
Email: office@itats.co.uk
Alternatively, submit a message using the handy form on our contact page and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
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LATEST NEWS
All the latest news displayed here and on NEWS page
15th September 2024
New HSE directive on 'High' anchor points
Yesterday PIPA released Technical Bulletin TB08 to all inspectors regarding 'High' anchor points on inflatables. You can view a copy of the document here. In essence, as a result of HSE investigation into inflatable play equipment, their research has shown that 'High' anchor points are for 'stability' rather than 'anchorage'.
The result could mean that units that have previously 'PASSED' an inspection may 'FAIL' at its next inspection.
ITATS has written to PIPA seeking clarification as to whether or not this is to be applied retrospectively or from a date going forward.
7th October 2024
ITATS receives response from PIPA on TB08
PIPA released a document in September, TB08 (see here www.pipa.org.uk/media/ox5esmmb/tb08-anchorage-calculations-interim-v10.pdf ) which incorporates the the HSE requirements on anchorage.
Through our ITATS division we raised the following questions with PIPA relating to TB08 and the answers are shown in red.
- Is this to be implemented immediately? Yes, HSE do not want any grace period as they have identified this as an immediate action to be taken forward from their research. It is likely to be stated in the ETIS07 document (the last version I seen did and there was no talk of removing it, more so emphasising it).
- Is it to be applied retrospectively in its entirety? Yes - to fit in with ETIS07 and to meet the research HSE conducted.
- There are a number of diagrams featuring corner anchor points - EN14960, whist stating that corner anchor points count as 50% , nowhere does it state what constitutes a corner anchor point. Whilst I have agreed with the principle shown in the diagram, when this was raised we were told that any anchor point within 12 inches/30cm of a corner constituted a corner anchor point. I couldn't clarify on how many units will be affected by this change but there are certainly a few. We highlighted this to HSE, however they looked at this within their research and this was the definitive answer given and superseding all others. It has to be absolutely on the corner. Anything away from the corner, is counted as part of the calculation on the applicable side.
- TB08 states there is a more comprehensive TB on anchorage in the pipeline so do we have a release date and will it supersede TB08? This is a much bigger project and there is no timeline on this. We don't want to rush this one. But it wont replace the information, it will just make it a bigger technical bulletin covering more things related to anchorage.
So what does this mean for you?
In essence, anchorage on all units will need to be recalculated to meet with this new HSE directive. It is possible that some of your units may require further anchor points added if they do not meet these new requirements. These calculations will be carried out during the next inspection cycle. If you have already had your inspections completed for 2024 then you need to do nothing until 2025.
How is the calculation carried out?
There is a formula in EN14960 that shows how to calculate the required number on each side and this equates to -
surface area x 114 x 1.5
1600
This gives the required number of anchor points. All results are rounded up to the nearest whole.
The easiest way to calculate the surface area is to multiply length x height. This will build in an additional safety factor. This is known as the 'box' method. If you look at TB08 you will see a diagram of a slide which explains the difference between the 'box' method and 'actual' calculation of the surface area.
Remember that high anchor points are no longer part of the total. However, if high anchor points are fitted to any unit they must be used during operation as the aid stability.
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