Student organizations frequently use inflatable slides, bounce houses and dunk tank at events like mixers, fundraisers, and carnivals. While these attractions may seem safe, implementing safety measures is crucial to prevent injuries. MIT’s goal is to support student groups in taking the necessary precautions to ensure their events are as safe as possible.
Below are approval and safety requirements for using inflatables and amusement devices at MIT. For more information, please review the Inflatables and Amusement Devices Guide.
Approval Requirements
To bring inflatables or mechanical rides to campus, the following requirements must be met:
- Approved location: Inflatables can only be set up in approved locations. Each time an inflatable is used, the location needs to be approved by the space manager and MIT’s Environment, Health & Safety Office (EHS).
- Contact Dig Safe: It is the vendor’s responsibility to contact Dig Safe when equipment will be placed or anchored into the ground. The space manager is responsible for ensuring the vendor has contacted Dig Safe and for coordinating with MIT Grounds if needed.
- Insurance: Vendors must provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance (Form ACORD 25) with MIT named as additional insured on the general liability policy and MIT should be listed as the certificate holder. The vendor must carry a minimum $1M in general liability insurance.
- If the vendor provides any services on site, the following additional coverages are required:
- Workers’ Compensation, with statutory limits, as required by MA law and Employers’ liability coverage, with a minimum limit of $1M
- Automobile: A minimum combined single limit (BI & PD) of $1M.
Please send the certificate(s) to insurance@mit.edu.
- License to operate amusement devices: A copy of the vendor’s amusement license must be provided before the event by uploading it to the Atlas event registration system.
- Exception: Dunk tanks are not classified as amusement devices under Massachusetts regulations; therefore, vendors are not required to provide proof of licensure.
- Rules of use: Vendors providing inflatables or amusement rides must supply the event organizers with detailed operational procedures and safety rules. It is the responsibility of the event organizer—or a designated individual—to ensure that all rides are operated properly and in full compliance with these safety guidelines. In addition, the event organizer must complete the “MIT Amusement Device Approval & Safety Agreement”. This document outlines all applicable rules of use and must be reviewed by the vendor with all event staff. It must be signed, checked off, and dated by all relevant parties. A hard copy of the completed agreement must be available on site during the event to address any instances of non-compliance. The signed document must also be uploaded to the Atlas event registration system.
- Event contract agreement: Vendors must sign MIT’s form of agreement, managed by the VPF Contracts group (Please contact vpf-contracts@mit.edu for further assistance.)
- Waivers: With the exception of CPW, REX and Rush events, MIT’s standard liability release (found here) must be signed by all participants using any inflatable amusement prior to use. All minor participants must have their parent(s) or legal guardians sign MIT’s standard liability release. The executed releases must be kept by the hosting student group or DLCI for at least one year following the event, and producible upon request by EHS, Audit, SOLE (if applicable), OGC, or the Office of Insurance.
Prohibited Amusements
- Mechanical bulls
- Climbing walls of any kind or access above 4 ft
- Slip and slide
- Indoor inflatables that don’t meet the NFPA 701 and ASTM F24 vol 15.07 requirements
- Devices deemed too dangerous (at discretion of Insurance, OGC or EHS Office)
- Inflatables for decoration:
- Tubular shaped inflatable decorations are prohibited unless approved by EHS and the Office of Insurance. When inflatables decorations are approved a “do not climb” sign needs to be placed near the decoration.
- Any other inflatable decoration needs to be reviewed by the EHS and Office of Insurance.
Safety Requirements
The following rules apply to all amusement rides. It is the event organizer’s responsibility to ensure they are included in the rules of use document, which must be signed by both the vendor and the organizer. More specific rules and guidelines for each device are listed after this section.
- Minors should be supervised and watched by their parent (or legal guardian) at all times.
- Safety watch and rules compliance: Each inflatable and ride must be supervised at all times during operation, by either an MIT volunteer (safety watch) or a vendor employee, to monitor compliance with EHS guidelines and the vendor’s safety rules. A written copy of the safety rules must be available at all times while the device is in operation. The sponsoring group must coordinate the development of a safety plan for each inflatable with the Vendor and EHS.
- Impaired individuals: Will not be allowed to use the amusement device.
- Wind and storm hazard: The device should not be used if winds exceed 15 mph, or during rain, thunderstorms, or lightning. Evacuate participants immediately if there is thunder, lightning, or rain. The vendor must make the device inoperable and take it down. The activity may only resume once the storm has fully passed.
- Injuries and accidents: In case of personal injuries that require medical attention, call MIT PD at 617-253-1212. For injuries to MIT employees please submit a supervisor’s report of injury within 24 hours. For unpaid students or visitors that sustain an injury on campus, or while on MIT-owned or controlled property please complete the Non-Employee Incident Report as soon as possible. In the rare event of bodily fluid spills inside the inflatable, evacuate participants immediately. Contact MIT Customer Service at 617-253-4948 to report the issue, and request to speak with the space manager on call.
