License your inflatables with TSSA (Province of Ontario)
(TSSA Inflatables Devices Certification) 

Amusement Devices Regulations
Any amusement device operating in Ontario in a public event must have an Amusement Device Operating Permit, issued by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA). The process is similar in some ways to obtaining a building permit. Our professional engineer (P.Eng.) has been helping inflatable device operators get their operating license and device permits to become complaint with the Amusement Devices Act.

The definition of an amusement ride includes not only the typical mechanical ride at a fairground, but also such items as: Inflatable Attractions of all kinds (Bouncers, Slides, Obtstacle Courses, etc), Go-Karts, Bungee devices of all kinds, Water Slides and Dry Slides. Contact us if you are in any doubt as to whether your unit fits the definition.

Any Amusement Device open to the public is covered under the TSSA regulation, this includes Schools, Churchs, Banquet Halls, Community Centres, Fun Raising events, Fairs, Festivals, and Company / Corporate events. Backyard parties at a private residence are exempt. There are severe penalties for operating an Amusement Device without a permit.

To help the newcomer to this process, please read the following simplified description of the procedure you have to follow:

You need to obtain a Licence to operate amusement devices. You have to complete the License Application Form. This is NOT a licence for your ride, it is simply your registration in TSSA's system. The two main requirments are:

You have to be an ADMI (Amusement Device Licensed Mechanic), or you have to include a contract with an ADMI. You will also need a $2M liabaility insurance for your company. Fill in the form and email it to TSSA. TSSA will then issue you with a licence number (ADLxxxx).

Once TSSA have issued you with your ADL number, we can then apply for your AD permit. Remember that you need a permit for each ride / device you wish to operate. We need to have a signed copy of the Technical Dossier Application Form. Print it out and sign in the signature box only, please leave the other boxes blank - we will fill them in for you. Email the form to us.

Inflatable Attractions

This is a rapidly expanding area of the amusement device market. There are dozens of manufacturers and hundreds of operators, many of whom are small Mom & Pop businesses. Unfortunately many operators are unaware of their obligations to obtain AD permits and get dismayed when visited by a TSSA inspector. We have licensed lots of inflatables and can guide you through this process.

We will work with you to gather the following information, required for TSSA technical dossier submission & engineeringreview:

• - Manufacturer of the inflatable
• - Manufacturer's Name of the device
• - Your name for the device (if different from above)
• - Serial Number and Year of Manufacture
• - Description of the inflatable, and photos
• - Drawing (sketch) showing the number and location of the anchor points
• - Certificate of Fire Retardency for the material (This is VERY important)

We are happy to help you get the required documents. Once ready, we need to receive these documents by e-mail.

FAQs

How long does this process take, and what does it cost? These are the first questions that we are asked, and the most difficult to answer. We usually take 1-3 business days to complete the technical dossier and submit it to TSSA by email. The entire TSSA application / engineering approval process take 4-6 weeks for the inflatable devices (expediated service cut this time in half), probably longer for a larger mechanical ride. During spring and early summer both ourselves and TSSA can be overwhelmed with new ride applications and this inevitably means delays in both preparing the application and getting it through TSSA. If you leave it to the last minute, it is most probable that you will not get it approved in time for your rental bookings.

As for cost: we will try to give you a quotation before we start the job. For inflatables we have a fixed fee regardless of what size or type, but for mechanical rides it can be very difficult to give an exact quote. During the application process many things can emerge that require extra work on our part. Ontario is one of the strictest jurisdictions in North America, and is getting tougher - a ride that is licensed elsewhere may not be acceptable here without modifications. In addition, TSSA will charge you for their engineering review and inspection on an hourly basis. We advise that you call us to discuss the details.

Are there any rides that are banned in Ontario?
Yes. Portable bungee devices are not allowed here (with the exception of inflatable "Bungee Run" devices).

How about other Provinces? Or the USA?
We offer our engineering service for approvals in BC, Alberta (AB), Saskatchewan (SK) and Nova Scotia (NS). Please contact us for more details, or to discuss other Provincial approvals. As for the USA, each state has its own rules and we offer services in some of them, including New Jersey & Pennsylvania.