Installation and upkeep: who does what
We supply and deliver. We do not install, inspect or certify. This page sets out who does each job, and what stays with the school for as long as the trampoline is in use.
Installation, briefly
The trampoline arrives on a pallet. What happens next depends on the type.
- Above ground. These stand on legs. They are assembled by following BERG's manual, and nothing is dug. Above-ground models
- InGround and FlatGround. These are set into the ground. They need groundwork by a competent installer who follows BERG's manual for that model. InGround models, FlatGround models
If you want it fitted for you, tell us. We can put you in touch with an independent installer. They are not our staff: you agree the work, the price and the dates directly with them.
Whoever does the work, ask them for written confirmation of their insurance before they start. Allianz Ireland, for example, tells schools that contractors must be required to produce written confirmation that they have relevant insurance in place.
We do not publish installation instructions. BERG's manual for your model is the instruction, and BERG makes the owner responsible for assembly and installation that follow it.
What "approved for public use" means. BERG lists these grey Elite models as approved for public use, tested by the independent Dutch institute Keurmerkinstituut. The certificate we hold, for the Elite InGround 330 Grey + Safety Net Deluxe (no. 148394, inspected 24 January 2022), states that it meets the Dutch playground equipment decree, assessed against EN 1176-1:2017. See BERG's list of approved models.
The school or setting stays responsible for local rules, correct installation, warning notices, a daily check with a logbook, and maintenance. We send BERG's public-use manual and warning notice for your model with your quotation. Check with your insurer before you order.
Choosing the spot
BERG's public-use manual for the Elite InGround requires:
- Level ground.
- At least 2 metres clear of trees, fences and other obstacles.
- 7 metres clear overhead, measured from the ground.
- Not concrete, asphalt or any other hard surface.
- Not close to other play equipment, such as swings, slides or pools.
- A shock-absorbing surface 1.5 metres wide around the trampoline.
Check all of these before you settle on a size, and have your installer or a surfacing supplier price the surface. We have not seen the public-use manuals for the FlatGround and above-ground models, so ask us for the manual for your model.
School buying guideUpkeep is the school's job
This is the larger part. BERG approves the Elite models on its list for public use on conditions, and the conditions fall on the owner. For a school that means the board of management or the school authority. BERG lists them on its public-use page.
The detail below comes from BERG's public-use manual for the Elite InGround and its notice of additional warnings for public use. We send both with your quotation. We have not seen the public-use manuals for the FlatGround and above-ground models, so ask us for the manual for your model.
Supervision
BERG says the trampoline is not suitable for unattended public use, such as a municipal playground with no supervisor present. An adult must supervise whenever it is in use.
The warning notice
BERG's manual says that for public use the additional warnings must always be displayed in a clearly visible place near the trampoline. BERG provides them in digital form only. Whoever manages the trampoline is required to place them so that they are:
- Near the trampoline.
- Clearly visible and readable.
- Protected against the weather.
- At least A4 in size.
There is a version for each maximum user weight. We send BERG's warning notice for your model with your order or quotation. Printing it and putting it up is for the school.
The daily check
BERG requires a safety check every day, on these points in particular:
- The jumping mat, for defects such as small tears.
- The springs: none missing, none corroded, all attached in the correct way.
- The frame connections, fitted in the correct way.
- The protective edge: its condition and how it is attached.
- The warning notice, still clearly present.
- The stakes, all still present.
The manual also says to inspect the trampoline before each use and to replace broken, worn or missing parts. Decide who does the check, and make sure they have read the manual. If a check finds a fault, the trampoline comes out of use until it is put right.
The logbook
BERG says to record all of this in a logbook. A dated entry is enough: who checked, what they found and what was done about it. It is also what an insurer or an inspector will ask to see.
Under an InGround trampoline
BERG's manual asks for the space under an InGround trampoline to be inspected at least once a year, and again after a rainy period before the trampoline is used. If the inspection finds something wrong, the manual says to take corrective measures. That is work for your installer, not for us.
The safety net
BERG says the net should be replaced every 5 years, or earlier if it loses its function. Plan for that as a running cost.
Repairs and parts
BERG says repairs must be carried out by a professional, and that the trampoline must not be modified unless BERG approves the change. We supply genuine BERG replacement parts. Tell us the model and size and what needs replacing.
What an insurer may ask for
Insurers set their own conditions, so ask yours before you order. As an example, Allianz Ireland tells schools developing playground facilities that:
- Playground equipment must be installed in compliance with European Standards I.S. EN 1176 and I.S. EN 1177.
- The facility must be inspected weekly by a competent person.
- An annual independent inspection by an appropriately qualified person or company must be carried out.
- Any equipment found to be defective must be taken out of use immediately.
- A full risk assessment is needed before the school goes ahead.
Allianz's guidance is about playground facilities in general. It does not mention trampolines, and nothing here means Allianz or any other insurer will cover one. That is a question for your insurer.
