Rob – Sports, Activities and Fun

Buying a Trampoline Guide How do I choose a Trampoline to Buy? The Space Required Welcome to Simplyfun's Buying a Trampoline Guide. You maybe wondering What trampoline size should I buy? With the range of trampoline sizes available, how much space you need depends on the size of the trampoline. Generally, its best to keep a three to give feet of space around your trampoline away from obstructions from brick walls, greenhouses, trees, sheds and anything else that maybe nearby. Additionally, making sure you have 6meters minimum from the ground to any overhead obstructions so children do not bang their head when jumping on a trampoline. Age of the Children Depending on their age may depend on what size trampoline you require. Its advised children under the age of 6 do not use a trampoline due to their development. However, a 8ft trampoline is ideal for younger children from the age of 6 and a larger sized trampoline for older children, such as a 10ft or 14ft trampoline. Trampolines have been designed to the European Safety standards to take a multitude of different maximum weights depending on the children’s age. So a 12ft trampoline will have a much higher maximum weight than a beginners 8ft trampoline. Each use metal springs to take the weight, however there is a range called Springfreetrampolines which do not use metal springs. If the child bouncing weights more than the maximum weight advised by the manufacturer then they risk the bounce mat stretching and touching the ground under the trampoline. What Size and Shape of Trampoline Would You Like? There are a range of shapes which are round, oval, rectangular and square. Size wise you have a large range to chose from for a garden trampoline which can be as small as 5ft but generally 8ft to 14ft but you can also find larger sizes with 10ft and 12ft being the most popular. When it comes to the design you have the standard spring based trampolines as well as a new style called Springfree trampolines which comes from the company of the same name. Spring based trampolines use metal springs as we tend to know about whereas Springfree use a flexible composite rod which when working together give a similar bounce to a metal spring based trampoline. This means that the metal springs are not present and can be seen to be safer for children plus there is no possible rusting due them not being made of galvanised steel as standard trampolines can be. Trampoline Safety As already advised, all trampolines sold in the UK have to be designed to comply with the European Safety Standard. This means the metal frame is strong and will not buckle under pressure, any paint applied to the frame is not toxic, the springs do not break, the safety net holds children on the trampoline. The designs of a trampoline have come along way over the years with individual companies have their own patent designs so look out for these. Examples being – Springfree - Trampolines do not use metal springs Hidden Galvanised Frame – Many companies provide padding to cover the frame. A child hitting their head on metal is to be avoided. Bouncemat – A Permatron Mat that will not disintegrate under UV sunlight as low quality mats made of PE can do. Safety Enclosure – A strong enclosure structure and netting with a zip up entrance/exit is also highly recommended and include with most trampolines Choose a Reputable Trampoline Brand There are many manufacturers of Outdoor Toys so make sure you chose a company that has many year’s of experience and has a range of spare parts available. A trampoline will last your family year’s but it can still be a good idea to keep an eye on the bounce mat and netting as an example and replace if they start to deteriorate. What’s the Maximum Weight Limit Each size and shape of trampoline will have it’s maximum weight limit, so a 8ft trampoline will not be able to withstand an older child compared to a 12ft trampoline that has a higher maximum weight limit. Examples – 8ft Zero Gravity – 75kg Maximum weight 12ft JumpPRO Round – 150kg 14ft Plum Space Zone 2 – 125kg Does a trampoline need to be on grass? Everyone’s garden is different so if you do not have grass in your back garden then as long as the trampoline has the important safety enclosure then you should be fine. However, grass will take some of the impact if children were to fall off the trampoline. Ideally you do not want a trampoline on concrete or tarmac but if that is all you have in your garden then still invest but making sure you do have a safety enclosure. There are a range of materials you could place around your trampoline if you do not have grass such as tree bark. An additional piece of equipment would be to invest in a trampoline ladder so children can get on and off the trampoline easily. When placing your trampoline, it should always be on a level surface, this being grass, concrete or maybe even tarmac. What Age is Appropriate for a Trampoline? All trampolines sold in the UK need to abide by the European EN7 Safety Laws. It is advised that children under the age of 6 do not bounce on a trampoline as their body has not fully developed to the point they cannot control their balance when bouncing. If they are under six and as a parent allow them to bounce for a few minutes, then adult supervision is highly recommended. What Trampolines are the Safest? All trampolines in the United Kingdom are required to pass the European EN71 safety standard certification before being released on sale to the public. You can read the full scope on this safety standard for toys including trampolines here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EN_71 This of course covers all of the popular trampoline makes sold at our friends at Madfun from Plum Trampolines, Zero Gravity, Springfree, Salta and many more. To abide by the safety standards a trampoline has to be designed so that there are no toxic chemicals, sharp edges such as from springs or frame joints or even the materials being used to be non-flammable even in hot sunlight. You will see mentioned on our reviews that the manufactures have stress tested their bounce capability of the bounce mat and springs to last a significant number of bounces, 1,000,000 bounces as an example. Here is a list of recommended, very safety trampolines below – Injuries and Accidents on a Trampoline However, even though the EN71 safety standards are abided by, by all of the trampoline manufactures accidents do happen as we know and not the fault of the manufacturers or retailers as this is covered by the EN71. In 2020 however, there were reported 30% less injuries using a trampoline than previous years, however those requiring surgery remained consistently the same. As you can appreciate, its always best to look into the safety considerations and advice for parents in giving their children guidance when they are going to invest in a trampoline and reconfirm this with their children on a regular basis. You can see the full report here - https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/full/10.1302/2633-1462.22.BJO-2020-0152.R1 To summaries, in 2019 there were 441 report injuries reported in the UK with this lowering to 306 in 2020. Out of these, 51 of the 2019 number required surgery with this being consistent for 2020 with the number reported being 47. Bear in mind, out of the 1000s of trampolines sold each year and the very large amount in gardens throughout the UK, this is a small number of accidents and injuries compared to the amount of trampolines current in use. Age Groups at Risk on a Trampoline The age range of the reported injuries in 2019 tended to be a third for each age range. For example, out of the total 441 reported injuries in 2019 – 0 – 5 – 102 6 to 11 – 149 12 to 16 – 190 Total reported injuries in 2020 – 0 – 5 – 85 6 to 11 – 129 12 to 16 – 94 When it comes to safety, there are a range of factors and recommendations from the manufactures when using a trampoline One child on a trampoline at one time A three-foot gap between the trampoline and any nearby objects from walls, sheds, greenhouses, trees or any other substitutional structure. Supervise any children by an adult if they are under the age of 6 The trampoline should be on a level ground and not a raised area either Make sure springs and any sharp metal has been covered Always used a safety net enclosure Make sure the bounce mat and netting has no tears Remove shoes and socks No somersaults of flips Do not jump off a trampoline .