Forms & Resources
Student organizations frequently use inflatable slides, bounce houses and dunk tank at events like mixers, fundraisers, and carnivals. While these attractions may seem safe, implementing safety measures is crucial to prevent injuries. MIT’s goal is to support student groups in taking the necessary precautions to ensure their events are as safe as possible.
Below are approval and safety requirements for using inflatables and amusement devices at MIT. For more information, please review the Inflatables and Amusement Devices Guide.
Approval Requirements
To bring inflatables or mechanical rides to campus, the following requirements must be met:
- Approved location: Inflatables can only be set up in approved locations. Each time an inflatable is used, the location needs to be approved by the space manager and MIT’s Environment, Health & Safety Office (EHS).
- Contact Dig Safe: It is the vendor’s responsibility to contact Dig Safe when equipment will be placed or anchored into the ground. The space manager is responsible for ensuring the vendor has contacted Dig Safe and for coordinating with MIT Grounds if needed.
- Insurance: Vendors must provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance (Form ACORD 25) with MIT named as additional insured on the general liability policy and MIT should be listed as the certificate holder. The vendor must carry a minimum $1M in general liability insurance.
- If the vendor provides any services on site, the following additional coverages are required:
- Workers’ Compensation, with statutory limits, as required by MA law and Employers’ liability coverage, with a minimum limit of $1M
- Automobile: A minimum combined single limit (BI & PD) of $1M.
Please send the certificate(s) to insurance@mit.edu.
- License to operate amusement devices: A copy of the vendor’s amusement license must be provided before the event by uploading it to the Atlas event registration system.
- Exception: Dunk tanks are not classified as amusement devices under Massachusetts regulations; therefore, vendors are not required to provide proof of licensure.
- Rules of use: Vendors providing inflatables or amusement rides must supply the event organizers with detailed operational procedures and safety rules. It is the responsibility of the event organizer—or a designated individual—to ensure that all rides are operated properly and in full compliance with these safety guidelines. In addition, the event organizer must complete the “MIT Amusement Device Approval & Safety Agreement”. This document outlines all applicable rules of use and must be reviewed by the vendor with all event staff. It must be signed, checked off, and dated by all relevant parties. A hard copy of the completed agreement must be available on site during the event to address any instances of non-compliance. The signed document must also be uploaded to the Atlas event registration system.
- Event contract agreement: Vendors must sign MIT’s form of agreement, managed by the VPF Contracts group (Please contact vpf-contracts@mit.edu for further assistance.)
- Waivers: With the exception of CPW, REX and Rush events, MIT’s standard liability release (found here) must be signed by all participants using any inflatable amusement prior to use. All minor participants must have their parent(s) or legal guardians sign MIT’s standard liability release. The executed releases must be kept by the hosting student group or DLCI for at least one year following the event, and producible upon request by EHS, Audit, SOLE (if applicable), OGC, or the Office of Insurance.
Prohibited Amusements
- Mechanical bulls
- Climbing walls of any kind or access above 4 ft
- Slip and slide
- Indoor inflatables that don’t meet the NFPA 701 and ASTM F24 vol 15.07 requirements
- Devices deemed too dangerous (at discretion of Insurance, OGC or EHS Office)
- Inflatables for decoration:
- Tubular shaped inflatable decorations are prohibited unless approved by EHS and the Office of Insurance. When inflatables decorations are approved a “do not climb” sign needs to be placed near the decoration.
- Any other inflatable decoration needs to be reviewed by the EHS and Office of Insurance.
Safety Requirements
The following rules apply to all amusement rides. It is the event organizer’s responsibility to ensure they are included in the rules of use document, which must be signed by both the vendor and the organizer. More specific rules and guidelines for each device are listed after this section.
- Minors should be supervised and watched by their parent (or legal guardian) at all times.
- Safety watch and rules compliance: Each inflatable and ride must be supervised at all times during operation, by either an MIT volunteer (safety watch) or a vendor employee, to monitor compliance with EHS guidelines and the vendor’s safety rules. A written copy of the safety rules must be available at all times while the device is in operation. The sponsoring group must coordinate the development of a safety plan for each inflatable with the Vendor and EHS.
- Impaired individuals: Will not be allowed to use the amusement device.
- Wind and storm hazard: The device should not be used if winds exceed 15 mph, or during rain, thunderstorms, or lightning. Evacuate participants immediately if there is thunder, lightning, or rain. The vendor must make the device inoperable and take it down. The activity may only resume once the storm has fully passed.
- Injuries and accidents: In case of personal injuries that require medical attention, call MIT PD at 617-253-1212. For injuries to MIT employees please submit a supervisor’s report of injury within 24 hours. For unpaid students or visitors that sustain an injury on campus, or while on MIT-owned or controlled property please complete the Non-Employee Incident Report as soon as possible. In the rare event of bodily fluid spills inside the inflatable, evacuate participants immediately. Contact MIT Customer Service at 617-253-4948 to report the issue, and request to speak with the space manager on call.