What the State Claims Agency says
The State Claims Agency's risk advisory notice on school equipment says the board of management is responsible for the maintenance, condition and state of repair of the school's premises and equipment. It says equipment should be checked and maintained to a routine schedule and the manufacturer's instructions, and that outdoor equipment exposed to the weather is particularly vulnerable. The notice is about school equipment generally. It does not mention trampolines.
Who does what
The same split, in one table, for your board or your risk assessment.
| Who | What they do | What they do not do |
|---|---|---|
| Us, the retailer | Help you choose a model from BERG's public-use list, give a written quotation, deliver it, supply BERG's public-use manual and its warning notice for your model, supply the Keurmerkinstituut certificate where we hold it and request it from BERG where we do not, and supply genuine BERG replacement parts. | We do not install, inspect, certify, risk-assess or train. |
| An installer, if you use one | Assembles the trampoline, and for InGround and FlatGround does the groundwork, following BERG's manual. Prices the shock-absorbing surface BERG requires, or tells you who can. Independent of us. You agree the work, the price and the dates with them. | Does not take over the school's duty to check that the work follows the manual, or the upkeep afterwards. |
| The school | Decides whether to have a trampoline, carries out its own risk assessment, speaks to its insurer, meets local rules, displays BERG's warning notice, has an adult supervise every use, checks it every day, keeps the logbook, maintains it and takes the trampoline out of use when something is wrong. | Cannot hand these duties to the retailer or to BERG. |
| An independent inspector | Carries out a periodic inspection if your insurer asks for one. Allianz, for example, asks schools for an annual independent inspection of playground facilities. Engaged and paid by the school. | Is not us, and is not the person who does your daily checks. |
| BERG, the manufacturer | Makes the trampoline, publishes the list of models approved for public use, states how they were tested, writes the public-use manual, and provides the additional warnings for public use in digital form. | Does not inspect or maintain your trampoline. BERG says those are the owner's job. |
If a question is one for BERG, your insurer or an inspector, we will say so and, where we can, put it to BERG for you. Request a quotation and tell us what your insurer has asked for.
Questions about installation and upkeep
Do you install trampolines at schools?
No. We supply and deliver. If you want the trampoline fitted for you, we can put you in touch with an independent installer. You agree the work, the price and the timing directly with them.
How much does installation cost?
We do not install, so we do not quote for it. An installer will price the job once they know the model and have seen or been told about your site. Our written quotation covers the trampoline and delivery.
Which models need groundwork?
InGround and FlatGround models are set into the ground, so they need groundwork by a competent installer who follows BERG's manual. Above-ground models stand on legs and are assembled from BERG's manual with no digging.
What should we ask an installer for?
Written confirmation that they hold relevant insurance, and confirmation that the work will follow BERG's manual for your model. Allianz tells schools that contractors must be required to produce written confirmation of their insurance. Your own insurer may ask for more, so check first.
Do you inspect or certify the trampoline once it is in?
No. We do not inspect, certify or sign off installations. Day-to-day inspection is the school's job, and if your insurer asks for an independent inspection, that is done by an inspector the school engages.
How often does a school trampoline need to be inspected?
Every day. BERG's public-use manual for the Elite InGround requires a daily safety check, recorded in a logbook, and says to inspect the trampoline before each use. For an InGround model the space underneath is inspected at least once a year and after a rainy period. Your insurer may set its own intervals on top. Allianz, for example, asks for a weekly inspection by a competent person and an annual independent inspection of playground facilities.
Where do the warning notices come from?
From BERG, in digital form only, and we send the notice for your model with your order or quotation. There is a version for each maximum user weight. BERG requires whoever manages the trampoline to place it near the trampoline, clearly visible and readable, protected against the weather and at least A4 in size. Printing it and putting it up is the school's job.
What does BERG's daily check cover?
Six points in BERG's public-use manual for the Elite InGround: the jumping mat for defects such as small tears; the springs, with none missing or corroded and all correctly attached; the frame connections; the condition and attachment of the protective edge; the warning notice, still clearly present; and the stakes, all present. Each check goes in the logbook.
How often should the safety net be replaced?
BERG's public-use manual says the net should be replaced every 5 years, or earlier if it loses its function. We supply genuine BERG replacement nets.
Can you supply replacement parts?
Yes. We supply genuine BERG replacement parts. If a check finds a worn or damaged part, take the trampoline out of use and contact us with the model and size. BERG says repairs must be carried out by a professional.
What warranty applies at a school?
BERG's warranty is 1 year when a trampoline is used at a school or in any other public setting. The longer warranty advertised for home buyers does not apply. BERG's warranty document has the full terms, and we can send it with your quotation.
Ask for a written quotation
Tell us the setting, the age of the children and the space you have. We reply with a model suggestion and a written quotation you can bring to your board or finance office.
Or call 01 960 1641
Northern Ireland 028 3756 8930