Why Irish Schools Need Trampolines Rated for Public/Commercial Use

If you work in a school in Ireland—principal, caretaker, PE teacher, or a parent on the Board of Management—you’ll already know this truth: the minute play equipment is available to pupils throughout the school day, it stops behaving like “home gear.” Dozens (sometimes hundreds) of students will use it, back-to-back, in all weathers, often without one-to-one supervision, and always under the school’s duty of care.

That’s why schools in Ireland should specify trampolines that are rated for public/commercial use, not domestic models. In this guide, we’ll explain the standards, the legal and insurance angles, and the practical differences in build, maintenance and lifespan—so you can buy once, buy right, and keep pupils safer for longer.

1) Duty of care, risk management and insurance: schools aren’t homes

Irish schools have a legal obligation to plan, organise and manage a safe environment for staff, pupils and visitors. That includes how equipment is selected, installed and used, guided by written policies and risk assessments. (Health and Safety Authority)

Insurers look at the same issues through a financial lens: was the right class of equipment installed for the setting? Was it installed, inspected and maintained to recognised standards? Public liability policies for schools carry large limits because exposure is real; buying inappropriate equipment can complicate or jeopardise cover in the event of a claim. (Allianz Ireland)

Bottom line: when equipment is used by the general school population, often unsupervised outside structured PE lessons, it should meet public/commercial standards—not “good quality domestic.” This alignment closes gaps between the school’s duty of care, its insurer’s expectations, and day-to-day reality.

2) Which standards apply? A quick, practical map

Trampoline standards vary by use-case. Here’s the simplified picture relevant to Irish schools:

EN 71-14 – “Safety of toys – Trampolines for domestic use.” This standard is for home trampolines only and explicitly excludes trampolines used in public playgrounds. If you put an EN 71-14 trampoline into general school use, you’re mismatching the product to the setting. (iTeh Standards)
EN 13219 – “Gymnastic equipment – Trampolines.” This covers gym-class trampolines used under qualified supervision (think PE halls, competition/gymnastics). Great for structured PE with trained staff; not a licence for an unsupervised yard. (BSI Knowledge)
EN 1176 (series) – “Playground equipment and surfacing.” This is the public-use benchmark for equipment accessed by the public (or a large cohort of users) without constant one-to-one supervision—the right fit for school yards and play spaces. It’s paired with EN 1177 for impact-attenuating surfacing and EN 1176-7 for installation/inspection/maintenance guidance.

Many commercial in-ground or playground trampolines marketed for schools are explicitly tested and certified to EN 1176; that’s the signal you’re looking for on datasheets. (Eurotramp Trampoline)

3) What makes a public/commercial trampoline different?

It isn’t just a “stronger version.” Public-use trampolines are engineered for a different risk profile:

Frames & structure: thicker-gauge steel, reinforced connections, anti-corrosion treatments, and vandal-resistant design to withstand high throughput and rougher handling.
Springs & mats: heavy-duty spring steel and reinforced mat belts that tolerate continuous cycles; some models use vandal-proof or flame-retardant jump surfaces for open access environments.
Padding & edge protection: public-use pads are typically thicker, more securely fixed, and designed to resist tampering.
Ingress & fall zones: the product is assessed as part of a system—unit + safe surfacing + clearances—under EN 1176 and EN 1177.
Documentation & lifecycle: installation instructions, inspection schedules and maintenance checklists are aligned to EN 1176-7 processes—a key administrative safeguard for schools.

By contrast, domestic trampolines (EN 71-14) are optimised for occasional family use, typically one jumper at a time, in a private garden. They’re not designed—or certified—for the frequency and variety of use in a school setting.

4) Supervised PE vs. everyday yard use: pick the right tool

A secondary school might legitimately need two different trampoline solutions:

PE/Gymnastics trampoline (EN 13219), used indoors or in a controlled outdoor space during timetabled lessons under qualified supervision. Great for skills progression, sport-specific drills and exam syllabi.
Playground/yard trampoline (EN 1176), typically in-ground and accessible to many pupils during breaks, with duty-of-care supervision but not the 1:1 oversight of a PE lesson. This is the correct category for recess play, SEN sensory input, and general movement breaks.

Mixing those categories—e.g., putting a home garden trampoline on the yard, or using a PE competition bed as an unsupervised recess feature—creates obvious safety and insurance misalignment. (Allianz Ireland)

5) The Irish context: policies, paperwork and peace of mind

A strong paper trail protects pupils and the school. Irish guidance emphasises having a safety management system with risk assessments, procedures for inspection and maintenance, and records to match. Public-use trampolines make this easier because the standard tells you what to do, and the manufacturer supplies the documentation to back it up. (Health and Safety Authority)

Insurers likewise expect appropriate specification and record-keeping. If an incident occurs, you want to show that:

the equipment was suitable for public use,
installed by competent persons to the manufacturer’s instructions,
inspected and maintained to a documented schedule, and
used under school policies (e.g., rules, supervision ratios, signage). (Allianz Ireland)

Public-use equipment simplifies those conversations—and that can be priceless.

