Amusement Rides Legislation

Major rides covered

• An aerial ropeway
• A bungee device
• A reverse bungee device
• A motion-based simulator
• A water slide where there is an additional mechanical or electrical device that propels the sliding device along any point in the ride
• A drop tower, indoor skydiving device or jump device, where the maximum vertical displacement a patron is taken through in the course of the ride is equal to or exceeds 5 metres
• A ferris wheel or gyro tower, where the maximum vertical displacement a patron is taken through in the course of the ride is equal to or exceeds 10 metres
• A free-fall jump device where the maximum vertical displacement of a patron above the catch device is at least 10 metres.
• A carousel, roundabout, swinging ride, a flume ride, river rafting ride, roller coaster, train or any other amusement ride in item 29 of the First Schedule where:
  • the acceleration that the patron is subjected to corresponds with Areas 3, 4, or 5 in the restraint determination diagram, according to the standard ASTM F 2291 or EN 13814; or

    d. the maximum vertical displacement a patron is taken through in the course of the ride is equal to or exceeds 10 metres

• A funicular.
• A power-driven roller glider where:
  • the maximum vertical displacement a patron is taken through in course of the ride is at least 5 metres; or 
  • at any point along the course of the ride:
    • the vertical displacement of the patron may be at least at 10 metres above the access level; or
    • there is no access level.

Non-major rides covered

• An air-inflated enclosure
• A human-powered carriage that is 5 metres or more above ground or floor level
• A skydiving device
• An inflatable or a group of inflatables that a patron may enter upon or within or climb on:
  • in a case where the inflatable or group of inflatables is used on land
    • that has any space that is fully or partially roofed over or covered, and the roofed over or covered space occupies an area that is at least 30 square metres;
    • where the maximum vertical displacement above the ground of a patron using the inflatable or group of inflatables is at least 5 metres;
    • that has any space within the inflatable or group of inflatables that is fully or partially roofed over or covered, and that has at least one point within that space, accessible by a patron, where the distance to the nearest exit is at least 15 metres; or
    • that has a base area (when viewed vertically above) that is at last 150 square metres, whether or not the inflatable or group of inflatables has any enclosed space; or
  • in a case where the inflatable or group of inflatables is used on water (whether floating on, partially submerged within or fully submerged within the water):
    • where the maximum vertical displacement of a patron using the inflatable or group of inflatables above the base of the inflatable or group of inflatables is at least 5 metres;
    • that has a base area (when viewed vertically above) that is at least 15 square metres, whether or not the inflatable or group of inflatables has any enclosed space; or
    • that has any linear dimension (when viewed vertically above) that is at least 7 metres.
• A jump device
• A luge
• A play net, where at least 150 square metres of its area is installed:
  • horizontally, or substantially horizontally, such that a patron may recline without holding on to the play net; and
  • at least 5 metres above the ground or water surface.
• A static simulator, whether coin operated or otherwise:
  • where the patron experiences acceleration corresponding to that in Area 3, 4 or 5 in the restraint determination diagram in the standard ASTM F 2291 or EN 13814; or
  • in relation to which the patron who is riding on the device may revolve about a horizontal or inclined axis through an angle equal to or greater than 60 degrees on either side of a theoretical vertical plane on which the axis of the device lies
• A trampoline bungee
• A water slide where the maximum vertical displacement a patron is taken through in the course of the ride is equal to or exceeds 5 metres, or where there is an additional mechanical or electrical device that propels the sliding device along any point in the ride
• A wave-surfing device
• A zip line where:
  • the maximum vertical displacement a patron is taken through in the course of the ride is equal to or exceeds 5 metres, or
  • at any point along the entire length of the zip line -
    • the patron may be at a height that is equal to or exceeds 10 metres above the access level; or
    • there is no access level

Rides not covered

• Any power-driven amusement ride that has a total motive power rating of not more than 1.1 kilowatts, other than the following amusement rides:
  • a mechanical stimulator;
  • go-karts;
  • bumper cars;
  • a roller glider that is power-driven
• A lazy river ride
• A wave pool

Type of ride

Assessed and certified by

Qualifications

Database

All rides

Qualified Person (QP)

QP is a specialist professional engineer, registered in the discipline of amusement ride engineering with the Professional Engineers Board

Professional Engineers Board database

Major amusement ride with a higher risk and safety profile

QP, with advice and opinion from a conformity assessor (CA)

CA has expertise carrying procedures (including inspections, tests and certifications) to determine whether the design and specifications, proposed installation or modification method or programme conforms to the technical standard or requirement.