CAUTION!!

North Carolina is one of the most, if not the most, difficult states in which to operate inflatables. The rules and regulations are strict and strongly enforced to ensure the safety of ALL events in our state.

As a result, there are MANY companies that are operating illegally in order to save money and time. The safety of you and your guests are at risk if you choose to schedule with one of these companies.

Insurance:

• Some companies will state that they are insured but, THEY ARE NOT. Ask for proof of insurance. This is an easy thing to provide and will not take more than 24-48 hours after the request is made. If it takes longer than that – this is your red flag.
• Some companies are operating with insurance but it only covers ONE of each type of equipment. i.e.: Out of the 7 moonwalks that they own, only ONE is actually covered under their policy. Their plan is to claim that the moonwalk that the incident occurred on just happens to be THE ONE that is insured! Just because they can provide you with proof of insurance DOES NOT necessarily mean that the piece you want to rent is actually insured. PLEASE request an Equipment Schedule as well as proof of insurance to avoid supporting a company that is willing to save a dollar by putting your safety at risk.

“Backyard” pieces:

• Moonwalks, Slides and such that can be purchased at Sam’s, Costco, and Wal-Mart ARE illegal when rented in NC – they fail to meet the guidelines that are required by the State. There are companies that are offering these pieces for rent. BEWARE of renting from one of these companies. If an inspector sees one of these units on your property, your event WILL be shutdown and YOU may also be liable for a state fine. These pieces are inexpensive to rent – is it really worth it?

Operators/Attendants:

• The State of NC requires that operators be a minimum of 18 yrs of age. If the company that you are considering uses or allows you to provide volunteers – they MUST be 18. We have seen many festivals where youth groups (ages 15-17) were allowed to run the equipment. Some companies think that if you provide attendants that are under age, this is not their problem. THIS IS TRUE! If you are caught with an underage attendant and the contract shows that you were responsible for providing the attendants – Your event will be shut down and you will be fined.

Many companies that are operating illegally DO NOT know the NC rules and regulations governing our industry. Even if they can provide proof of insurance, are using a commercial unit, and have provided an attendant that is 18. Do they have all the necessary training documents, fire certificates, inspection sheets and manufacturers operating guidelines with them? Did they ground the generator correctly? If not, your event will be shut down and YOU may be subject to fines.

PLEASE do not rent from these companies. PLEASE support those of us who have your Events Success and Safety in mind and have spent the extra time and money to ensure that you are protected.