6) Inclusion, accessibility and wellbeing

Schools increasingly look for equipment that supports inclusive play and sensory regulation. In-ground, public-use trampolines are a standout option: they offer level access (easier for younger pupils and wheelchair users transferring with assistance), predictable proprioceptive input, and a huge “fun factor” that draws mixed-ability groups together. Several manufacturers highlight EN 1176-certified in-ground models for schools and parks precisely for these reasons.

From a wellbeing perspective, short, frequent movement breaks can improve focus and mood. Choosing equipment that is safe to access spontaneously during breaks (not just in timetabled PE) magnifies those benefits across the whole school population.

7) Cost of ownership: public-use is cheaper in the long run

Yes, commercial trampolines cost more up-front. But they usually cost less per year of service because:

They’re built to survive heavy throughput without sagging mats, stretched springs or bent frames.
Replacement parts are available for longer and designed for quick swap-outs.
Better corrosion protection means fewer surprises after Irish winters.
Downtime is reduced because inspection and maintenance routines are defined in advance.

Trying to save money by buying domestic and replacing frequently rarely works out—and introduces additional risk and admin every time another unit fails.

8) A quick procurement checklist for Irish schools

When you’re ready to spec and order, use this practical list:

Confirm the standard
- Yard/play space: EN 1176 (plus EN 1177 surfacing) is the target. Gym class only with qualified supervision: EN 13219. Avoid EN 71-14 products for general school access.
Ask for certification evidence
- CE or third-party certification to the relevant standard, with a Declaration of Conformity or test report summary. Look for explicit EN 1176 statements on public-use products.
Plan the surfacing
- Obtain an EN 1177 surfacing specification (critical fall height, area, materials) that matches the product and site conditions.
Installation by competent persons
- Use installers with school experience, public liability insurance, and references; get as-built sign-off and handover documents.
Set up inspection and maintenance
- Adopt an EN 1176-7-informed regime: routine visual checks (caretaker), operational inspections (monthly/termly), and an annual main inspection (competent third party). Keep records.
Write the usage policy
- Supervision expectations, maximum users, signage, rules (one at a time vs shared mats where applicable), footwear, queueing, and behaviour. Align with your whole-school safety management system.
Loop in your insurer
- Share product data sheets and your inspection regime so they’re comfortable with the risk profile before installation.

9) Typical questions we’re asked

“We’ve seen a good domestic in-ground kit—why not that?”
Because leading domestic kits are designed and declared to domestic standards. Many reputable brands state plainly that their garden models do not conform to EN 1176 and are not suitable for unsupervised public settings. Using them in a yard is outside their intended scope.

“Our PE teacher wants a competition bed—can that go outside?”
If it’s an EN 13219 gym unit, it belongs in supervised PE, not as a general recess feature. For open access, specify an EN 1176 playground model. Different tools for different jobs.

“Do EN 71-14 trampolines ever make sense for schools?”
Potentially for boarder houses or staff residences—i.e., private domestic settings. For pupils at large, no: EN 71-14 specifically covers domestic trampolines and excludes public playground use.

“Is there any recent change to ‘toy/home’ standards we should know?”
CEN updated EN 71-14 in 2025 for domestic toy trampolines, but that still doesn’t apply to school yard use; it simply refines the domestic scope.

10) Real-world markers of “commercial-ready”

When you’re browsing options, look for signals like:

Clear mention of EN 1176 compliance on the product page or spec sheet.
Wording such as “public spaces,” “parks,” “schools,” and TÜV-certified to the playground standard.
Construction details: vandal-resistant belts, flame-retardant materials, anti-tamper fixings, and heavy-duty edge protection.
Maintenance documentation aligned to EN 1176-7.

If none of those appear, assume the product is domestic and ask directly.

11) How Trampolines Ireland can help

We support Irish schools from first query to aftercare:

Standards-aligned recommendations – We’ll guide you to appropriate EN 1176 playground models for yards, or EN 13219 gym trampolines for PE.
Site surveys & surfacing – We’ll coordinate EN 1177-appropriate surfacing specs and layouts to match your space and budget.
Certified installation – Competent installers with the right insurances and school references, plus as-built handover paperwork.
Inspection regimes & training – Templates and schedules based on EN 1176-7, with options for annual third-party inspections.

We also publish practical explainers on commercial trampolines for Irish schools—covering standards, durability, capacity and insurance considerations—so your Board can make a confident, documented decision.

12) The takeaway for school leaders

Context matters: schools are public-use environments; gear must match that reality.
Standards matter: EN 1176/1177/1176-7 for yard play; EN 13219 for supervised PE; not EN 71-14 outside domestic settings.
Records matter: risk assessments, inspections and maintenance logs protect pupils and the school.
Value matters: commercial equipment typically wins on total cost of ownership and peace of mind.

If you’re planning a new play space or refreshing older equipment, we’d love to help you scope the right trampoline solution—safe, insurable, standards-aligned and built for Irish school life.

Talk to Trampolines Ireland today to arrange a quick site review or to compare EN 1176-certified models for your school.

Trampolines Ireland — helping Irish schools choose safer, longer-lasting play equipment.