ADIPS covers the four types of inspection detailed in HSG 175. These are:

• Design Review
• Assessment of Conformity to Design
• Initial Test
• In-Service Annual Inspection

A device requires pre-use inspections before it operates for the first time. The pre-use inspections are Design Review, Assessment of Conformity to Design and Initial Test, unless it was manufactured prior to October 1997, in which case a Maturity Risk Assessment may be required. After twelve months an in-service annual inspection is required.

Inflatable Play equipment does not normally require pre-use inspection but should conform with BS EN 14960:2016.

ADIPS Registered Inspection Bodies perform competent and independent inspection of amusement devices. This means that the inspector should be sufficiently independent and impartial to allow an objective assessment of the amusement device without conflict of interest.

Inspection Bodies carry out inspection work in accordance with the inspection requirements of HSG 175 and the requirements of the internationally agreed standard for Inspection Bodies, BS EN ISO/IEC 17020:2012.

Check that your inspector is ADIPS Registered

Always check an inspector is on the ADIPS register before engaging them to perform inspection services.

All ADIPS Registered Inspection Bodies should carry an Identification Badge. You should check the front and the back of their card.

Check the front of their card for:

• The photo
• The Inspection Body
• The Registration Year
• The Inspector’s Registration number.

Check the back of their card for:

The scope of the inspector’s registration. That is, the Inspection types and disciplines they are registered for.

Amusement Devices is often shortened to ‘device’. This includes fairground rides, transportable structures entered by the public (e.g. haunted houses, arcades, tents and booths) and shooting galleries where hazardous projectiles are fired, but does not include stalls, for example, hoopla, catering trailers etc.

A ride has the same meaning as the legal definition of ‘fairground equipment’, found in section 53 of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Table 2 of HSG 175 details the recommended actions for the different types of amusement devices.

ADIPS has two categories of amusement devices: Class A and Class B. Some inspection bodies can only carry out inspection of Class B devices.

A new device will require pre-use inspections that comprise reports of Design Review, Assessment of Conformity to Design and Initial Test before it operates for the first time.

Buying a second-hand device

If the device is imported you will need to arrange for the pre-use inspections to be carried out. If purchased in mainland UK, it should have a complete Operations Manual as defined in HSG 175 which contains the reports of pre-use inspection. If it was operating in the UK before October 1997 it might not need the reports of pre-use inspection, but would have a Maturity Risk Assessment instead.

You should choose an Inspection Body to act as the Appointed Inspection Body (AIB). The AIB will issue the Declaration of Operational Compliance (DOC) once the inspection has been satisfactorily completed.

An inspection may include a number of inspections and tests e.g. mechanical, electrical, NDT etc. You should confirm with the Appointed Inspection Body if they are to undertake all of the required inspections and tests for the device, or if arrangements with other inspection bodies need to be made.

Inspections may take place up to one month before the current expiry date without affecting the annual expiry date of the inspection. If an inspection is carried out earlier than one month before the existing expiry date, it will only run for a maximum of 1 year from the date of that inspection.

If you are going to arrange for inspection bodies to undertake separate inspections and tests you must select companies registered with ADIPS.

To search for an Inspection Body click here

Please note that most Inspection Bodies will carry out work throughout Great Britain and are not limited to their own region.

It is advisable to arrange your inspection as far in advance as possible.

You should agree items to be dismantled with the relevant inspection body. It is advisable to do this in advance so the device is prepared prior to the Inspection Body arriving. Inspection instructions provided within the operations manual will also provide information on any disassembly required.

Along with physical inspection an ADIPS Inspection Body will also confirm the relevant documents are contained within the device’s Operations Manual.

For further information on the Operations Manual, see Appendix 3 of HSG 175. Click here

It is a requirement of HSG 175 that each Inspection Body should prepare a written report. The AIB will collate any individual inspection reports and confirm that each individual inspection has been satisfactorily completed.

If any remedial work is required prior to the satisfactory completion of the inspection, this will be communicated to you by the relevant Inspection Body.

Once the AIB has confirmed satisfactory completion of the inspection they will record inspection details on the central ADIPS database of amusement devices (www.adipsonline.co.uk). You will then receive a Declaration of Operational Compliance (DOC) by post and/or email which confirms that the device has been registered on the ADIPS database and certified safe to operate for the time specified.

You should check all documentation you receive for accuracy and report any errors to the issuing Inspection Body.

To check whether a DOC is valid you should check against the record entered into the database using the DOC number, as it is the database entry which defines the DOC status.

A paper version of the DOC is simply a receipt of the inspection and an indicator of the device’s status on the ADIPS database at the time it was issued. They are supplied to ride controllers to provide them with a record to retain with their ride’s Operations Manual and provide peace of mind that details were put into the database.

Care should be taken when relying on paper versions alone as they are not secure or controlled once provided to ride controllers and may still be in circulation if the database entry is amended, withdrawn or revoked. For this reason a database check should always be performed.

ADIPS charge a levy of £40 + vat for every device that is registered with the scheme.

Each Inspection Body is free to set their own charges for an inspection and market forces and travelling time will dictate the range of prices given to you.

Following the guidance in HSG 175 is not compulsory and ride owners are free to take other action. However, if you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law. Health and Safety Inspectors seek to secure compliance with the law and may refer to HSG 175 as illustrating good practice.

If you are a member of any of the Industry Associations you will be expected to comply with ADIPS as a condition of membership.

You should read HSG 175: Fairgrounds and amusement parks – Guidance on safe practice. You can also find information on this website, or alternatively you can contact ADIPS or one of the Registered Inspection Bodies.

A Declaration of Operational Compliance or DOC is the safety certification issued by an ADIPS inspection body following the satisfactory completion of an inspection

A DOC can only be issued once the inspection body has confirmed that all relevant inspections have been satisfactorily completed. This will be following the completion of pre-use inspection before the device first operates, and following the completion of annual in-service inspection each year thereafter.

The inspection body will record details of the inspection work on the ADIPS central database of amusement devices. Once all the required device and inspection information is entered a DOC certificate will be generated confirming the details entered into the ADIPS database.

The DOC certificate is then auto generated and sent immediately by email if an email address is registered with the device. If there is no email address the DOC certificate will be sent out by post

ADIPS inspection bodies must issue DOCs promptly, i.e. as soon as they can. If you believe a DOC for your device is outstanding you should discuss with your inspection body and ADIPS as soon as possible.

A DOC is normally valid for 12 months, but it can be shorter. Its expiry date is taken from the earliest expiry date of the required inspections for the device.

You should contact your inspection body and ADIPS as soon as possible.

A DOC certificate tells you the details that have been recorded in the ADIPS database.

Care should be taken on relying on these alone as they are not secure or controlled once provided to ride controllers and may still be in circulation if the records for the device are changed.

As with the MOT system, certificates are no longer proof that an amusement device has a valid DOC and you should always check online to see if a DOC is legitimate.