The IIHF Insurance Scheme
Arachas with Allianz
After many years of sustained effort, the Irish Inflatable Hirers Federation, working in partnership with Arachas Insurance Brokers, secured public liability insurance cover for the Irish inflatable hire industry. The scheme is now underwritten by Allianz.
The IIHF has worked closely with Arachas and Allianz to review the policy wording and help ensure that the terms, conditions and requirements are clear, practical and appropriate for the activities of inflatable hire operators.
Since the IIHF insurance scheme was launched in 2022, it has grown significantly, with 110 members now insured for public liability. The IIHF will continue to promote these insured and compliant members to the public, schools, community organisations, event organisers, local authorities and corporate bodies.
There is already strong interest from operators wishing to join the scheme for 2027.
Levels of Public Liability Cover
The standard level of public liability cover required by most operators is €2.6 million. Where a higher level of cover is required by a local authority, corporate customer, venue or event organiser, cover of €6.5 million is also available, subject to the policy terms and underwriting requirements.
This is a very positive development for our industry. It puts public liability insurance where it should be: an important annual business requirement, rather than the major and time-consuming difficulty it had become for inflatable hire operators in previous years.
It allows our members to concentrate on running their businesses while keeping their customers entertained and safe.
Safety, Certification and Risk Reduction
The IIHF will continue to take a proactive role in inflatable safety and encourage members to take every reasonable step to reduce risks.
These measures help to reduce the likelihood of accidents and claims. They also help members demonstrate that they have taken appropriate safety precautions should an incident occur.
It has always been a requirement of the IIHF insurance scheme that every inflatable made available for hire has a current safety certificate issued following an inspection by a qualified inspector.
Since 2 October 2025, safety certification has also been a legal requirement. A Certificate of Safety must be issued by a Suitably Qualified Individual (SQI) in accordance with the applicable Irish legislation.
Further information is available here:
Find an IIHF-listed inflatable inspector
Compliance with the applicable safety standards and legal requirements reduces the risk of injury to users. It also reduces the likelihood of an inflatable operator being found negligent in the event of an accident.
Put simply, the fewer claims the group experiences, the more attractive the scheme becomes to insurers. A strong claims record can help protect the scheme and support more competitive premiums for all participating members.
This is one of the principal objectives of the IIHF.
Protect the child. Protect the industry. Stronger Together.